This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
ISASS seeks to improve its profile, brand as an international spine organization through idea sharing
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
LAS VEGAS — Efforts are underway to bolster several aspects of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, or ISASS, to help it become more international in scope, Hee Kit Wong, MD, PhD, co-president of ISASS, said at the organization’s annual meeting.
“There is some concern as to how our international presence is,” he said during his presidential address, noting the first word in the organization’s name indicates it is an international organization. But, Wong indicated, that may be a misnomer.
On one hand, ISASS membership by region shows 40% of its members are from outside of the United States, he said.
“Truly, I think that, by membership, we have a great international profile,” Wong said.
Hee Kit Wong
But on the other hand, ISASS may not truly be an international spine organization because participation at its meeting has been falling significantly, he said. For example, at this year’s meeting, early registration showed 104 attendees were from outside of the United States and 656 attendees were from the United States.
“I do not think it is all bad news,” he said, as 44% of the abstracts for this year’s meeting were from investigators from outside the United States. “[There is] still a lot of interest in the society from outside the [United States] U.S.”
According to Wong, when ISASS becomes the vehicle by which ideas on spine surgery from around the world — not just one region — are shared and exchanged, it is hoped spine surgeons will increasingly view ISASS as a truly international organization.
“We can do a lot more, I am sure,” Wong said. Some efforts being considered, that the ISASS board has agreed to, include a greater international participation in abstract review that will reflect the society’s international “flavor” and more meetings held more regularly outside of the United States.
In addition, ISASS is collaborating with the Chinese Orthopaedic Association at its annual meeting which will be held in November, Wong said.
“There are a number of activities, and I think there is a lot to do to get an international brand,” he said. – by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Wong HK. Co-presidential address. Presented at: International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Annual Meeting; April 6-8, 2016; Las Vegas.
Disclosure: Wong reports he is co-president of ISASS, receives grant/research support from Johnson & Johnson and receives miscellaneous non-income support from SpineGuard.