Uri Hadelsberg, MD, MBA
What motivated you to get involved with NASS early in your career?
The organization is the leading spine organization globally, very active in every educational aspect as well as promoting our agenda as spine surgeons at the decision making level and throughout
What do you see as the most exciting developments in spine care today?
Spine trauma: we are so close to having spinal cord-injured patients walk again. It will happen soon. Also endoscopy is becoming more relevant than ever.
What is the biggest challenge facing early-career spine professionals in 2025?
Changing how we perform spine surgery. Big topic but it's there.
How do you think the role of technology (AI, robotics, wearables, etc.) will shape the future of spine care?
AI will help us better evaluate people and better treat them. There are too many options, most are just an overkill and we need AI to help us strengthen our weaknesses. Also robotics will play an increasingly bigger role in spine surgery as it evolves faster than ever.
What advice would you give a spine care provider just starting out in 2065?
Hold on, it's quite the ride! Things will be totally different by that time.
What do you wish had been different about your training? What do you hope training looks like for 2065 providers?
I would have loved to focus on more spine endoscopy surgery during my training, specifically. In general, I think that spine surgery should be a whole different specialty, outside the realms of neurosurgery, orthopedics, pain, or PM&R.
What values or principles do you hope will continue to guide NASS over the next 40 years?
Doing what's good for the patient. Dedicated to further improving surgical treatment and patient outcomes.
How has membership in NASS impacted your career so far?
I have been able to connect to amazing people, real professionals so early on, and to enjoy amazing courses and webinars.
What's one thing about spine practice in 2025 that you think will surprise physicians in 2065?
Robotic surgery
If you could leave a one-sentence message for your future colleagues, what would it be?
Keep on doing what's good for the patient, as if they were your own loved ones.