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April 29, 2025
SpineLine Insider:
Q&A with Eric Muehlbauer on the Spine Innovation NetWORK Summit
Welcome to SpineLine Insider, where we share the full conversations that help shape the features you love in SpineLine. This extended Q&A with NASS CEO Eric Muehlbauer, MJ, CAE, offers a deeper look at the ideas, strategy, and future vision behind the inaugural Spine Innovation Network Summit.
Quotes and highlights from this conversation appear in the March/April issue of SpineLine, but here you’ll find the full exchange, which covers everything from intellectual property and hospital adoption to venture capital and why “Fail Tales & Cocktails” might be the most unforgettable session of the meeting. For more information on the Summit itself, visit spine.org/INS.
We spoke with Eric about where the idea came from, how NASS is positioning itself in the innovation landscape, and what attendees can expect when they take part in this one-of-a-kind event.
- What inspired NASS to create the Innovation Network Summit, and why now?
Innovation has been on the on the NASS Board’s radar for the last five years. The current Board members are all very much in favor of this effort, so we decided it was a good time to launch it.
Also, we’ve evolved on the ethics side of things, and see the need to work with industry in very intentional ways to stimulate innovation in the field.
- How does this event reflect NASS’ broader vision for fostering innovation in spine care?
The lack of predictability in the FDA approval process has chilled funding and stifled innovation in the field for many years. A new administration means there might be an opportunity to promote better processes with more predictable outcomes.
Innovations are happening with medical technology as well as processes, pain management efforts, and other interventions. All of these will drive innovation going forward.
- In what ways do you see NASS’s role evolving in the innovation and investment space?
NASS will play a significant role in this space. We are making excellent connections within the field and are uniting entrepreneurs, medtech developers, and those who are willing to invest to help move the field toward newer, more innovative products.
- What does success look like for this inaugural summit—from both a strategic and attendee perspective?
Success means creating an environment where participants can engage in meaningful conversations about innovation and problem-solving. A huge part of that comes from the meeting’s networking and roundtable discussions. We will limit registration to ensure that we have the right mix of stakeholders and to allow time for deeper interaction and real solution development.
- How does the Innovation NetWORK differ from other spine or medical innovation meetings on the calendar?
This forum is unique in that it will help participants really understand how the medtech ecosystem works and offers practical strategies to navigate the challenges in bringing new ideas to the market. It takes innovators through the whole process, from protecting intellectual property to gaining market acceptance. The Roadmap to Innovation book, a companion to the event, outlines how to move through every stage—all the way to an exit strategy. It is comprehensive. There is nothing like this in the market.
- What are some of the biggest barriers for clinicians who want to participate in the innovation pipeline?
This is exactly what the event is designed to address because the barriers are real and layered.
First is the question of idea ownership. If you’re employed by a hospital or health system, they may claim ownership of anything you develop. Fortunately, there are ways to negotiate those matters.
Next is how to protect your idea and understanding what it takes to bring it to life. That includes securing the right funding, conducting the right research, and gaining market acceptance.
This event is designed to walk clinicians through each of those steps with insight from people who’ve done it successfully.
- How do you see the relationship between spine surgeons and medtech entrepreneurs changing in the next 5–10 years?
Those who attend this meeting will be better equipped to understand how the system works, where they fit within it, and how to speak the same language as medtech innovators. That shared understanding will lead to stronger collaboration and smoother development in the long run.
- What role can organizations like NASS play in bridging the gap between clinical insight and commercial execution?
NASS’ job is education. We’re here to demystify the medtech ecosystem and give entrepreneurs insight into what it takes to move forward.
- Can you speak about the value of having both clinicians and investors in the same room, hearing the same content?
When everyone’s in the same room, hearing the same information, they have a much better chance of understanding how to work together. The roundtable discussions will also help people dig into the issues more deeply and connect with others they can trust to help nurture their ideas.
- Why was it important to include both early-stage and late-stage innovation sessions in the program?
The challenges faced by early- and late-stage innovations are different. Using real-life, practical examples will offer valuable insight to the key issues and help attendees understand what it takes to succeed.
- The “Fail Tales & Cocktails” event is a bit unusual for a spine meeting—what’s the thinking behind that session?
This session will be excellent! It’s essentially a “learn from my mistakes” forum that offers insights that might be painful, sometimes funny, but always valuable. We expect it to be one of the best sessions of the entire program.
- What makes the Chondri Cove Pitch Competition unique compared to other innovation showcases?
Since “Shark Tank” was already taken, we went with a name rooted in science. In the spirit of the event, the panel will include a multispecialty group made up of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, engineers, medtech execs, and venture capitalists. Each brings a different perspective and will offer those insights to the presenters.
- Several sessions highlight venture capital and funding models. What kind of takeaways can attendees expect from these?
The goal here is to demystify how all this works. We will show how the various types of funding can be useful and which types of agreements to avoid. The focus will be protecting your idea, which can get especially tricky when funders demand equity for their support.
- Can you highlight how topics like reimbursement and hospital adoption will help innovators move beyond prototyping?
Many innovators focus heavily on FDA approval and research, but they also need to keep their eye on the ball. Market acceptance is what everyone wants (and needs) but most don’t know how to get there. This event will help them figure that out.
- What trends in spine or broader health care innovation are you watching most closely right now?
Endoscopic procedures, robotics and navigation, and advances in pain treatment interventions are all areas of interest now and moving forward. Also, as the reimbursement system continues to evolve, products need to align with where the money is flowing. Understanding this will improve the chances of success.
- How do AI, robotics, and digital health intersect with spine care in meaningful ways, and how is the field adapting?
There are many new efforts and products emerging in these areas. Artificial intelligence holds great promise, but the challenge is how to effectively harness it in spine care. Several products featured at this event will show how innovators are beginning to capitalize on these new technologies.
On the digital health side, much of the current focus seems to be about improving spine rehabilitation after treatment, taking a sports medicine approach to recovery.
- How important is cross-specialty collaboration for the future of spine innovation?
There’s something to learn from all the various specialties. Each perspective can provide insight into how best to move forward.
- What kinds of relationships or partnerships do you hope this event will spark?
I can see this event sparking VC interest in promising products. Key consultants will find partners to help push innovation forward. The networking will lead to side discussions and follow-up between interested parties. There is no doubt about that. Those who miss it will wish they had been there.
- How do you envision the Innovation NetWORK growing over the next 3–5 years?
For next year, we are already planning to help entrepreneurs develop prototypes during the conference using 3D printers, an addition that could shave several months off the development cycle. We are also discussing a potential NASS investment fund and the creation of an innovation center within the organization.
All of these efforts are focused on stimulating the right investments in the spine field to ultimately help patients.
- What message would you send to a spine clinician or early-stage startup who’s considering attending but isn’t sure if this is the right event for them?
This is the right event. The program committee has worked hard to bring together the right mix of people to provide the most relevant education. Each presenter was chosen based on their experience in product development. The people on this agenda have a track record of success and of collaborating with those who have the ideas that need to be brought to life.
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