The North American Spine Society has announced the winners for its five Recognition Awards.
The recognitions are awarded to individuals who make outstanding contributions to NASS and the spine care field, according to a Nov. 14 news release from the organization.
Honorees are nominated by their peers in the spine industry.
Here are the five award winners:
- Henry Farfan Award: Virginie Lafage, PhD, who has extensive clinical training in spine surgery with focuses on sagittal spinopelvic alignment, adult spinal deformity, cervical deformity and soft tissue analysis. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in spine related basic science research.
- Leon Wiltse Award: Michael Steinmetz, MD, who is an academic spine surgeon and chair of the department of neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. The award recognizes excellence in leadership and/or clinical research in spine care.
- David Selby Award: David O’Brien, MD, who is physiatrist at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in spine related basic science research.
- Spine Advocacy Award: Donna Lahey, RNFA, who is registered nurse first assist with more than three decades of experience specializing in spinal research and education. She is also CEO of the Spine Institute of Arizona. The award recognizes NASS members who have made exceptional contributions to the federal advocacy efforts on behalf of patients and members of the society.
- International Award: Hani Mhaidli, MD, PhD, who is an orthopedic surgeon and has served on multiple NASS committees. The award recognizes international members of the NASS who have made outstanding contributions in basic science research, clinical research, or service to the organization.
