The North American Spine Society recognized two physicians and two researchers for their work as part of its 2022 Recognition Awards.
Henry Farfan Award: John Hipp, PhD. Dr. Hipp was recognized for his contributions in spine-related basic science research, according to an Oct. 11 news release from the NASS. He joined NASS in 2007 and served on The Spine Journal's peer reviewers committee since 2013. Over the last 33 years, he devoted his work to spine and orthopedics. He directed the Spine Research Lab at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston for more than a decade and founded Medical Metrics, a medical imaging core laboratory, in 2000.
David Selby Award: Jamie Baisden, MD. Dr. Baisden is a 27-year NASS member and served on multiple committees. She has more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters. Her work has made extensive contributions to the science, teaching and management of spine care, according to the NASS.
Leon Wiltse Award: Virginie Lafage. Dr. Lafage joined NASS in 2009 and had more than 300 podiums and 150 posters accepted for presentation at NASS meetings. She was a mechanical engineer in France and then pursued a PhD in biomechanics. With her mentors, she developed research around sagittal spinopelvic alignment, adult spinal deformity, cervical deformity and soft tissue analysis.
Spine Advocacy Award: R. Dale Blasier, MD. Dr. Blasier is an orthopedic professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He served as the orthopedic advisor for the AMA Relative Value Update Committee from 2002 to 2008 and representative to the AMA House of Delegates for the American Orthopaedic Association and NASS. He also served as the NASS representative to the AAOS Board of Specialties and co-chaired the NASS Coding Committee. He is active in NASS' political engagement and legislative committees.