One of the mentors who has had the greatest influence on my career is Dr Craig Kuhns. He taught me two lessons that have shaped the way I practice every day. First, treat every patient as an individual. No two patients are exactly alike, and the best operation is the one that is tailored to the person's specific anatomy, pathology, and goals. He emphasized the importance of having a broad surgical armamentarium so that the procedure fits the patient - not the other way around.

His second lesson was even more profound: when a patient is having a problem, run to them, not away from them. As surgeons, complications and unexpected outcomes are inevitable, but our responsibility to our patients never changes. Being present, honest and committed during the difficult moments is just as important as technical excellence in the operating room. That advice has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to guide the way I care for my patients.

My initial involvement with NASS was inspired by my fellowship director. At Harvard, Dr. Christopher Bono, a past president of NASS. Dr. Bono has been an exceptional mentor whose passion for education, collaboration, and advancing spine care left a lasting impression on me. His example encouraged me to become actively involved in NASS, and over the years I've remained engaged because of the outstanding educational opportunities, collegial relationships, and shared commitment to improving patient care. It has been incredibly rewarding to be a part of a community dedicated to advancing the field of spine surgery.

The accomplishment I am most proud of is helping build the Spine Center of Excellence at a small Community Hospital in Jefferson City, MO, culminating and earning the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Spine Certification. As chief of surgery and medical director of the Spine program, I had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional team whose dedication and commitment made this achievement possible. While I am proud of my own contributions, I am even more proud of what we accomplished together. Creating a program that delivers high quality, evidence-based spine close to home for our patients, has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my career.