Dr. Andrew J. Appel
Orthopaedic spine surgeon
Orthopaedic spine surgeon
Dr. Andrew Joshua Appel, MD is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Empire Minimally Invasive Spine & Pain. He specializes in a broad range of spinal conditions, with a focus on minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS), endoscopic spine surgery, and motion-preserving techniques such as disc arthroplasty (total disc replacement). He also has advanced training in orthopedic traumatology.
Dr. Appel completed his general surgery internship at the University of Virginia and his orthopedic surgery residency at Brown University. He went on to complete two fellowships at Brown: first in orthopedic trauma, training under internationally recognized traumatologist Dr. Peter Trafton, and then a second fellowship in spine surgery. Before medical school he earned a master’s degree in molecular genetics, and he has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications along with poster and podium presentations.
Guided by the philosophy “treat the patient, not the film,” Dr. Appel takes a patient-first approach — recommending surgery only when it is the right answer and favoring the least invasive option that solves the problem. He sees patients across Empire’s Long Island, New York offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma.
Services & procedures
Serving Patients Across Long Island, NY
Credentials & Professional Background
Dr. Appel is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon with additional fellowship training in orthopedic traumatology, focused on minimally invasive and motion-preserving spine surgery.
Board Certification
- Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (2009)
Fellowship & Training
- Orthopedic Spine Surgery Fellowship & Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship — Brown University / Alpert Medical School, Rhode Island Hospital
- Residency in Orthopedic Surgery — Brown University / Alpert Medical School
- Clinical Instructor, Orthopedic Surgery — Brown University
Education
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) — Medical University of South Carolina
- Master of Science, Molecular Genetics — Georgia State University
- Bachelor of Arts, Biology — Boston University
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- North American Spine Society (NASS)
- Florida Orthopaedic Society (FOS)
Select Publications
- “Lumbar Disc Herniation: Evaluation of Information on the Internet,” Spine (2005)
- Peer-reviewed research on posterolateral lumbar fusion (rhBMP-6), published in Spine / The Spine Journal
- Research on endoscopic gastrocnemius recession, Foot & Ankle International
Medicare, Workers Comp,
No Fault & Others.
We accept most major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. Select your state to see accepted plans.
Accepted at our New York Locations
Workers' Compensation
No-Fault (NY & NJ)
Lien Cases
Medicare
Empire BCBS
BCBS / Anthem
Cigna
Aetna
Empire NYSHIP
Oxford (PPO)
United Health Care
GHI / Emblem Health
Humana (PPO)
Magnacare (PPO)
Northwell Direct
1199 SEIU
Self Pay
Accepted at our New Jersey Locations
No-Fault (NJ)
Lien Cases
Horizon BCBS
Empire NYSHIP
BCBS / Anthem (PPO)
Cigna
Aetna (PPO)
GHI / Emblem (PPO)
Port Authority UHC
Verizon Plan
Carpenter & Trade Unions
Self Pay
Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted at our New Jersey locations. Not sure about your plan? Call us and we'll verify before your visit.
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Board-certified physicians dedicated to accurate diagnosis and minimally invasive care.
Pain Management
John Akhnoukh, M.D.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist & Interventional Pain Management Physician
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Pain Management
James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist & Interventional Pain Management Physician
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Pain Management
Benjamin Souferi, D.O.
Fellowship-Trained Interventional Pain Medicine Physician (Cleveland Clinic)
Visit ProfilePain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.