Here are 52 updates from orthopedic and spine-focused professional societies in the United States in 2014 so far.
North American Spine Society
1. NASS created evidence-based coverage policy recommendations for spine care treatments, procedures and diagnostics.
2. The North American Spine Society launched a new website design.
3. The North American Spine Society hosted its annual Advocacy Day on March 27 and the event included several NASS members who flew to Washington, D.C., and met with congressional representatives and staff members from their districts to discuss issues impacting spine care nationwide.
4. NASS participated in the National Day of Action to Repeal the SGR yesterday to urge congressional representatives to enact a permanent solution to the sustainable growth rate.
5. In February, the North American Spine Society announced support for the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014.
6. The North American Spine Society chose Ontario, Canada-based Ortech Data Centre to design and manage the NASS registry.
International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
7. The American Medical Association awarded the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery a seat at the table of its House of Delegates.
8. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery issued the ISASS Policy Statement — Cervical Interbody in the International Journal of Spine Surgery.
9. ISASS awarded the Charles D. Ray Award for Best Clinical Paper to a study comparing one-level total disc replacement patients to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion patients.
10. ISASS awarded the 2014 ISASS Leon Wiltse Award for Best Overall Paper to a paper titled "XLIF vs. MAS TLIF for the Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Interim Results from an Ongoing Prospective Multi-center Comparative Study" authored by Antoine G. Tohmeh, MD, Robert E. Isaacs, MD and Jonathan Sembrano, MD.
11. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery named Gunnar B.J. Andersson, MD, PhD, president for 2014 to 2015.
12. ISASS released a policy statement on cervical artificial disc replacement.
13. ISASS participated in a conference call with the American Medical Association addressing the SGR repeal legislation.
Scoliosis Research Society
14. The Scoliosis Research Society awarded eight spine surgeons from the United States the OrthoPediatric North American Resident/Fellow Meeting Scholarships.
15. The Scoliosis Research Society awarded the Lifetime Achievement Awards to Alvin H. Crawford, MD, and David S. Bradford, MD.
16. The Scoliosis Research Society published results in Spine of the SRS-22 instrument to assess treatment outcomes for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
17. George H. Thompson, MD, a professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and director of pediatric orthopedics at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scoliosis Research Society in 2013.
Cervical Spine Research Society
18. OrthoCarolina's Bruce V. Darden II, MD, was inducted as 2014 president of the Cervical Spine Research Society.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
19. AAOS named Frederick M. Azar, MD, president of its board of directors.
20. Alan S. Hilibrand, MD, was elected chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Communications Cabinet.
21. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons elected Raj Rao, MD, to its board of directors.
22. James Weinstein, DO, MS, CEO and President of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health System, and his team were awarded the 2014 OREF Clinical Research Award for their work with the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial at the AAOS annual meeting.
23. AAOS appointed Craig A. Butler, MD, and Kimberly J. Templeton, MD, representatives to the National Quality Forum.
24. AAOS will hold its National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in 2015 again to reinforce advocacy efforts.
25. AAOS hired Melissa H. Leeb as director of public relations and Ellen Moore the new Chief Education Officer.
26. AAOS honored Robert D. D'Ambrosia, MD, for his work to advance diversity in orthopedics and Gary E. Friedlaender, MD, with the 2014 William W. Tipton Leadership Award.
27. The society named the 2014-2015 class of the Leadership Fellows Program.
28. AAOS announced Wolter Kluwer Health will now publish the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
29. In April, AAOS adopted a new strategic plan — "Vision 20/20."
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
30. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine presented the O'Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award to five researchers for their research on revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
31. James R. Andrews, MD, received the 2014 Robert E. Leach Mr. Sports Medicine Award at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Seattle.
32. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine installed Robert A. Arciero, MD, as the 43rd president of the society.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons
33. The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, an affiliate of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons announced the recipients of its post-residency, clinical fellowship grant program for the 2014 to2015 academic year.
34. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons released a list of neurosurgical tests or procedures that are commonly ordered, but not always necessary, as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.
35. Roger Härtl, MD, professor of neurological surgery and his spine team in collaboration with Larry Bonassar, PhD, and his biomedical engineering team, of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York were named the 2014 winners of the Ronald Apfelbaum Research Award, presented by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves.
36. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons named Gail L. Rosseau, MD, FAANS, vice president.
37. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons awarded the Humanitarian Award to Anselmo Pineda, MD, who is a professor of neurobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
38. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons named H. Hunter Batjer, MD, FAANS, president-elect for 2015 to 2016.
39. Troy M. Tippett, MD, was awarded the Harvey Cushing Medal by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons for his contributions to neurosurgery through leadership, service and dedication.
40. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons named Robert E. Harbaugh, MD, FAANS, president for 2015 to 2016.
41. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons released a position statement on team-based care in neurosurgery.
42. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons released their 2014 Legislative Agenda.
43. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons sent a letter to U.S. Congressmen Michael Burgess, MD, and Gene Green supporting the "Trauma System and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act."
44. Mustafa K. Baskaya, MD; Ricardo J. Komotar, MD; and Krystal L. Tomei, MD; were appointed ex-officio of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Executive Committee, by request of the CNS President.
45. Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD, was elected a member-at-large of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Executive Committee for a two-year term.
46. Sepideh Amin-Hanjani, MD, was elected as a member-at-large of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' executive committee for a two-year term.
Orthopaedic Trauma Association
47. The Orthopaedic Trauma Association named nine new board members and officers, including Ross K. Leighton, MD, as president and Theodore Miclau III, MD, as president-elect.
Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons
48. The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons named Todd J. Albert, MD, FACS, a board member as the editor's voting representative.
49. Charles L. Saltzman, MD, was named president of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.
AO Spine North America
50. AO Spine North America joined the Council of Surgical Spine Specialties as one of its founding members.
Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
51. The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America awarded Richard M. Schwend, MD, the 2014 POSNA Humanitarian Award.
52. The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America announced Daniel J. Sucato, MD, MS received the Memorial Award.
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