The 25th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) brought together nearly 600 spine professionals at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach to celebrate a milestone of surgical innovation, academic leadership, and human connection. Under the theme Spines in Motion, the meeting highlighted ISASS’ global growth and the deepening intersection between science, surgery, and spirituality.
On April 10, incoming U.S. Co-President Dr. Ali Araghi introduced Dr. Morgan Lorio, outgoing U.S. Co-President (2024–2025). Dr. Hansen Yuan then presented Lorio with the ISASS Lifetime Achievement Award, unanimously endorsed by all past Presidents. The award recognized Lorio’s far-reaching impact in advocacy, coding reform, and education—underscored by his resilience following a life-threatening COVID-induced coma and ongoing journey with pulmonary fibrosis.
Before delivering his address, Dr. Lorio presented Distinguished Service Awards:
• To Kelli Hallas (in absentia), “In appreciation of your dedication, vision, and support in spinal surgery. Your steadfast availability and over a decade of invaluable service to ISASS have made a lasting impact. ISASS honors your unwavering commitment.”
• To Dr. Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, “In appreciation of your dedication and significant contributions to spinal surgery. Your leadership in IJSS, endoscopic advancement, and Task Force efforts have shaped the field. ISASS honors your unwavering commitment.”
Dr. Lorio’s Presidential Address, untitled but thematically profound, reflected on the sacred trust of healing: “It is not about the destination, but those you journey with that matter.” Drawing from a lifetime of surgical excellence and a rebirth through chaplaincy, his talk blended personal narrative with future-casting—spanning regenerative techniques, neural repair, and translational models of care. At the heart of this vision stood the Hierarchical Neuro-Spiritual Model (HNSM)—a conceptual framework solely developed by Dr. Lorio, with scientific grounding informed by neurogenetic research from Dr. Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski and his PhD work with Dr. Kenneth Blum.
On April 11, incoming International Co-President Dr. Avelino Parajón introduced Dr. Matthew Scott-Young, outgoing International Co-President (2024–2025), who offered a vision of ISASS’ expanding global role. A leading researcher in disc arthroplasty, Dr. Scott-Young has published extensively on the subject and helped shape the evidence base for motion-preserving spine care. He then presented the ISASS Innovation Award to Dr. Karen-Buttner Janz, Olympic Gold Medalist and orthopedic spine surgeon from Germany, for her pioneering work on the Charité Artificial Disc.
Dr. Janz’s Keynote Address, “Pioneering Wisdom: From Olympic Champion to Spine Surgeon, Leader, and Inventor,” traced her journey from world-class gymnast to surgical innovator, affirming the ISASS commitment to both motion and mastery.
The meeting also marked the 25th anniversary of spinal arthroplasty, with a renewed spotlight on its resurgence, hybridization, and long-term validation—cementing its role in motion-preserving spine surgery.
Capping off April 10, Dr. Matt Gornet, a pancreatic cancer survivor, delivered “Life Lessons I Learned on My Journey as a Spine Surgeon,” which echoed Dr. Lorio’s call to remember that the heart of surgery is not just technical—it is relational, sacrificial, and sacred.
As ISASS moves forward, its momentum is not only scientific—it is spiritual. ISASS will return to the Fontainebleau in 2026, carrying forward a legacy not just of progress, but of purpose.
