Faculty Focus - Eric Massicotte


Eric Massicotte
Eric Massicotte, MD, MSc, FRCSC

A graduate of the University of Ottawa School of Medicine in 1995, Dr. Massicotte entered the Neurosurgical Training Program at the University of Manitoba from 1995 until 1999, at which time he transferred to the University of Toronto to complete his neurosurgical training. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2001. During his time in Manitoba Dr. Massicotte completed a Master in Science degree in the Department of Surgery. His research focused on white matter changes in a rat model. In order to further his interest in spine work, he under took a fellowship year at Toronto Western Hospital under the direction of Drs. Michael Fehlings and Charles Tator. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, and member of the Division of Neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital. His clinical practice focuses on spine with research interests in outcome measures and guidelines, and medical education.  Dr. Massicotte has three children, Sara and two sons with his lovely wife Kim, Rhys and Piers.

Current Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Staff Neurosurgeon, Toronto Western Hospital
  • Staff Neurosurgeon (cross-appointment), Hospital for Sick Children
  • Director of Undergraduate Teaching, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto
  • Surgical Lead in Undergraduate Education, Toronto Western Hospital site, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
  • Program Coordinator, Spine Fellowship Program, Toronto Western Hospital

Selected Awards and Distinctions

  • Ross Fleming Surgical Education Award, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, 2010
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Wightman-Berris Academy, University of Toronto, 2009
  • Alan R. Hudson Faculty Teaching Award, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, 2007

Selected Professional Activities

  • Evaluation Committee, Neurosurgery Examination Board, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, 2009 - present
  • Scientific Program Committee, Neurosurgery, Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation, 2006 - present
  • Residency Program Committee, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, 2006 - present
  • Advisory Board, Toronto Chapter, Think First - Pensez D'Abord Canada, 2004 - present
  • Co-Director, University of Toronto Spine Course, 2004 - present
  • Official Neurosurgeon and Consulting Physician, Toronto Argonauts, 2008 - present

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Al-Omair A, Smith R, Kiehl TR, Lao L, Yu E, Massicotte EM, Keith J, Fehlings MG, Sahgal A. Radiation-induced vertebral compression fracture following spine stereotactic radiosurgery: clinicopathological correlation. J Neurosurg Spine. 2013 May;18(5):430-5.
  • Arvin B, Kalsi-Ryan S, Mercier D, Furlan JC, Massicotte EM, Fehlings MG. Pre-Operative MRI Imaging is Associated With Baseline Neurological Status and Can Predict Postoperative Recovery in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Mar 4.
  • Karpova A, Arun R, Davis AM, Kulkarni AV, Massicotte EM, Mikulis DJ, Lubina ZI, Fehlings MG. Predictors of surgical outcome in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Mar 1;38(5):392-400.
  • Choi D, Morris S, Crockard A, Albert T, Bunger C, Fehlings M, Harrop J, Kawahara N, Martin A, Massicotte EM, Mazel C, Oner FC, Peul W, Tomita K, Wang M. Assessment of quality of life after surgery for spinal metastases. Position statement of the Global Spine Tumour Study Group. World Neurosurg. 2013 Feb 16.
  • Fehlings MG, Jha NK, Hewson SM, Massicotte EM, Kopjar B, Kalsi-Ryan S. Is surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy cost-effective? A cost-utility analysis based on data from the AOSpine North America prospective CSM study. J Neurosurg Spine. 2012 Sep;17(1 Suppl):89-93.
  • Fehlings MG, Vaccaro A, Wilson JR, Singh A, W Cadotte D, Harrop JS, Aarabi B, Shaffrey C, Dvorak M, Fisher C, Arnold P, Massicotte EM, Lewis S, Rampersaud R. Early versus delayed decompression for traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: results of the Surgical Timing in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (STASCIS). PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32037.
  • Arvin B, Kalsi-Ryan S, Karpova A, Mercier D, Furlan JC, Massicotte EM, Fehlings MG. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging can predict neurological recovery after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a prospective study with blinded assessmen. Neurosurgery. 2011 Aug;69(2):362-8.
  • Purzner T, Purzner J, Massicotte EM, Bernstein M. Outpatient brain tumor surgery and spinal decompression: a prospective study of 1003 patients. Neurosurgery. 2011 Jul;69(1):119-26.
  • Taleb FS, Guha A, Arnold PM, Fehlings MG, Massicotte EM. Surgical management of cervical spine manifestations of neurofibromatosis Type 1: long-term clinical and radiological follow-up in 22 cases. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011 Mar;14(3):356-66.