After obtaining her mechanical engineering degree in France, Dr. Virginie Lafage pursued a PhD in Biomechanics with a focus on finite element analysis and biomechanical simulations for scoliosis surgery. Her journey led to extensive clinical training in spine surgery under the mentorship of Jean Dubousset, MD, and Frank Schwab, MD, in Paris and New York respectively, with a specific focus on sagittal spinopelvic alignment, adult spinal deformity, cervical deformity, and soft tissue analysis.

Dr. Lafage became adept in multiple areas of clinical research, including managing multicenter trials, radiological and force plate analysis, complex statistical analysis, computer programming and manuscript preparation. In her roles as a Director of Research at NYU, HSS, and now Lenox Hill Hospital, along with her involvement in the International Spine Study Group, she has contributed to more than 650 peer-reviewed publications and participated in 1,200 podium presentations worldwide.

To bridge the gap between academic research and clinical practice, Drs. Lafage and Schwab co-founded Surgimap, an FDA-authorized platform that facilitates medical image compilation, spine-specific alignment parameter evaluation, surgical planning, outcome simulation, and collaborative sharing.

Dr. Lafage's passion for mentorship has guided 70-plus research assistants, residents, clinical fellows, research fellows, engineers, and physicians in spine research, fostering global collaborations. She is dedicated to inspiring others to pursue high-quality research in the field. Recently, she assumed the role of Assistant Vice President of Clinical Research for Orthopedics at Lenox Hill Hospital, expanding her contributions to orthopedic research.