Dr. Salem earned his medical degree and  finished his residency in 2004. He then  completed several fellowship programs: Advanced Reconstructive spinal surgery at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, and Adult Scoliosis and Trauma fellowships at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. AO trauma fellowship in Switzerland and 2years research fellowship at Johns Hopkins.

He is Board certified by ABSS American Board of Spinal surgery  and member of the AANOS American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons .