New at NASS 2026 this year will be a half-day Advanced Practice Practitioner (APP) Course designed specifically for NP’s and PA’s, held on Saturday, October 17 from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The educational program is designed to strengthen the clinical knowledge and practical decision-making skills needed to manage complex spine presentations across interdisciplinary settings.

Through focused lectures and case-based discussions, faculty will explore common diagnostic challenges where spinal pathology overlaps with hip, pelvic, shoulder, and upper extremity conditions. Participants will also examine current controversies in lumbar pathology and review treatment considerations across conservative and surgical pathways.

The course concludes with practical perspectives on the evolving role of APPs in both academic and private spine practices, highlighting strategies to improve patient care, surgical optimization, and practice efficiency. This program is intended to provide APPs with practical insights that can be immediately applied in clinical spine care settings.

Course Chairs are Paul Saiz, MD and Jerry Buchert, PA-C. The NASS 2026 Annual Meeting takes place October 14-17 in San Antonio, TX. Learn more about the meeting and register at www.spine.org/AM.