SUMMARY
The research interests of Jonathan M. Morris, M.D., focus on neuroradiology and minimally invasive spine intervention. Dr. Morris uses 3D printing for preoperative planning, custom surgical and pediatric devices, and patient-matched prosthetic appliances. He also scales immersive technologies for enterprise use, including virtual and augmented reality and intraoperative navigation.
Watch Mayo Clinic’s documentary about 3D printing, Pursuing Possible, to learn more.
Focus areas
- Minimally invasive thermal ablation of tumors involving the spine, sacrum and musculoskeletal system, and cement augmentation for palliative pain relief and structural support for patients with metastatic disease.
- Point-of-care manufacturing using 3D printing for preoperative planning, custom surgical and pediatric devices, and patient-matched prosthetic appliances.
- Scaling immersive technologies for enterprise use, including virtual and augmented reality for preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation and broad educational uses.
Significance to patient care
Ablation therapy is a procedure healthcare professionals use to destroy tumors or other tissue that can be present in many conditions. Dr. Morris performs ablation of tumors involving the spine, the sacrum — a bone at the base of the spine — and other bones. This minimally invasive approach treats tumors that are cancerous and noncancerous. Dr. Morris combines this approach with cement augmentation, otherwise known as kyphoplasty. In this procedure, he injects cement to support bone and ease pain for patients who are at risk of spine fracture or are in pain from fractures of the spine.
Professional highlights
- Executive medical director, Immersive and Experiential Learning, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2023-present.
- Medical director, Biomedical and Scientific Visualization, Division of Experiential Learning, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2020-present.
- Medical director, 3D Anatomic Modeling Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 2019-present.
- Head, Minimally Invasive Spine Tumor Ablation, Mayo Clinic, 2006-present.