Dr. Laviel A. Fernandez

Laviel Fernandez, M.D., is a fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon who provides expert spine care to patients at our Evans, Downtown Augusta, and Aiken locations. Dr. Fernandez specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of spinal disorders, including spinal deformities, degenerative spine conditions, spine trauma, spine tumors, and both pediatric and adult scoliosis. He has advanced training in minimally invasive spine surgery and is committed to providing individualized care tailored to each patient's needs. Dr. Fernandez is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French, which allows him to effectively communicate with a broad and diverse patient population.Dr. Fernandez performs a comprehensive array of spinal procedures, including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc replacement, posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion, cervical laminoplasty, thoracic and lumbar laminectomy and fusion, lumbar microdiscectomy, anterior and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF and LLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and kyphoplasty. He emphasizes surgical precision and optimal outcomes, integrating evidence-based techniques and the latest advancements in spinal care.Dr. Fernandez earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University before receiving his Doctor of Medicine from Stony Brook School of Medicine, where he graduated with Distinction in Basic Science Research and was honored with induction into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He went on to complete his residency in orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital in New York, NY, followed by advanced fellowship training in spine surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the nation's premier centers for complex spine care.During his training, Dr. Fernandez held several leadership and mentorship roles. At NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, he served as the resident representative on the Occurrence Review Committee and was also selected to serve on the department's Diversity Committee, where he supported efforts to mentor underrepresented applicants to orthopedic surgery. Earlier in his career, he served as Director of Pre-Medical Advising for the Student National Medical Association at Stony Brook, where he helped initiate outreach programs for students from underserved high schools in the Long Island and New York City area.Throughout his training, Dr. Fernandez has demonstrated a strong commitment to clinical excellence, academic inquiry, and compassionate care. His professional interests include spinal reconstruction, motion preserving surgical techniques, and advancing minimally invasive technologies in spine surgery.