I’d point to two: the ability to critically evaluate your own data and outcomes, and the willingness to collaborate broadly. Spine surgery is moving quickly, with new technology, new pain management strategies, and a growing emphasis on value-based care. The surgeons who will lead the field forward are the ones asking rigorous research questions about their own practice, the kind of work I’ve tried to build through our delirium-reduction and regional nerve block research, and the ones willing to work across institutions and disciplines, as NASS committees and multi-site work like the Global Spine Congress presentations have shown me is essential.

I got involved with NASS as a resident, drawn in by the sense that this was a community genuinely invested in advancing spine care, not just presenting research for its own sake. What has kept me engaged is watching that investment translate into real impact, from serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sub-Committee to now co-chairing the Spine Surgery Fundamentals Work Group and chairing the Early Career Advisory Council Development Workgroup. NASS has given me a platform to contribute to the field at a level I couldn’t reach on my own, and the colleagues I’ve met through this organization have become genuine collaborators and friends.

Earning the Lori A. Karol, MD Women in Spine Award from the Scoliosis Research Society in 2025 stands out, not because of the recognition itself, but because of what it represents: a career built on mentoring other women into this field while still pushing my own research and clinical practice forward. Balancing an active OR schedule with NIH and OREF-funded research on reducing opioid use after spinal fusion, while also mentoring residents and serving on multiple national committees, has taken real intention. Being recognized for that combination, clinical excellence, research contribution, and mentorship, means a great deal to me.