A Note on the History—and the Future—of the World Spine Society

The World Spine Society has been managed, since its inception in 2003 at WSII in Chicago, by a volunteer Board of Directors in conjunction with staff time donated by the North American Spine Society. World Spine was a philanthropic venture of NASS during this time, and considerable time, effort, and funds were expended in the hopes of making the Society a success. However, though the World Spine meeting and World Spine Journal were always undoubtedly successful from an educational point of view, meager membership dues and attendance at meetings did not bring in the revenue needed to make this a thriving, independent Society.

Over the past two years the NASS Board has revised NASS’ entire mission and organizational structure; in light of this new focus, the Board reviewed all of NASS’ project areas as they related to this new mission.  Overall, the Board examined 194 projects, and as a result of this scrutiny approximately 35 current projects were removed in October 2007 from their active “to do” list.  A decision on NASS’ involvement in and support of the World Spine Society was postponed until the Board had time to analyze all components of the Society and the Istanbul meeting.  The NASS Board met again in January 2008.  We regret to inform World Spine Society’s members and attendees that, at that meeting, the NASS Board decided unanimously that NASS is no longer willing to financially support the World Spine Society.  

This focusing of NASS’ efforts in no way reflects the NASS Board’s attitude toward the value or the merits of international education.  Many NASS Board members have attended and presented at WS and other international meetings and have found them to be extremely valuable. The creation of an International Education Committee under the NASS Education Council is currently under consideration and would allow us to hold similar courses to those which have been held in the past under the WSS identity. For more information regarding the idea of a NASS International Education Committee, or to volunteer your expertise, please contact Christina Wolf, NASS Director of Education, at cwolf@spine.org.

The World Spine Society name, logo, and membership list are being retired. We will continue to provide access to the archives of the World Spine Journal for as long as possible. For past WSJ articles, please click here. If you have a question regarding the World Spine Journal, please contact Kelly Dattilo, Publications Manager, at kdattilo@spine.org.

Any other questions regarding NASS’ Global efforts or World Spine Society should be directed to Laura Scott Wade, NASS Director of Global Alliances and Ethics, at lwade@spine.org.