What initially inspired me to become involved with NASS was its unique position as one of the world’s leading spine societies. For a spine surgeon from Japan, NASS represents an exceptional place to learn, collaborate, and grow internationally. At NASS, I have been able to see the latest developments in spine surgery, research, technology, education, and evidence-based care.

What has kept me engaged is that NASS offers real opportunities, even to international members and non-native English speakers like myself. I have been very fortunate to be included in the International Strategic Growth Committee, where I could work with outstanding colleagues and contribute to discussions about NASS’s global future. This experience made me feel that NASS truly values international perspectives.

NASS is also highly influential academically, through its scientific meetings, high-impact publications, clinical guidelines, and educational activities. These have continued to stimulate me both as a clinician and as a researcher.

Being selected as part of the inaugural class of Distinguished Fellows is a tremendous honor. More than anything, it reinforces my feeling that NASS is a society that creates opportunities, encourages global collaboration, and inspires its members to keep contributing to better spine care worldwide.

A pivotal moment in my career was meeting Dr. Jeffrey C. Wang during my year at the University of Southern California. I have been fortunate to have three important mentors. My Japanese mentor, Dr. Hiroaki Nakamura, taught me the fundamentals of spine surgery: the technical discipline, judgment, and philosophy required to care for patients as a spine surgeon. Dr. Margareta Nordin taught me something different but equally important: how to behave and communicate in international settings, and how to lead multidisciplinary and multicultural projects with respect, fairness, and humility.

However, meeting Jeff was the turning point that connected those worlds. During my time at USC, he not only guided me scientifically and clinically, but also continued to give me opportunities after I returned to Japan. Without his support, I may have remained a spine surgeon working hard mainly within Japan. Because he opened doors for me, I was able to meet people such as Margareta, become involved in global spine activities, and begin to see my career as something that could extend beyond national boundaries.

That experience shaped who I am today: a surgeon and researcher from Japan who tries to contribute internationally while staying grounded in clinical practice, mentorship, and gratitude.

In the coming years, I believe technical expertise will remain essential, but it will not be enough. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, access to knowledge, data, and even certain forms of technical support will become more widely available. In that environment, the real difference between professionals may increasingly depend on human qualities: respect, fairness, communication, and the ability to collaborate.

In the past, some people may have been accepted simply because they were highly skilled or academically excellent, even if they were difficult to work with. I believe that era is changing. Today’s spine professionals need to be people who can treat colleagues, patients, and team members with genuine respect, regardless of nationality, specialty, seniority, or background.

This is also why I value NASS so much. NASS is not only a place to learn the latest science and surgical techniques; it is also a community where members are treated with respect and fairness.

By participating in such a community, we can train ourselves to become better collaborators, better leaders, and ultimately better professionals. For the future of spine care, I believe these human skills will be just as important as surgical or academic skills.