A pivotal moment in my career occurred when I began asking a simple question: Are we truly measuring what matters most to our patients?

Radiographic alignment and patient-reported outcome measures remain fundamental to spine care, yet I frequently observed patients whose functional abilities did not align with what their imaging or questionnaires suggested. At the same time, concepts such as the Cone of Economy were routinely discussed as important indicators of spinal balance and efficiency, but objective methods to quantify them were limited.

Those observations revealed an important gap in the field and ultimately shaped my professional mission. I became driven to develop objective approaches for measuring movement, function, and disability using technologies such as motion capture, electromyography, wearable sensors, virtual reality, and digital health platforms.

That experience taught me that some of the most meaningful advances occur at the intersection of disciplines. Since then, my career has focused on translating engineering principles into clinically meaningful tools that complement traditional assessments and provide a more complete understanding of patient disability and function before and after spine intervention. My goal has always been to help clinicians better understand how patients move, perform, and recover, not just how they look on an image.

As an engineer working in a surgeon-driven field, I was drawn to NASS because it offered a unique opportunity to learn directly from the clinicians who make life-changing decisions for patients every day. Early in my career, I faced many challenges learning how to translate complex biomechanical concepts into information that could directly inform patient care. Looking back, those obstacles became some of the most valuable lessons of my professional journey and reinforced the importance of speaking a common language across disciplines.

What initially attracted me to NASS was the opportunity to be part of a community that values both scientific rigor and clinical impact. I wanted to better understand the challenges spine surgeons face and contribute objective tools and perspectives that could help improve patient care.

What has kept me engaged is the multidisciplinary nature of the spine community. Throughout the years, NASS has connected me with exceptional mentors, collaborators, and friends from diverse backgrounds, including spine surgery, neurosurgery, physical therapy, engineering, and data science. These interactions continually challenge me to think differently and push the boundaries of what is possible. I have also greatly valued the Society’s educational mission. NASS provides an unparalleled platform for sharing new ideas, discussing emerging technologies, and fostering collaborations that ultimately advance spine care. Every year, I leave NASS meetings inspired by the collective commitment to improving outcomes for patients with spinal disorders.

Many of my colleagues may be surprised to learn that one of my favorite activities outside the laboratory is cooking. I enjoy preparing meals for family and close friends and have been passionate about cooking since I was young. Growing up surrounded by diverse international cuisines exposed me to a rich variety of flavors, traditions, and family recipes that continue to inspire me today.

Some of my favorite dishes include Moroccan couscous, Arayes, grilled lamb chops, and spicy Moroccan fish, each with my own signature twist. For me, cooking is both creative and analytical. Much like research, it requires curiosity, precision, experimentation, and attention to detail. Small adjustments can completely change the outcome, and the pursuit of continuous improvement never ends.

In many ways, the same mindset that drives my scientific work, innovation, problem-solving, and a passion for creating something meaningful, is what I bring to the kitchen as well.