NASS DFNS CLASS OF 2026
Daniel Resnick, MD, MS
University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine & Public Health
Madison, WI
Neurosurgeon
NASS Member Since 1999
What was a pivotal moment in your career that shaped the professional you are today?
Getting involved with the evidence based guidelines movement at the time that I did basically defined my career path. The fact that this happened largely by accident is not lost upon me. Being 5-7 years in practice and sitting shoulder to shoulder with spine luminaries from multiple organizations working together to draft political strategy based on the best evidence available while preparing responses to various CMS and insurance industry challenges was an incredibly educational experience. That experience and those relationships created opportunities down the road which made me who I am in the spine field.
How has your involvement with NASS influenced your professional growth or career journey?
Participating in NASS enabled me to work with motivated and talented leaders from across the spectrum of spine care. In particular, working with orthopedic surgeons, physical medicine providers, and anesthesiologists on guidelines projects really gave me a better perspective on how spine care is delivered in the community. I learned about the similarities and differences between the specialties with regards to assessing patient outcomes and defining what patient wants and needs were most important. NASS leadership roles also introduced me to fantastic leaders who I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to meet.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Make plans but write them in pencil. Opportunities come and go and sometimes the path you envision for yourself can be constricting. Allow yourself to explore different avenues of inquiry and keep an open mind.