ROBERT TALAC, MD, PhD
ORTHOPEDIC SPINE SURGEON
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Robert Talac, MD, PhD is an orthopedic spine surgeon and the founder of Renaxis Spine and Orthopedic Restorative Center. Most patients come to see him with back or neck problems that significantly affect their quality of life and they wish to avoid traditional spine surgery
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Dr. Talac earned his medical degree from Medical School, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
1986-1992
GENERAL SURGERY
Dr. Talac completed General Surgery Residency at NsP Trnava, Slovakia
1993-1995
MENTOR: MUDr. Tibor Kružliak
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
From 1995-1998, he completed Fellowship Training in Surgical Oncology at Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech republic
MENTOR: Prof.MUDr. Jan Žaloudik, PhD
PhD IN BIOPHYSICS
Dr. Talac earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1998
His PhD project focused on Non-Invasive Quantification of Tumor Neo-vascularization using Power Doppler.
MENTOR: Prof. MUDr. Ivo Hrazdira, DrSc
DIPLOMA IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY
Dr. Talac has received a Diploma in Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery from University of Louis Pasteur Strasbourg, France
CLINICIAN SCIENTIST
Dr. Talac worked as a clinician/scientist at the Department of Orthopedics and Tissue Engineering, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from 1999-2003. There, he not only learned and perfected cutting-edge strategies that promote the regeneration and restoration of tissues, but further internalized the most important lesson in practicing medicine - "The needs of the patient come first"
MENTORS: Michael J. Yaszemski, MD, PhD
Heidi Nelson, MD
RESIDENCY IN ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
In 2008, Dr. Talac completed 5 years residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California San Diego.
CHAIRMAN: Steven R. Garfin, MD
FELLOWSHIP IN SPINE SURGERY
In 2009, Dr. Talac completed a fellowship in Spine Surgery at the Center for Spine Health, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.
MENTORS: Eduard Benzel, MD
Robert F. McLain, MD
TRAINING IN ENDOSCOPIC SPINE SURGERY
In 2012, Dr. Talac completed a training in Endoscopic Spine Surgery at the Desert Institute for Spine Care, Phoenix, AZ
MENTOR: Anthony Yeung, MD
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Robert Talac, MD, PhD has dedicated his professional life to research and advancing patient care. He is an author of more than 50+ research publications and international presentations. His works was cited more than 250 times world-wide. He is author and co-author of 9 spine surgery related books. Please feel free to review his selected research work.
RESEARCH GRANTS
2003 - 2008 : Injectable Osteoinductive Biodegradable Composites. (Funded by National Institute of Health, USA)
2001 - 2003 : Controlled-drug delivery system based on biodegradable polymers. (Funded by Implex/Zimmer)
2001 – 2003 :Tissue engineering strategies for reconstruction of bone defects. (Funded by NIH, USA)
2000 – 2001 : Identification of individuals at risk of having hereditary colorectal cancer in a general clinic setting. (Funded by CR-20 Grant, Dept. of Surgery , Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN)
1999 – 2000 : The mechanism(s) governing tumor eradication and tumor specific immunity inimmunotherapy using Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B plus anti-tumor x anti-CD3bispecific antibody. (Funded by NIH, USA)
1998 – 2000 : Biomarkers for optimalization of treatment strategy for soft tissue sarcomas. (Funded by IGA Czech Rep.)
1997 – 1998 : A prospective randomized multicenter Phase III clinical study evaluating the effect of PANOREX inj. (Mab CO17-1A) in adjuvant treatment of patient with resected Dukes C carcinoma of colon.
1996 – 1998 : Significance of immunological parameters for monitoring of regional chemo-immunotherapy for liver-metastases of colorectal cancer.
1996 – 1998 : Biological factors predicting the outcome of regional chemotherapy for the liver metastases of colorectal cancer. (Funded by Grant Agency Czech Republic)
1995 – 1997 : Liver-directed treatment strategies for the patients with unresectable colorectal cancer metastasis confined to the liver. (Funded by Grant Agency Czech Republic)
SELECTED SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
Talac R, McLain R. Biopsy Principles and Techniques for Spinal Tumors. Seminars in Spine Surgery. Seminars in Spine Surgery 2009 (6), Vol21, Issue 2, Pages 69-146
Talac R, Kim CW, Lu L, Currier BL, Garfin SR, Yaszemski MJ. In vivo performance of porous injectable poly-(propylene fumarate)-based bone graft substitute. (in print)
Kim CW, Talac R, Lu L, Moore MJ, Currier BL, Garfin SR, Yaszemski MJ. Characterization of porous injectable poly-(propylene fumarate)-based bone graft substitute. (accepted to J Biomaterials Research, 2007)
McConnell EJ, McLemore EC, Talac R, Joshi L, Nelson H. Depletion of activated Vbeta8+ T cells disrupts bispecific antibody directed antitumor immunity. J Surg Res 2004 Nov; 122(1): 103-12.
Reach JS, Haleem A, Talac R, Riemer R, Kent K, An K, Adams J, Barnett J, Lewallen D.: Off-loading of the medial compartment of the knee using implanted magnets. Trans Orthop Res Soc 2004; 29:1258.
Talac R, Friedman JA, Moore MJ, Lu L, Jabbari E, Currier BL, Windebank A, Yaszemski MJ. Animal models of tissue engineering strategies for spinal cord injury. Biomaterials 2004,Apr 25(9): 1505-10
Walker M, Currier BL, Talac R, Yaszemski MJ. Metastatic Disease of the Spine: Evaluation and Treatment. Clinics of Orthopedics and Related Research 2003, 415S: S165-S175
Talac R, Yaszemski MJ, Currier B, Fuchs B, Dekutoski MB, Kim CW, Sim FH. Surgical technique and local recurrence rate in sarcomas of the mobile spine. Clinics of Orthopedics and Related Research 2002, 397:127-132
Coufal O, Zaloudik J, Vagundova M, Svoboda M, Pacovsky Z, Talac R. Tissue bank in cancer research (in Czech). Klinicka Onkologie 2002, 15(2): 41-46.
L.Dusek, J. Žaloudík, R. Talac, , Václav Vagunda, Jirina Hofmanova, A. Kozubík. Possibilities of data analyses - from the measured tumor marker to clinical predictor( In Czech). In Sborník konference Analytická cytometrie I. Brno : BFU AV ČR, 2001. ISBN 80-238-6833-0, pp. 20-21. VI/2001, Brno.
Talac R, Zaloudik J, Hajduch M, Mihal V, Chumchalova J, Hanke I, Kovarik J. Evaluation of drug resistance in vitro and
its clinical implications. (in Czech) Klinicka Onkologie, 2000, 13(2): 2-3.12. Talac R, Nelson H. Current perspectives of bispecific antibodies in cancer treatment. J Biol Regul and Homeost Agents, 2000;14:175-181
Talac R, Nelson H. Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. Home Care Consultant 2000; 7(4): 1A-6A.14. Talac R, Nelson H.
Laparoscopic Colon and Rectal Surgery. Surg Oncol Clin North Am 2000; 9(1):1-12.
Young-Fadok TM, Talac R, Nelson H. Laparoscopic colectomy for cancer. The need for trials. Semin Colon Rectal Surg 1999;2(Jun):94-101
Zaloudik J, Lauerova L, Janakova L, Talac R, Simickova M, Nekulova M, Kovarik J, Sheard M. Significance of pre-treatment immunological parameters in colorectal cancer patients with unresectable metastases to the liver. Hepatogatroenterology 1999; 46: 220-227
Zaloudik J, Talac R, Bartonkova H, Kocak I, Vyzula R. Asymptomatic hepatic artery-biliary fistula secondary to successful liver-directed therapy for pancreatic cancer metastases. Hepatogastroenterology 1998;
Talac R, Horniak I, Bartonkova H, Pacovsky Z, Zaloudik J, Mornstein V., Hrazdira I. Non-invasive blood perfusion assessment of colorectal cancer metastases confined to the liver using Power Doppler Ultrasound (In Czech). Miniinvazivni Terapie 1998; 2: 2-7.
Zaloudik J, Fait V., Vermousek I., Vagunda V., Janakova L., Chrenko V., Sheard M, Talac R, Pacovsky Z. Diversification of breast cancer by therapy (In Czech). Klinicka Onkologie 1997; 10:2-5.
Zaloudik J, Vagunda V, Drahokoupilova M, Janakova L., Talac R., Kalabis J, Sheard M. Biomarkers for predicting response to regional chemo-immunotherapy in the liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. Int J Immunopharm 1997; 19 (9/10), 481-485.
Zaloudik J, Karasek P., Kocak I., Fait V, Talac R.: Interleukin-2 in regional chemo-imunotherapy of liver
tumors (In Czech). Zpravodaj Klinicke farmakologie a farmacie 1996; 102: 16-23.
Talac R, Hrazdira I, Mornestein V. “Power Doppler Imaging” – novel alternative to color Doppler ultrasound. (in Czech) Scripta Medica 1996; 9:57-6023.
Zaloudik J, Karasek P, Kocak I, Fait V, Talac R. Cytokines in regional chemoimmunotherapy of liver tumors (in Czech) Klinicka Onkologie, 1996;9(4)109-114.
Talac R, Zaloudik J, Pacovsky Z, Fait V. Neovascularization in solid tumors (In Czech) Klinicka Onkologie 1995;8(6):165-167.
TEXTBOOKS & BOOK CHAPTERS
Talac R. The Insider's Guide to Neck and Back Care. eBook-2018
Talac R Spine Surgery Demystifying. e-Book 2020
TalacR. Complication of artificial disc replacement. Spine Surgery. In E.Benzel Spine Surgery Technique, Complications avoidance and Management 2013.
Talac R, Kalfas I. Recurrent disc herniation. Spine Surgery In E.Benzel Spine Surgery Technique, Complications avoidance and Management 2013.
Talac R, Smith JJ. Acute Injuries: Shoulder Fractures and Acromioclavicular and Sternoclavicular joint injuries. In: Don Johnson and Rob Pedowitz (eds): Practical Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy. Lippincott Williams &Wilkins 2007, Philadelphia, pp259-272
Long M, Talac R, Yaszemski MJ. Issues involving standards development for synthetic material bone graft substitutes. In: Cato T. Laurencin (ed): Bone Graft Substitutes: ASTM International, West
Conshohocken PA 2003, pp 298-308
Talac R, McConnell EJ. Application of
bispecific antibodies in anti-cancer therapy. (in Czech). In Zaloudik et al. (eds) Monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy, Brno 2000, pp 72-79.
Talac R, McConnell EJ. Immunomonitoring of immune-based anticancer therapies (in Czech). In Zaloudik et al. (eds) Monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy, Brno 2000, pp 15-25.
Talac R, Zaloudik J, Fait V, Pacovsky Z, Kocak I, Karasek P, Leypold J, Vyzula R, Bartonkova H, Nekulova M. Liver-directed treatment strategies in the patients with liver tumors (In Czech). B.Braun, Brno, 1997;pp1-56.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Robert Talac, MD, PhD is a recipient of the Patients' Choice Award (2011, 2012, 2013) and the Most Compassionate Doctor Award (2011, 2013). These awards reflects the difference the doctor makes in the lives of the patients. The honor is bestowed upon physicians who received near perfect scores, as voted by their patients. In fact, of the nations 830,000 active doctors, only 5% were awarded this honor by their patients. The International Association of Orthopedic Surgeons recognized Dr. Talac as a Top Orthopedic Spine Surgeon.
