One of the most impactful NASS volunteer experiences for me was my heavy involvement in the effort to develop evidence-based coverage recommendations. What began as a focused task force ultimately evolved into one of the Society’s most influential standing committees.

This work gave me the opportunity to collaborate closely with outstanding clinicians from every specialty involved in spine care—orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, pain specialists, and radiologists. Balancing strong patient advocacy with responsible stewardship of resources, while working to reduce inappropriate procedures, was challenging but deeply rewarding. The process pushed me to examine my own decision-making more critically and exposed me to the very different, yet equally thoughtful, ways that excellent physicians approach the same clinical problems.

That experience fundamentally made me a better clinician and reinforced the value of multidisciplinary, evidence-driven spine care—principles I continue to apply every day in my practice and in training the next generation of surgeons.

The accomplishment I am most proud of is building a highly reliable, multidisciplinary care system around my spine surgery practice. Early in my career, I was singularly focused on becoming the best clinician and surgeon I could be. Over time, I realized that technical excellence alone is not enough—truly outstanding patient outcomes require a robust support system that minimizes errors and elevates every aspect of care.

This starts with the very first phone call to the office and extends through our PAs, nurse practitioners, schedulers, and billing team. In the operating room and hospital, I made it a priority to assemble the strongest possible team, ensure optimal instrumentation and technology, and maintain rigorous standards rather than accepting the status quo. Finally, I established ongoing processes to continuously evaluate and refine our postoperative care protocols.

I’m most proud of this because it has produced safer, more consistent results for my patients, reduced complications, and created a model that benefits everyone on the team. It reflects the evolution from being a good surgeon to becoming an effective leader in s​​pine care delivery—one that I believe has a far greater long-term impact than any single operation.

Looking back on my own journey with NASS, the best advice I can give to members who want a more active role is simple but powerful: NASS is a true meritocracy.

Start by joining a committee in an area that genuinely interests you. Once you’re there, commit fully—do excellent work, respond to emails promptly, and consistently deliver on your responsibilities. Take the time to get to know your committee colleagues, learn from their perspectives, and collaborate effectively.

If you demonstrate reliability, thoughtfulness, and a strong work ethic, more opportunities will naturally come your way. What often begins as a modest committee role can evolve into meaningful leadership positions, broader influence, and the chance to shape the future of spine care. Many of my own most rewarding experiences at NASS started exactly this way.