- Fellowship - Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2015-2016), Spine Surgery
- Residency - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2011-2015), Orthopedic Surgery
- Residency - Keck School of Medicine of USC (2010-2011), Orthopedic Surgery
- Medical School - UT Southwestern Medical Center (2006-2010)
- Internship - Keck School of Medicine of USC (2010-2011)
Michael Van Hal, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgery - Spine Orthopaedics
- Back, Neck, & Spine Degenerative & Inflammatory Conditions
- Back, Neck, & Spine Pain
Biography
Michael Van Hal, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at UT Southwestern’s Multidisciplinary Spine Center.
He earned his medical degree at UT Southwestern Medical Center and completed two separate residencies in orthopaedic surgery, first at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and later at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He then received advanced training in spine surgery through a fellowship at Harvard Medical School and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Dr. Van Hal is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the North American Spine Society. In 2010 he received the Ho Din Award, an honor that recognizes unique personal qualities in physicians.
In 2019, Dr. Van Hal was named a Texas Monthly Super Doctor Rising Star.
Meet Dr. Van Hal
Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon in Dallas
As an orthopaedic spine surgeon, Michael Van Hal, M.D. treats a variety of spine pathologies, including degenerative conditions, acute disc herniations, fractures, and deformities.
“I am proud to be a part of the Spine Center,” Dr. Van Hal says. “I think multidisciplinary spine care is really the best way to treat a patient when focusing on improving his or her health. Surgery has the best outcomes when done for the right reasons.”
The role of orthopaedics in changing people’s lives, often dramatically, is what drew Dr. Van Hal to the discipline and eventually led him to specialize in spinal care.
“There’s something special about taking care of people and seeing them get better,” he says. “Spine surgery done for the right reason has some of the best results.”
Dr. Van Hal’s goal as an orthopaedic spine surgeon is to get patients the right treatment so they can get back to their normal routine as soon as possible. Whether or not surgery is an option, with his skill and expertise he can give patients an excellent start to getting back on their feet.
“Spine surgery is not always what’s needed,” he notes. “In fact, the majority of back and neck issues can be treated nonoperatively. Our multidisciplinary spine center can get people the care they need, whether it’s surgical or nonsurgical. Either way, we try to treat the problem in the least invasive way possible and ultimately save surgery for those who do truly need it – which leads to happier patients.”
Dr. Van Hal’s research revolves around degenerative disc disease and what causes it. He is also helping build a registry system that tracks patients’ progress over time.
Education & Training
Honors & Awards
- D Magazine Best Doctor 2020-2022
- Texas Monthly Super Doctor Rising Star 2019
Books & Publications
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Publications
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Vancomycin Powder Regimen for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Complex Spine Surgeries.
Van Hal M, Lee J, Laudermilch D, Nwasike C, Kang J Clinical spine surgery 2017 Mar -
Functional outcomes in elderly patients with acetabular fractures treated with minimally invasive reduction and percutaneous fixation.
Gary JL, VanHal M, Gibbons SD, Reinert CM, Starr AJ Journal of orthopaedic trauma 2012 May 26 5 278-83 -
Factors influencing oxygen store during denitrogenation in the healthy patient.
Sum Ping SJ, Makary LF, Van Hal MD Journal of clinical anesthesia 2009 May 21 3 183-9
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Vancomycin Powder Regimen for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Complex Spine Surgeries.
Clinical Focus
- Back, Neck, & Spine Degenerative & Inflammatory Conditions
- Back, Neck, & Spine Pain
- Back, Neck, & Spine Fractures
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Q&A by Dr. Van Hal
Results: 2 Locations
Spine Center
at James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center 5303 Harry Hines Blvd., 7th Floor, Suite 800Dallas, Texas 75390 214-645-2225 Directions to Spine Center Parking Info for Spine Center
Spine Center
at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Las Colinas 6121 N. Highway 161, 3rd Floor, Suite 300Irving, Texas 75038 214-645-2225 Directions to Spine Center