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20 Under 40

What is 20 Under 40?

SpineLine debuted its 20 Under 40 campaign in 2018 to showcase NASS’ bright, young physicians under the age of 40. The SpineLine Committee selects the most deserving individuals based on accomplishments to date, community service and philosophy of care. Here are the winners, including brief articles on each that previously appeared in issues of SpineLine.

Deadline is March 31, 2025 to apply for the next class of 20 Under 40. Click here to apply, or here to nominate a colleague. Applicants must be born on or after January 1, 1985 to be considered for this award.

Past Award Winners:


Year Award Winner
2017 David Selby
 William Mitchell, MD 
2017 Leon Wiltse K. Daniel Riew, MD
2017  Henry Farfan S. Tim Yoon, MD, PhD 
2017  NASS Spine Advocacy David A Wong, MD, MCs, FRCS 
2016 David Selby Jim Reynolds, MD
2016 Leon Wiltse Keith Bridwell, MD
2016 Henry Farfan Makarand V. Risbud, PhD
2016 NASS Spine Advocacy Charles A. Mick, MD
2015 David Selby Donna M. Lahey, RNFA
2015 Leon Wiltse Frank J. Eismont, MD
2015 Henry Farfan James C. Iatridis, PhD
2015 Past President David A. Wong, MD, MSc, FRCS
2015 NASS Spine Advocacy Dr. Jeffrey J. Wise, MD
2014 David Selby Raj D. Rao, MD
2014 Leon Wiltse Ziya Gokaslan, MD, FACS, FAANS
2014 Henry Farfan Michael H. Heggeness, MD, PhD
2013 David Selby Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, MD, JD
2013 Leon Wiltse Lawrence G. Lenke, MD
2013 Henry Farfan Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD
2012 David Selby Thomas Faciszewski, MD
2012 Leon Wiltse Marcel F. Dvorak, MD
2012 Henry Farfan Helen Gruber, PhD
2011 David Selby Joel Press, MD
2011 Leon Wiltse Kiyoshi Kaneda, MD
2011 Henry Farfan Gunnar Andersson, MD, PhD
2010 David Selby Serena S. Hu, MD
2010 Leon Wiltse Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD
2010 Henry Farfan Narayan Yoganandan, PhD
2009 David Selby Stanley A. Herring, MD 
2009 Leon Wiltse Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC
2009 Henry Farfan Avinash Patwardhan, PhD
2008 David Selby David A. Wong, MD
2008 Leon Wiltse Eugene Carragee, MD
2008 Henry Farfan Kenneth M. C. Cheung, MD
2007 David Selby Edward C. Benzel, MD
2007 Leon Wiltse Arthur D. Steffee, MD
2007 Henry Farfan James D. Kang, MD
2006 David Selby Hansen Yuan, MD
2006 Leon Wiltse Henry Bohlman, MD
2006 Henry Farfan Vijay Goel, PhD
2005 David Selby Scott Halderman, MD
2005 Leon Wiltse Harry Herkowitz, MD
2005 Henry Farfan Howard An, MD
2004 David Selby Tom Mayer, MD
2004 Leon Wiltse Edward C. Benzel, MD
2004 Henry Farfan James Weinstein, MD
2003 David Selby Steven Garfin, MD
2003 Leon Wiltse Scott Boden, MD
2003 Henry Farfan Bryan Cunningham, MSc
2002 David Selby Bruce Fredrickson, MD
2002 Leon Wiltse John Kostuik, MD
2002 Henry Farfan F. Todd Wetzel, MD
2001 David Selby Richard Guyer, MD
2001 Leon Wiltse John McCulloch, MD
2001 Henry Farfan Robert Gatchel, PhD
2000 David Selby David Fardon, MD
2000 Leon Wiltse Steve Garfin, MD
2000 Henry Farfan Hamilton Hall, MD
1999 David Selby Casey Lee, MD
1999 Leon Wiltse Thomas S. Whitecloud III, MD
1999 Henry Farfan Vert Mooney, MD
1998 David Selby J. Walt Simmons, Jr., MD
1998 Leon Wiltse Hansen Yuan, MD
1998 Henry Farfan Manohar Panjabi, PhD
1997 David Selby J. Elmer Nix, MD
1997 Leon Wiltse Charles D. Ray, MD
1997 Henry Farfan Tom G. Mayer, MD
1996 David Selby John P. Kostuik, MD
1996 Leon Wiltse Thomas E. Whitesides, Jr., MD
1996 Henry Farfan William C. Hutton, DSc
1991 David Selby W. H. Kirkaldy-Willis, MD




David Selby
David Selby

2024 Award Recipients

View 2024 Winners

2023 Award Recipients

View Past Winners
Alhammoud Finds His Mission in Spine Care

Abduljabbar Alhammoud MD, MSc

Orthopedic Surgery
Banner University Medical Center
VIEW BIO
Alvarado Morales Blazes Trails in Spine Care, Life

Massiel Alvarado Morales, MD

Neurosurgery
Hospitales México and La Católica
VIEW BIO
Basques Passing Along Passion for Research

Bryce Basques, MD, MHS

Orthopedic Surgery
Brown University
VIEW BIO
Choi Forges Independent Trail in Era of Consolidation

Daniel E. Choi, MD, FAAOS

Orthopedic Surgery
Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island
VIEW BIO
Surgeon-Engineer Choi Inspired By His Father

Hoon Choi, MD, PhD, FAANS

Neurosurgery
Cleveland Clinic Florida
VIEW BIO
Early Exposure to Sports Medicine Led DiPompeo to Orthopedics

Christine M. DiPompeo, MD

Orthopedic Surgery
Midwest Orthopaedic Center
VIEW BIO
Mentor Helped Eubanks Transition From Chiropractor to Physiatrist

James Eubanks, MD, DC, MS

PM&R
Medical University of South Carolina
VIEW BIO
Garces Shapes Her Own Path to Spine Care

Juanita Garces, MD, FAANS

Neurosurgery
Texas Neuro Spine
VIEW BIO
Halloran’s Career Path Leads to Impressive Trail Blazing

Stephanie Halloran, DC, MS

Chiropractor
VA Boston Health Care System
VIEW BIO
Karamian’s Story Is Transition from Cars to Medicine

Brian Karamian, MD

Orthopedic Surgery
University of Utah Health
VIEW BIO
Lantz’ Background in Athletics Led Him to Orthopedic Care

Justin M. Lantz, DPT

Physical Therapy
Keck Hospital of USC
VIEW BIO
Lemons Sees Challenges and Opportunities in Spine Care

Alexander Lemons, MD, FAAOS

Orthopedic Surgery
Pinehurst Surgical Clinic
VIEW BIO
Michael Combines Passion for Surgery, Aerospace and Telemedicine

Alex P. Michael, MD

Neurosurgery
Mercy Clinic Neurosurgery
VIEW BIO
Rohrs Inspiring Future Generations of Physicians

Jacob Rohrs, MD

PM&R
Barrow Brain and Spine
VIEW BIO
Rosati Already Has Worldly Adventures, Blossoming Career

Renee Rosati, DO

PM&R
Medical University of South Carolina
VIEW BIO
Sharma is One of First Physicians to Perform Basivertebral Nerve Ablation in Dallas/Fort Worth Area

G. Sunny Sharma, MD

PM&R
Univ. of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center
VIEW BIO
Smith Advances Neurosurgical Care in Northeast Ohio

Gabriel A. Smith, MD

Neurosurgery
University Hospitals
VIEW BIO
Toombs Had Book Published in College Before Switching Focus to Medicine

Courtney Toombs, MD

Orthopedic Surgery
Spine Medicine and Surgery of Long Island
VIEW BIO
Vedantam’s Career Emphasizes Roots and Research

Aditya Vedantam, MD

Neurosurgery
Medical College of Wisconsin
VIEW BIO
Zhang Learned Work Ethic from Immigrant Parents and Potomac River

Andrew S. Zhang, MD

Orthopedic Surgery
Ochsner-LSU Health
VIEW BIO

Past 20 Under 40 Winners

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