Each year, the North American Spine Society (NASS) recognizes exceptional contributions to the field and the Society through its annual Recognition Awards:
- Leon Wiltse Award
- Henry Farfan Award
- David Selby Award
- Past President’s Award (awarded every 3 years)
- Spine Advocacy Award
- International Award (new in 2025!)
The Leon Wiltse Award was developed to recognize excellence in leadership and/or clinical research in spine care. In 2024, the Leon Wiltse Award was bestowed upon
Nicholas Theodore, MD (
see more). Other past winners include:
- 2023: Behrooz Akbarnia, MD
- 2022: Virginie Lafage, PhD
- 2021: Frank M. Phillips, MD
- 2020: Richard D. Guyer, MD
- 2019: Charles G. Fisher, MD, FRCSC, MHS
- 2018: Sohail K. Mirza, MD, MPH
- 2017: K. Daniel Riew, MD
- 2016: Keith Bridwell, MD
- 2015: Frank J. Eismont, MD
- 2014: Ziya Gokaslan, MD, FACS, FAANS
- 2013: Lawrence G. Lenke, MD
- 2012: Marcel F. Dvorak, MD
- 2011: Kiyoshi Kaneda, MD
- 2010: Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD
- 2009: Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC
- 2008: Eugene Carragee, MD
- 2007: Arthur D. Steffee, MD
- 2006: Henry Bohlman, MD
- 2005: Harry Herkowitz, MD
- 2004: Edward C. Benzel, MD
- 2003: Scott Boden, MD
- 2002: John Kostuik, MD
- 2001: John McCulloch, MD
- 2000: Steve Garfin, MD
- 1999: Thomas S. Whitecloud III, MD
- 1998: Hansen Yuan, MD
- 1997: Charles D. Ray, MD
- 1996: Thomas E. Whitesides, Jr., MD
Want to Nominate a Colleague for 2025?
Nominations for 2025 Recognition Awards are now open at
www.spine.org/awards and will be accepted until March 31, 2025. Award winners are reviewed by the NASS Governance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. 2025 awards will be presented at the 2025 NASS Annual Meeting, November 14-16, 2025 in Denver, CO. Formal letters of recommendation are no longer required at the time of nomination (will be requested if the individual is a finalist pending Governance Committee review).