Early Career

Opportunities for Early Career Professionals

Early Career Webinar Series: Practice Building and Management

The NASS Early Career webinar series consists of topics designed for recently trained individuals who have a primary focus on establishing and managing a practice. This series provides a unique opportunity for early career professionals to discover valuable insights from the vast experience of senior practitioners, exploring both their successes and challenges accumulated over years of medical practice.

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NASS Fellowship Opportunities

NASS offers several fellowship opportunities designed to support the development of emerging leaders in spine care. Explore current opportunities, eligibility requirements, and deadlines.

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Mentorship Podcast Series

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Developed by the NASS Early Career Advisory Council, this podcast series brings together leaders in spine care with their mentees for candid, insightful conversations about building a meaningful career in spine. Each episode explores the personal stories, career-defining moments, and invaluable lessons that shape leadership, innovation, and growth in the field. Listeners will hear from a dynamic cross-section of spine care leaders—including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, and researchers—as they reflect on the experiences and relationships that have defined their paths.

Whether you're just beginning your spine career or mentoring the next generation, this series offers inspiring stories, practical advice, and meaningful dialogue to help navigate the complex world of spine care. Each episode provides a personal glimpse into the journeys of respected leaders and the mentees they guide.

Julie Chan, MD, PhD and mentee Brandon Lucke-Wold, MD, PhD, MS explore how mentorship and personal passions guide career direction, the transition from mentee to mentor, and what work/life “balance” really means.
DJ Kennedy, MD shares his leadership philosophy in academic medicine with mentee Reza Ehsanian, MD, PhD, offering insight into building programs, growing within societies, and leveraging research skills for administrative impact.
Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, in conversation with Jose A. Canseco, MD, PhD, discusses the essentials of building an effective practice, from choosing the right partners and mentors to managing “forks in the road” and incorporating family life.
Justin Lantz, DPT shares his interdisciplinary approach to spine care with mentee Andreas Remis, DPT, discussing how he found his path in spine PT, the value of cross-specialty mentorship, and strategies for staying energized and informed throughout a dynamic career.
Jeffrey Wang, MD, interviewed by Wellington Hsu, MD, reflects on career-defining decisions, evolving priorities, and the lasting impact of mentorship and society involvement on leadership development.
Avinash Patwardhan, PhD, with mentees Kenneth Blank, PhD and Brandon Lucke-Wold, MD, PhD, MS, explores spine research mentorship, funding strategies, and how clinical relevance shapes impactful scientific contributions.
Daniel Resnick, MD joins Bradley Schmidt, MD to discuss how to grow within organized neurosurgery, manage complex cases, and balance society work with clinical and personal commitments.
Christopher Bono, MD, interviewed by Grace Xiong, MD, offers a look at career evolution and the future of spine care, with guidance on leadership, communication, and patient-centered practice.

Education Pathway Videos

VIDEO

Landing a New Job

Spine Care Landmark Reading List

Surgery versus conservative care for persistent sciatica lasting 4 to 12 months

Bailey CS, Rasoulinejad P, Taylor D, Sequeira K, Miller T, Watson J, Rosedale R, Bailey SI, Gurr KR, Siddiqi F, Glennie A, Urquhart JC
N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 19;382(12):1093-1102
Link to Article open access; PMID: 32187469; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1912658

Operative versus nonoperative treatment for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis

Kelly MP, Lurie JD, Yanik EL, Shaffrey CI, Baldus CR, Boachie-Adjei O, Buchowski JM, Carreon LY, Crawford CH 3rd, Edwards C 2nd, Errico TJ, Glassman SD, Gupta MC, Lenke LG, Lewis SJ, Kim HJ, Koski T, Parent S, Schwab FJ, Smith JS, Zebala LP, Bridwell KH
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019 Feb 20;101(4):338-352
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 30801373; doi: 10.2106/JBJS.18.00483

Validating the Stopping Opioids after Surgery (SOS) score for sustained postoperative prescription opioid use in spine surgical patients

Karhade AV, Chaudhary MA, Bono CM, Kang JD, Schwab JH, Schoenfeld AJ
The Spine Journal. 2019 Oct;19(10):1666-1671
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 31078697; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2019.05.001

Does intrawound vancomycin powder reduce surgical site infection after posterior instrumented spinal surgery? A propensity score-matched analysis

Horii C, Yamazaki T, Oka H, Azuma S, Ogihara S, Okazaki R, Kawamura N, Takano Y, Morii J, Takeshita Y, Maruyama T, Yamakawa K, Murakami M, Oshima Y, Tanaka S
The Spine Journal. 2018 Dec;18(12):2205-2212
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 29705336; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.04.015

Long-term results of surgery compared with nonoperative treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis in the spine patient outcomes research trial (SPORT)

Abdu WA, Sacks OA, Tosteson ANA, Zhao W, Tosteson TD, Morgan TS, Pearson A, Weinstein JN, Lurie JD
Spine. 2018 Dec 1;43(23):1619-1630
Link to Article open access; PMC Link; PMID: 29652786; doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002682

Laminectomy plus fusion versus laminectomy alone for lumbar spondylolisthesis

Ghogawala Z, Dziura J, Butler WE, Dai F, Terrin N, Magge SN, Coumans JV, Harrington JF, Amin-Hanjani S, Schwartz JS, Sonntag VK, Barker FG
N Engl J Med. 2016 Apr 14;374(15):1424-34
Link to Article open access; PMID: 27074067; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1508788

A randomized, controlled trial of fusion surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis

Försth P, Ólafsson G, Carlsson T, Frost A, Borgström F, Fritzell P, Öhagen P, Michaëlsson K, Sandén B
N Engl J Med. 2016 Apr 14;374(15):1413-23
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 27074066; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1513721

Modeling 1-year survival after surgery on the metastatic spine

Ghori AK, Leonard DA, Schoenfeld AJ, Saadat E, Scott N, Ferrone ML, Pearson AM, Harris MB
The Spine Journal. 2015 Nov 1;15(11):2345-50
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 26160329; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.06.061

A clinical prediction model to assess surgical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: internal and external validations using the prospective multicenter AOSpine

North American and international datasets of 743 patients
Tetreault LA, Côté P, Kopjar B, Arnold P, Fehlings MG
The Spine Journal. 2015 Mar 1;15(3):388-97
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 25549860; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.12.145

Operative compared with nonoperative treatment of a thoracolumbar burst fracture without neurological deficit: a prospective randomized study with follow-up at sixteen to twenty-two years

Wood KB, Buttermann GR, Phukan R, Harrod CC, Mehbod A, Shannon B, Bono CM, Harris MB
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Jan 7;97(1):3-9
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 25568388; doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00226

Variations in Medicare payments for episodes of spine surgery

Schoenfeld AJ, Harris MB, Liu H, Birkmeyer JD
The Spine Journal. 2014 Dec 1;14(12):2793-8
Link to Article free for members; PMC Link; PMID: 25017141; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.07.002

Orthosis versus no orthosis for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic injury: a multicenter prospective randomized equivalence trial

Bailey CS, Urquhart JC, Dvorak MF, Nadeau M, Boyd MC, Thomas KC, Kwon BK, Gurr KR, Bailey SI, Fisher CG
The Spine Journal. 2014 Nov 1;14(11):2557-64
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 24184649; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.10.017

Independent predictors of failure of nonoperative management of spinal epidural abscesses

Kim SD, Melikian R, Ju KL, Zurakowski D, Wood KB, Bono CM, Harris MB
The Spine Journal. 2014 Aug 1;14(8):1673-9
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 24373683; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.10.011

Early versus delayed decompression for traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: results of the Surgical Timing in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (STASCIS)

Fehlings MG, Vaccaro A, Wilson JR, Singh A, W Cadotte D, Harrop JS, Aarabi B, Shaffrey C, Dvorak M, Fisher C, Arnold P, Massicotte EM, Lewis S, Rampersaud R
PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32037
Link to Article open access; PMC Link; PMID: 22384132; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032037

Sagittal spinal balance after lumbar spinal fusion: the impact of anterior column support results from a randomized clinical trial with an eight- to thirteen-year radiographic follow-up

Videbaek TS, Bünger CE, Henriksen M, Neils E, Christensen FB
Spine. 2011 Feb 1;36(3):183-91
Link to Article open access; PMID: 21248589; doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181cc8fce

Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis

Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Blood E, Hanscom B, Herkowitz H, Cammisa F, Albert T, Boden SD, Hilibrand A, Goldberg H, Berven S, An H
N Engl J Med. 2008 Feb 21;358(8):794-810
Link to Article open access; PMC Link; PMID: 18287602; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0707136

Direct decompressive surgical resection in the treatment of spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer: a randomised trial

Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Regine WF, Payne R, Saris S, Kryscio RJ, Mohiuddin M, Young B
Lancet. 2005 Aug 20-26;366(9486):643-8
Link to Article open access; PMID: 16112300; doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66954-1

A new classification of thoracolumbar injuries: the importance of injury morphology, the integrity of the posterior ligamentous complex, and neurologic status

Vaccaro AR, Lehman R, Hurlbert RJ, Anderson PA, Harris M, Hedlund R, Harrop J, Dvorak M, Wood K, Fehlings MG, Fisher C, Zeiller SC, Anderson DG, Bono CM, Stock GH, Brown AK, Kuklo T, Öner FC
Spine. 2005 Oct 15;30(20):2325-33
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 16227897; doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000182986.43345.cb

Long-term outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis: 8 to 10 year results from the Maine lumbar spine study

Atlas SJ, Keller RB, Wu YA, Deyo RA, Singer DE
Spine. 2005 Apr 15;30(8):936-43
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 15834339; doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000158953.57966.c0

The long-term impact of whiplash injuries on patient symptoms and the associated degenerative changes detected using MRI: a prospective 20-year follow-up study comparing patients with whiplash-associated disorders with asymptomatic subjects

Watanabe K, Daimon K, Fujiwara H, Nishiwaki Y, Okada E, Nojiri K, Watanabe M, Katoh H, Shimizu K, Ishihama H, Fujita N, Ichihara D, Tsuji T, Nakamura M, Matsumoto M
Spine. December 24, 2020 – Volume Publish Ahead of Print
Link to Article open access; PMID: 33394988; doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003901

The effectiveness of cervical medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy stratified by selection criteria: a systematic review of the literature

Engel A, King W, Schneider BJ, Duszynski B, Bogduk N
Pain Medicine. 2020 Nov 1;21(11): 2726–2737
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 32935126; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa219

Systematic review of the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy, stratified for diagnostic methods and procedural technique

Schneider BJ, Doan L, Maes MK, Martinez KR, Cota AG, Bogduk N
Pain Medicine. 2020 Jun 1;21(6):1122-1141
Link to Article open access; PMID: 32040149; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz349

Validity of physical exam maneuvers in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pathology

Schneider BJ, Ehsanian R, Rosati R, Huynh L, Levin J, Kennedy DJ
Pain Medicine. 2020 Feb 1;21(2):255-260
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 31393577; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz183

Pain and functional outcomes after sacroiliac joint injection with anesthetic and corticosteroid at six months, stratified by anesthetic response and physical exam maneuvers

Schneider BJ, Ehsanian R, Huynh L, Levin J, Zheng P, Kennedy DJ
Pain Medicine. 2020 Jan 1;21(1):32-40
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 31106837; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz111

Low-pressure lumbar provocation discography according to spine intervention society/international association for the study of pain standards does not cause acceleration of disc degeneration in patients with symptomatic low back pain: a 7-tear matched cohort study

McCormick ZL, Lehman VT, Plastaras CT, Walega DR, Huddleston P, Moussallem C, Geske JR, Verdoorn JT, Kennedy DJ, Maus TP, Carr CM
Spine. 2019 Oct 1;44(19):E1161-E1168
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 31261283; doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003085

Annular Closure RCT Study Group. Annular closure in lumbar microdiscectomy for prevention of reherniation: a randomized clinical trial

Thomé C, Klassen PD, Bouma GJ, Kuršumović A, Fandino J, Barth M, Arts M, van den Brink W, Bostelmann R, Hegewald A, Heidecke V, Vajkoczy P, Fröhlich S, Wolfs J, Assaker R, Van de Kelft E, Köhler HP, Jadik S, Eustacchio S, Hes R, Martens F
The Spine Journal. 2018 Dec;18(12):2278-2287
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 29730458; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.003

Intra-articular steroids vs saline for lumbar z-joint pain: a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Kennedy DJ, Fraiser R, Zheng P, Huynh L, Levin J, Smuck M, Schneider BJ
Pain Medicine. 2019 Feb 1;20(2):246-251
Link to Article open access; PMID: 30541041; doi: 10.1093/pm/pny225

Is a history of severe episodic low back pain an indicator of a discogenic etiology?

Levi D, Carnahan D, Horn S, Levin J
Pain Medicine. 2018 Jul 1;19(7):1334-1339
Link to Article open access; PMID: 29016955; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx147

Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Coulter ID, Crawford C, Hurwitz EL, Vernon H, Khorsan R, Suttorp Booth M, Herman PM
The Spine Journal. 2018 May;18(5):866-879
Link to Article free for members; PMC Link; PMID: 29371112; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.01.013

A 20-year prospective longitudinal study of degeneration of the cervical spine in a volunteer cohort assessed using MRI: follow-up of a cross-sectional study

Daimon K, Fujiwara H, Nishiwaki Y, Okada E, Nojiri K, Watanabe M, Katoh H, Shimizu K, Ishihama H, Fujita N, Tsuji T, Nakamura M, Matsumoto M, Watanabe K
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 May 16;100(10):843-849
Link to Article open access; PMID: 29762279; doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.01347

Risks and benefits of ceasing or continuing anticoagulant medication for image-guided procedures for spine pain: a systematic review

Smith CC, Schneider B, McCormick ZL, Gill J, Loomba V, Engel AJ, Duszynski B, King W
Pain Medicine. 2018 Mar 1;19(3):438-448
Link to Article open access; PMID: 29016963; doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx152

A minimum of 5-year follow-up after lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections in patients with lumbar radicular pain due to intervertebral disc herniation

Kennedy DJ, Zheng PZ, Smuck M, McCormick ZL, Huynh L, Schneider BJ
The Spine Journal. 2018 Jan;18(1):29-35
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 28962912; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.08.264

Are the size and composition of the paraspinal muscles associated with low back pain? A systematic review

Ranger TA, Cicuttini FM, Jensen TS, Peiris WL, Hussain SM, Fairley J, Urquhart DM
The Spine Journal. 2017 Nov;17(11):1729-1748
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 28756299; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.07.002

Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration

Wong JJ, Shearer HM, Mior S, Jacobs C, Côté P, Randhawa K, Yu H, Southerst D, Varatharajan S, Sutton D, van der Velde G, Carroll LJ, Ameis A, Ammendolia C, Brison R, Nordin M, Stupar M, Taylor-Vaisey A
The Spine Journal. 2016 Dec;16(12):1598-1630
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 26707074; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.08.024

Safety of epidural steroid injections

Schneider B, Zheng P, Mattie R, Kennedy DJ
Expert Opinion Drug Safety. 2016 Aug;15(8):1031-9
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 27148630; doi: 10.1080/14740338.2016.1184246

Symptoms of depression as a prognostic factor for low back pain: a systematic review

Pinheiro MB, Ferreira ML, Refshauge K, Maher CG, Ordoñana JR, Andrade TB, Tsathas A, Ferreira PH
The Spine Journal. 2016 Jan 1;16(1):105-16
Link to Article free for members; PMID: 26523965; doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.10.037

Lumbar intradiskal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study

Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Terry A, Boachie-Adjei K, Harrison JR, Gribbin CK, LaSalle EE, Nguyen JT, Solomon JL, Lutz GE
PM&R. 2016 Jan;8(1):1-10
Link to Article additional access may be required; PMID: 26314234; doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.08.010

Safeguards to prevent neurologic complications after epidural steroid injections: consensus opinions from a multidisciplinary working group and national organizations

Rathmell JP, Benzon HT, Dreyfuss P, Huntoon M, Wallace M, Baker R, Riew KD, Rosenquist RW, Aprill C, Rost NS, Buvanendran A, Kreiner DS, Bogduk N, Fourney DR, Fraifeld E, Horn S, Stone J, Vorenkamp K, Lawler G, Summers J, Kloth D, O'Brien D, Tutton S
Anesthesiology. 2015 May;122(5):974-84
Link to Article open access; PMID: 25668411; doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000614

Percutaneous injection of autologous bone marrow concentrate cells significantly reduces lumbar discogenic pain through 12 months

Pettine KA, Murphy MB, Suzuki RK, Sand TT
Stem Cells. 2015 Jan;33(1):146-56
Link to Article open access; PMID: 25187512; doi: 10.1002/stem.1845

A randomized trial of epidural glucocorticoid injections for spinal stenosis

Friedly JL, Comstock BA, Turner JA, Heagerty PJ, Deyo RA, Sullivan SD, Bauer Z, Bresnahan BW, Avins AL, Nedeljkovic SS, Nerenz DR, Standaert C, Kessler L, Akuthota V, Annaswamy T, Chen A, Diehn F, Firtch W, Gerges FJ, Gilligan C, Goldberg H, Kennedy DJ, Mandel S, Tyburski M, Sanders W, Sibell D, Smuck M, Wasan A, Won L, Jarvik JG
N Engl J Med. 2014 Jul 3;371(1):11-21
Link to Article open access; PMID: 24988555; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1313265

The effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal injection of steroids: a comprehensive review with systematic analysis of the published data

MacVicar J, King W, Landers MH, Bogduk N
Pain Medicine. 2013 Jan;14(1):14-28
Link to Article open access; PMID: 23110347; doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01508.x

What is the source of chronic low back pain and does age play a role?

DePalma MJ, Ketchum JM, Saullo T
Pain Medicine. 2011 Feb;12(2):224-33
Link to Article open access; PMID: 21266006; doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2010.01045.x

The efficacy of transforaminal injection of steroids for the treatment of lumbar radicular pain

Ghahreman A, Ferch R, Bogduk N
Pain Medicine. 2010 Aug;11(8):1149-68
Link to Article open access; PMID: 20704666; doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2010.00908.x

Recommended Study Material

This guide compiles recommended study materials for early career spine care professionals at every stage of their career across multiple specialties, including orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, PM&R, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Organized by career stage, it highlights the most valuable textbooks, articles, multimedia resources, conferences, and professional development opportunities to support continuous learning and clinical excellence.

View Guide

The online NASS Career Center is the main hub for everything career-related and is an ideal resource for Residents and Fellows who are seeking new spine-related career opportunities. In addition to the medical/spine job listings, the Career Center also offers resources to help navigate your career, perfect your resume and interview tactics, or personalize your job search.

An ideal member resource!

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