Faces of Medicine: Meet Dr. Chris Kager 

Chris Kager was raised in upstate New York, where his father worked in quality control for Owens Corning, and his mother was on staff with the New York State Department of Health. He lettered in soccer and football in high school and was Valedictorian of his class. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where he met his future wife, Stephanie. Both earned medical degrees -- Chris continued at Penn's medical school and Stephanie graduated from Temple University School of Medicine. They married during their medical school years, a time he describes as "a rite of initiation, a long four years when a lot of good friendships were formed." 

Dr. Kager went on to specialize in neurosurgery, completing his Neurosurgery Residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and his Complex Spinal Surgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Stephanie pursued pediatrics, and also finished her training at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. 

Today they are raising six children in Manheim Township, and the four oldest are very active in sports, including lacrosse, tennis and track. The couple are avid tennis players and runners. Both have completed the Ocean Drive Marathon at the Jersey Shore, and the Chicago Marathon twice. Stephanie also finished the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. and the 50-mile JFK Ultra-Marathon in Hagerstown, MD in the Fall of 2007. The Kager family combines their love of sports and travel with ski trips, and beach vacations in Maine and Carolina's Outer Banks. 

"The time commitment to being a surgeon is pretty significant," Dr. Kager says, " and you always wish for a little more free time."

Working with THINK FIRST® for Children

Some of that scarce free time goes to support the work of a national head and spine injury prevention organization for children called THINK FIRST®. The group works to educate kids on safe behavior like wearing helmets and avoiding risky behavior. THINK FIRST® members go to middle schools and high schools to give presentations, and take special training each year through the national group to stay current on trends and new approaches to keeping kids safe and enlightened. The goal is fewer injuries and efficient, expedient handling of those that do occur. 

THINK FIRST® Lancaster is now an official satellite chapter of the national organization. Dr. Kager credits nurses Carol Noll, Genie Hostetter, Brendan Wood and Jennifer Cutler, of Lancaster General Hospital's neurosurgical unit, for making it happen. "Dr. Garrido from our practice was previously involved with the effort," he explained, "and I was glad to get on board. We talked to a record number of kids last year, and we'll get to even more schools and events this year. With my wife being a pediatrician, and me a neurosurgeon, it's a natural choice for us, and a way to be involved with our community." 

Another ardent pursuit is his activism toward limiting and lowering the cost of medical liability insurance in Pennsylvania. Dr. Kager has worked diligently to educate the public, patient by patient, about this critical issue. His efforts and those of other neurosurgeons across the state have bolstered the work of the Pennsylvania Medical Society in effecting critical changes that impact every citizen here. He believes that only by assuring acceptable premiums for liability insurance can medical

practices hope to attract and retain skilled physicians. He summarizes that the quality of Lancaster County's health care system simply cannot prevail without the sustained infusion of new physicians.

"I'm able to utilize the most up-to-date surgical techniques and technology," he explained. He has performed hundreds of Kyphoplasty procedures, used new approaches for fusion and non-fusion surgery, and had the distinction of doing the first artificial lumbar disc surgery in Lancaster County. 

Asked to describe the qualities of a neurosurgeon, Dr. Kager says that it requires technical skill coupled with an ability to make difficult decisions. He believes that most neurosurgeons are driven by a strong compulsion to make a difference, and that they like to know all the details. "Situations arise where we have to make decisions when we don't know all the information," he says. "This is when our instincts and training guide our judgment, and lead us to take the necessary action to help the patient." 

The age range of Dr. Kager's patients can be anywhere from teens to the elderly. He says that he leaves the "high tech" out of the exam room, and simply talks to his patients, putting them at ease and listening. Many senior patients are referred to him for spinal problems, particularly compression fractures. Because he sees a good number of older individuals, he finds that he has become more patient and inclined to take more time to address their concerns, alleviate unfounded fears, and eliminate misconceptions.

On the delivery of medical care, in his own words

"The components of the U.S. health care system are unsurpassed in the world. The physicians are the best trained. Other countries send their physicians here to be trained. The same is true for the hospital and nurses. 

The major issues confronting us in this country are the rising costs of health care and subsequently the limited access to health care. I believe that every person should have access, and as a physician I continue to speak out on what I think are necessary reforms in the area of malpractice insurance. I believe that most reasonable people are aware that the cost of this insurance has gotten out of hand. Most patients support complete tort reform, including placing "caps" on jury awards. 

I voice my opinion because I am a young physician who wants to remain in Pennsylvania. I think that it is critically important to change the status quo, because if we don't, we will have a complete meltdown in access to medical care for Pennsylvanians. Lancaster's medical community is unbelievable compared with any other area I have been in. It was an important factor in our choice to come to Lancaster, and it is the reason I want to stay".