The call for North American Spine Society (NASS) 2014 committee volunteers is now closed. If you are interested in NASS committee work outside of the solicitation window, please contact Allison Pintauro. We expect the call for 2015 committee volunteers to open January/February 2014.
Administration & Development Council
Director: Eeric Truumees, MD
Governance Committee
Oversees a vital area of interest within the society. Its primary focus is to ensure NASS has an effective governing board. It achieves this by training current board members and by identifying future leaders of the society and striving to engage them in NASS activities. It recognizes members for efforts in the field, thereby providing an incentive to succeed and stimulate interest in serving. It ensures that proper conditions exist to encourage participation in NASS activites.
Audit Committee
Oversight of the Society's operating internal controls and financial reporting controls. Ensures the administrative staff has a comprehensive code of conduct covering business practices, accounting and human resources. Ensures that a policy protecting whistle-blowers, and workable reporting channels for complaints, are in place.
Membership Committee
Reviews membership applications and makes recommendations to the board for approval of membership. Recommends changes to membership categories and explores new membership opportunities.
Investment Committee
Provides oversight on the organization's investment policies and procedures. They review investment activity on an ongoing basis to ensure that investments are in line with policies.
Nominating Committee
Presents nominations for the offices of Second Vice-President, and as needed, Secretary, Treasurer and one member of the Membership Committee. Members who serve on the Nominating Committee are ineligible for reelection in the succeeding year. The Committee shall present its nominations at the last business session for election; other nominations may be made from the floor.
Spine Executive Forum
Coalesces resources from the spine care community in order to seek ways to provide cost-efficient, evidence-based, ethical care and to promote the awareness, involvement and satisfaction of patients.
Ethics Committee
Advises NASS leadership on the latest research regarding issues of disclosure, ethics and professionalism, including the regular maintenance and revision of NASS' policies in these areas. The Committee also stimulates information, articles, papers and education for the membership on issues of ethics and professionalism in spine care. The Ethics Committee oversees the activities of two subordinate bodies, the COI Review Board and the Professional Conduct & Ethics Committee.
Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee (PCEC)
Stimulates information, articles, papers and education for the membership on ethical issues in spine care. Reviews complaints of unethical behavior and makes recommendations to the board on ethics-related issues.
Conflict of Interest Review Panel
Assists members and the Board in determining if a member has a Conflict of Interest (COI), and whether said COI would materially interfere with the proposed task or assignment of that member. In the event there is a complaint regarding a COI, the committee serves in an advisory capacity and may make recommendations to the PCEC. The committee also helps to vet nominees for the presidential line, Board and certain committee chairs.
Section Development Committee
Stays abreast of topics affecting NASS' sections; supporting efforts and fostering growth of these entities.
Exercise Committee
A multidisciplinary task force charged with evaluating and consolidating all existing NASS exercise-related publications and educating spine care providers and patients about the role exercise can play in promoting spine health and reducing back pain.
Compensation and Benefits Committee
Responsible for ensuring NASS has fair and appropriate compensation and benefit practices and that our policies are in line with other medical association practices
back to top
Health Policy Council
Director: Christopher Standaert, MD
Advocacy Committee
Creates NASS position statements on national health care policy and advocates for high quality, cost effective care for patients with spinal disorders. (*EBM Training Recommended)
Coding Committee
Reviews and assesses use and effectiveness of spine-related procedures to determine NASS' position on CPT code promotion. (*EBM Training Recommended)
Professional, Economic and Regulatory Committee (PERC)
Directs NASS' socioeconomic activities through interaction with payers including: reviewing and commenting on coverage policies through appointed groups or subject matter experts; developing policy statements to advocate for NASS' position on clinical and practice issues (including reimbursement, coverage and the provision of quality spine care); and forming relationships between NASS and key payers to ensure involvement in decisions affecting spine care. Manages regulatory activities including: setting and tracking NASS' regulatory priorities in conjunction with the Health Policy Council and Advocacy Committee; and educating the membership about the regulatory environment and increase their participation in the process. (**EBM Training Required)
Review & Recommendation Statement Work Groups
Drafts topical papers that are NASS positions using an evidence-based methodology, with recommendations based on the evidence or, when lacking, consensus. NASS anticipates four papers per year. Work group members must have taken NASS' evidence-based medicine training or pass a short test on evidence analysis.
Value Task Force
NASS' Value Task Force is charged with formulating recommendations about how NASS can begin to address defining value in spine care via education, research and advocacy.
back to top
Education Council
Director: Jeffrey C. Wang, MD
Allied Health Section
Interprets needs assessment and development of activities to increase the skills of allied health providers through the use of educational courses. Manages faculty selection for educational activities. Proposes and participates in symposia, SIGs and track sessions for the Annual Meeting. Oversees allied health educational forums to ensure ACCME guidelines are met. The committee reports to the CME Committee and makes recommendations for programming that must be approved by the CME Committee and Education Council Director.
Annual Meeting Program Committee
Develops the Annual Meeting Program content within ACCME guidelines.
Continuing Medical Education Committee
Responsible for interpreting needs assessment and developing continuing medical education activities to increase the capabilities of spine professionals. Examines all proposals for collaboration on educational efforts with other educational entities. (*EBM Training Recommended)
International Education Committee
Provides educational programming to our international contingency through: meetings focused on abstract and symposia presentations; online forums and regionalized courses. Interprets needs assessment and development
of educational activities to improve competency and enhance performance in the international arena.
Motion Preservation Section
Provides a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information regarding motion preservation and stabilization technologies, including non-fusion and non-traditional methods. May stimulate or collaborate on position papers and/or educational content.
Rehabilitation, Interventional & Medical Spine (RIMS) Section
This section is charged with development of NASS' intellectual capabilities in the titled areas. It identifies spine physician and allied health education needs. Designs educational efforts to instruct in necessary areas. Identifies enduring education materials for physicians and patients that may aid in improving spine treatments or understanding of spine treatments. Oversees activities of the Exercise Task Force.
Resident & Fellow Education Committee
Reviews and advises the board on issues related to spine care fellowships and residencies. Oversees compliance to Residency Match Program. Spine Across the Sea Committee Develops the Spine Across the Sea Program content within ACCME guidelines.
Spine Biologics and Basic Research Section
Provides unbiased, comprehensive evaluation of biological treatments for spinal conditions from a scientific perspective. Stimulates educational courses for the presentation and dissemination of practical applications of biological treatments in all stages of research and clinical usage. May also stimulate and/or collaborate on position statements regarding aspects of the science or clinical applications of biological treatments. Provides a forum for review and discussion of activities in this area.
Education Publishing Committee
Comprised of chairs of the publications committees, ie, SpineLine, The Spine Journal, Patient Education and Public Affairs.
Patient Education Committee
Determines resources to benefit spine care physicians and their patients by increasing the understanding of spine disorders and conditions, their treatment options and possible risks/side effects. Oversees and provides content on NASS' patient education website, knowyourback.org.
Public Affairs Committee
Develops and provides oversight of NASS public information efforts targeting consumers, NASS members and the broader spine community. Activities include promotion of NASS' mission through website content, promotional campaigns, and other print, electronic or broadcast opportunities.
SpineLine Editorial Board
The SpineLine editorial board determines the editorial content for this bimonthly clinical news magazine, solicits authors, writes and edits articles, and reviews manuscripts prior to publication. (*EBM Training Recommended)
The Spine Journal Editorial Board
The Spine Journal editorial board follows a formal peer-review process for the evaluation of manuscripts prior to publication. The Editor-in-Chief & Deputy Editors provide editorial direction for the publication. (*EBM Training Recommended)
Section on Radiology
The Section on Radiology provides a platform to increase collaboration between clinically-oriented spine specialists and radiologists that have interests and expertise in spinal imaging. The Section develops and demonstrates expertise in key research areas as well as creates educational content for the NASS Annual Meeting, stand-alone courses and webinars.
Section on Robotics & Navigation
The goal of this new section of NASS will be to create unbiased experts in this field that can help evaluate the merits of technological advances. The experts will have the task of educating themselves as well as other physicians and consumers of both pros and cons of any new technology.
Section on MIS
The goal of this section is to bring leaders together outside of the confines of industry and improve the level of education offered to the NASS membership and also provide a more neutral voice to payers and other stake-holders considering coverage questions for these procedures.
back to top
Research Council
Director: Daniel Resnick, MD
Evidence Compilation & Analysis Committee
Oversight of the evidence compilation and analysis activities under this arm of the Research Council. Membership is comprised of the Evidence Compilation and Analysis Chair from the Board and Chairs of the following committees: Patient Safety, Performance Measurement and Evidence-based Guideline Development.
Patient Safety Committee
Responsible for development and oversight of all NASS patient safety activities and education.
Performance Measurement Committee
Engages in policy formation and advice, program review, member education and represents NASS in appropriate forums in which these activities take place, with the exception of the AMA Consortium.
(*EBM Training Recommended)Evidence-Based Guideline Development Committee
Responsible for guideline activities including development and revision of NASS guidelines and review of others' guidelines.
(**EBM Training Required)Clinical Research Development Committee
Oversight of the research activities under this arm of the Research Council. Membership is comprised of the Clinical Research Development Chair from the Board and Chairs of the following committees: Research Survey Review, Research Project Management, Outcome Compendium Task Force, Nomenclature DDD Task Force, Registry Subcommittee and Professional Society Coalition on Lumbar Fusion Outcomes.
Research Project Management Committee
Oversees research grant and fellowship applications, processes and makes funding recommendations to the Research Council and Board. CV required for appointment.
Outcomes Compendium Task Force
Indentifies and reviews outcome instruments to be included in the Compendium of Outcomes Instruments publication.
NASS Registry Subcommittee
Lead the investigation into and eventual implementation of a NASS Registry.
Professional Society Coalition on Lumbar Fusion Outcomes
Made up of representatives from AAOS, AANS/CNS, SRS and NASS. The primary objectives of the task force are analysis of existing, relevant data sources; development of additional/improved data sources and to communicate/collaborate with CMS regarding their goals and the combined societies' efforts to assist them in achieving these goals relative to identifying appropriate evidence.
back to top