Allen Carl, MD
What first brought you to NASS, and what do you remember about the early years?
The first meeting in Lake George was comfortable and welcoming. NASS was welcoming compared to the other existing spine societies
Can you share your favorite NASS memory?
I had gotten my position on staff at Albany Med. I arrived just before the first NASS meeting. During my first week, the most revered doctor (who was in his 80s) fell over his dog and sustained a Type 2 odontoid fracture; I was told that if it didn't go well, I should not unpack.
John Kostuik kindly agreed to scrub with me. All went well and that doctor lived into his 90s and came to the hospital every day to see patients. He became my greatest supporter as I was a brash downstate New Yorker, which was not always welcome to those upstate.
Oh, and I still made it in time to attend all of that first NASS meeting.
What was spine care like when you entered the field and how did it evolve throughout your career?
It was just the start of using pedicle screws. I would buy Harrington screws from Zimmer, take them to the hospital machine shop, and have them ream the screws out to fit a CD rod. I would then crimp in place.
Also bought jet wire twisters for 7 dollars a piece from the local hardware store. Then government rules came into play and made what we thought were impediments and roadblocks.
Was there a particular project, committee, or initiative you were proud to be a part of? What made it memorable?
I was very happy to gather case data to support the use of pedicle screws and to show their efficacy. NASS was the strong force to get this done. I remember contributing over 50 cases. It felt like a very trying time.
Who were some of the people who shaped your experience in NASS?
Arthur Steffee, John Kostuik, and Hansen Yuan.
What did it feel like to be a part of building NASS into what it is today?
It always felt inclusive, even during the turbulent times when the society was trying to include more than just surgeons.
Looking back, what was one of the biggest challenges the spine field faced during your active years, and how was it addressed?
The pedicle screw lawsuits and how it was explained to the public. Without the work of those in NASS, the outcome could have been very different.
If you could preserve one lesson or philosophy for future generations of spine care providers, what would it be?
Do the right thing with your knowledge to help patients just like you would do if they were your family members.
What did you learn from patients that changed how you approached your work or saw your role in the field?
I learned how to improve my skills in caring about humans by the interactions I had with patients. This brought me greater understanding.
What does "service to the profession" mean to you, and how did you try to live that out?
Volunteer. Make yourself available, as we have been given great skills and there is much good we can do.
What do you see as the most important challenge or opportunity facing the future of spine care?
Making economic rewards more important than the altruistic ideals we had when applying to medical school.
What emerging innovations do you think will have the most impact on patient care?
Advanced imaging, advanced guidance tools, and robotics, which will eventually make the skills we have now obsolete.
If you were entering the field today, what area would you be most excited to pursue?
Spinal genetics, biochemistry, and understanding the importance of soft tissues — something that I have not given my time and effort to.
In your view, what role should professional societies like NASS play in shaping the future of medicine?
Helping to be the guide to uncovering best practices in a way that has very strong scientific support and backing.
What's one hope you have for the spine community 40 years from now?
Continue to evolve and learn the best practices.
Help shepherd those who need their skills optimized. We need to police our own or eventually others may do so for us and they might not be in the spine care community.
What would you most like to be remembered for in your career?
Giving the best care that I possibly could to those who wanted my help.
If someone finds your message in this time capsule decades from now, what would you want them to know about the people who built NASS?
Those people had great vision and they spent time and effort to see this spine world evolve.
What has being part of NASS meant to you personally?
Met many great minds and learned very much. It was important at every stage in my career.
What do you believe is NASS' greatest legacy to the field, and what do you hope future members carry forward?
NASS amalgamated the file of spine across all spinal disciplines.
If someone in 2065 is reading this and just starting their career in spine, what do you want them to know?
The early efforts were from great pioneers and we should all try to advance care and knowledge as we have been given a great gift.