Being named one of NASS's 20 Under 40 stands out as one of my proudest accomplishments. It felt like real recognition from the national spine community, not just a local or institutional acknowledgment, and it validated the work I had put in early in my career. It's a distinction I carry with pride as I continue to grow within the field.

My engagement with NASS started back when I was still a trainee, and it gave me exposure to the national spine community long before I ever entered practice. It opened my eyes to techniques and decision-making approaches well beyond what I was seeing in my own training environment. Now as a private practice surgeon, NASS continues to give me that sense of national engagement and connection outside the smaller world of day to day practice.

I would tell my younger self to get involved early, even from private practice. Reviewing for The Spine Journal, for example, gives you real exposure to the research community that you might not otherwise get outside of an academic setting. Serving on committees carries genuine responsibility, but it also gives you a small hand in shaping spine care both nationally and internationally. Beyond that, it opens up networking opportunities with fellow committee members that can pay off in ways well beyond NASS itself.