Kamil Okroj, MD

"I have always had a passion for science, learning, and helping others – traits leading multiple teachers during my school days to suggest I pursue a career in medicine. My interest was solidified during high school when a course provided me the opportunity to shadow multiple doctors at a local community hospital. Those experiences led me to fall in love with the idea of becoming a physician.

I spent 8 years at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the undergraduate college before attending its esteemed Perelman School of Medicine where I eventually earned my medical degree. Through hard work and dedication, I became both the first in my family to graduate from college and also the only doctor.

I’ve been an athlete all of my life and even played wide-receiver at college. Although my undergraduate degree was in biology, I’ve also always loved physics and took numerous courses related to physical mechanics while at Penn. Considering my love for sports, working with my hands, and the principles of physics – especially mechanics – pursuing the specialty of orthopedic surgery was an obvious choice for me. I followed medical school with an orthopedic surgery residency at the prestigious Rothman Orthopedic Institute. While there, I was fascinated by the importance of spine alignment and mechanics to a patient’s overall health and function. This led to my decision to subspecialize as an orthopedic spine surgeon. I pursued additional, advanced-training with an orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Today, in my practice, I have a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery. I offer my patients a holistic approach to care and pay close attention to their mental health in addition to their overall physical well-being. The mind-body connection is stronger than most realize and a lot of times the first signs of stress or anxiety are neck and back pain. This approach leads me to connect with my patients on a deeper level to understand which factors in their lives (work, family, diet, etc.) might be contributing to their back problems. Treating my patients as I would a member of my own family, I try to exhaust all non-operative treatments before recommending surgery. Ultimately, through this more holistic approach, my goal is to improve patients’ pain and function so they can return to the activities that bring them joy and to be as independent as possible.

When I am not practicing medicine, I enjoy hiking, basketball, exploring restaurants, listening to music, and spending time with family."