SAS CommitteesThis section contains the names of those members serving on our committees. They are appointed by the Board of Directors. IT Committee
The members of this committee will work to enhance the SAS website to ensure that current and relevant matters are addressed. The IT committee in conjunction with the Executive Director will guide and direct the appointed webmaster to make necessary changes and upgrades to ensure member needs are met. Chairman:
Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD - Korea Dilip Sengupta, MD, PhD - USA
Hyun-Chul Shin, MD, PhD - Korea
Heather Howard, SAS Staff Representative
Michele Boylstein, SAS Staff Representative Publications Committee
The design, text, layout and editing of the newsletter, hard copy and online books and instructional course material test books all fall under the realm of this Committee. They will develop standards and guidelines to ensure all items published by the SAS or with SAS endorsement meet the requirements set up by the Committee. The committee will monitor and approve all such materials with that goal in mind. They assist in the appointment of editors, associate editors and editorial boards as well as offering advice and content ideas. Chairman:
Jeff Goldstein, MD - USA Chris Bono, MD - USA
Federico Girardi, MD - USA
James Yue, MD - USA
Choll Kim, MD, PhD - USA
Jean-Charles LeHuec, MD, PhD - France
Melanie Mitchell, SAS Staff Representative CME Committee
Discusses and provides interpretations of the ACME guidelines regarding accreditation policies and decisions. Also concentrates on evaluating the effectiveness of the society’s system of accreditation, including the accreditation requirements and its processes for funding and support. This committee also forwards actions regarding accreditation decisions to the full Board of Directors for ratification. The CME Committee will work in the development and adherence of all CME rules and regulations. The will review all SAS sponsored programs to make sure that the SAS provides continuing education programs on substantive, practice-related subjects. Chairman:
Rolando Garcia, MD - USA Fred Geisler, MD, PhD - USA
Leonard Voronov, MD, PhD - USA
Robert Havey, BS - USA
Debra Bachman-Zabloudil, SAS Staff Representative
Jennifer Joseph, SAS Staff Representative CME Provider:
Medical Education Resources Membership Committee
Responsible for increasing the number of individual and institutional members worldwide and to ensure members’ needs are met. This includes recommending ways for increasing the SAS membership base, formulating coordinating and implementing plans for membership recruitment, ways to acknowledge and welcome new members’ and encourage their participation in SAS committees and SAS sponsored activities. They will work with the Executive Director in the development of a renewal of membership program. This committee will be charged with developing a SAS membership directory and coordinating with the IT committee for membership access via the website. This committee will also work to identify members’ and non-members’ needs and perceptions, analyzing them and making recommendations to the Board of Directors. Chairman:
Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, PhD - Germany Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD - Korea
Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD - Brazil
Michele Boylstein, SAS Staff Representative Education Committee
The Education Committee is charged with devising goals and guidelines for the coordinating efforts of the Society to satisfy the changing needs of its membership in the field of continuing education. They will work closely with the CME committee to ensure the SAS educational programs meet all guidelines and requirements. It is the goal of SAS to be the leader in providing education and training opportunities through short courses, workshops, CD-ROM publications, seminars and conferences. This committee will regularly explore cost-effective training opportunities applicable to spine surgeons worldwide. They will develop new programs for those who cannot attend SAS sponsored seminars, such as short courses, distance learning programs and sanctioned educational opportunities. The main goal of this committee is to educate and promote medical excellence in the care of spine. Chairman:
Frank Phillips, MD, USA Neel Anand, MD, USA
Scott Blumenthal, MD, USA
Paul Anderson, MD, USA
Ken Yonemura, MD, USA
Todd Albert, MD, USA
Manoj Krishna, MD, UK
Hee-Kit Wong, MD, Singapore
Debra Bachman-Zabloudil, SAS Staff Representative
Jennifer Joseph, SAS Staff Representative Finance Committee
The Committee will assess the financial condition of the society on a quarterly basis. The role of this Committee is to review proposed budgets and present recommendations and findings to the full Board of Directors for approval. They will track the income and expenses and make recommendations as necessary. The group will advise the Board of Directors and provide guidance and direction to the Executive Director on all matters relating to financial management. This committee serves as the watchdog for the financial stability of the organization, reviewing banking and investment options and establishing procedures for investigating and making recommendations for large expenditures. Treasurer:
Steven Garfin, MD - USA Bart Sachs, MD - USA
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative Industry Relations Committee
The Industry Relations Committee (IRC) will advise and direct the The SAS with regards to advocacy and public policy-shaping activities as well as with patient advocacy organizations. The IRC will work closely with The SAS staff and leaders to identify and leverage opportunities for mutual collaboration and cooperation, including scientific, educational and policy-based initiatives. Members of the committee will contact the staff representative with regard to upcoming issues of importance to ensure the society is aware of and addressing pertinent areas concerning spine surgeons.
The members of this Committee will also assist in solicitation of exhibitors for meetings, and recommend policies governing and concerning exhibitors. They will provide input into location of meetings, policies and service providers, and shall make recommendations to the Board concerning policy and financial matters relative to exhibitors. The Committee members are asked to keep in mind the mission and goals of the The SAS in all activities. Chairman:
Gunnar Andersson, MD - USA Pascale Davis - USA
Bill Christianson - USA
Gary Lowery, MD, PhD - USA
Mike Janssen, MD - USA
Hal Mathews, MD - USA
Frank Phillips, MD - USA
Pat Miles - USA
Charles Gilbride - USA
Michael Heggie - USA
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative
Public Policy Committee
This Committee could deal with some of the issues coming from FDA approvals and the CMS. The Public Policy Review Committee would serve in an advisory capacity and provide guidance in identifying experts to speak at FDA, government or congressional briefings, assist in crafting public policy/position statements that reflect the concerns of SAS, surgeons and the spine care industry. Chairman:
Stephen Hochschuler, MD - USA Chris Bono, MD - USA
Charles Ray, MD - USA
Isador Lieberman, MD - USA
Vincent Traynelis, MD - USA
Hal Mathews, MD - USA
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative
David Porter, SAS Staff Representative Long Range Planning / Past President’s Council Committee
This Committee reviews the current state of the SAS, determines whether the Society has met its goals and decides what changes to make within the Society in light of the needs of its members and changes in the medical profession. In order to serve its purpose, the committee develops a strategic plan to be reviewed annually which lays out the SAS objectives in areas such as governance and administration, membership, member services, public services and it determines what steps to take to fulfill those objectives. Chairman:
Hansen Yuan, MD - USA Stephen Hochschuler, MD - USA
Thierry Marnay, MD - France
Rudolph Bertagnoli, MD - Germany
Charles Ray, MD - USA
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative Regional Chapter Committee
This Committee of SAS consists of the Directors or Presidents elected by each of the Regional Chapters. Regional Chapters (RC) of the SAS shall be in nations outside of Europe and North America, or in world regions with involvement of more than one country, or in big spine societies as long as their active membership is more than 1,000 members. They may be formed and closely affiliated with the international SAS. The purpose of this Committee is to ensure that the society enlists the views from an international perspective. To address pertinent international issues and make sure there is a collaborative exchange of information. Chair:
Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, PhD Hak Sun Kim, MD; SAS Korea Chapter
Dewei Zou, MD; SAS China Chapter
Sajan Hegde, MD; SAS India Chapter
Mohamed Maziad, Prof.; SAS Middle East Chapter
Cheng-Hsing Kao, MD; SAS Taiwan Chapter
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative
Michele Boylstein, SAS Staff Representative Research Committee
If a company, or agency, decides on a need for a specific, or general, research project for a specific device, product (biologic, implant, etc.), medication, etc. and would like the SAS to sponsor, they would approach the Research Committee. In so doing, they would forward a written proposal to SAS describing, in broad terms, their research needs, a limited/proposed study design (e.g. animal models, imaging studies, biologic assessment, etc.) that they feel would be necessary. They would also provide a rough overall (not specific) budget, based on their anticipation of costs. The SAS Research Committee would take this proposal and analyze it for scientific value (not assessing the device, implant, product, etc. itself, but only the scientific potential of the study, independent of the outcome). If appropriate they would then submit the request to the SAS Board for review and vote for funding for the research.
Chairman:
Avinash Patwardhan, PhD
Lisa Ferrara, PhD
Ashish Diwan, MD
Sung-Jae Lee, PhD
Tae-Ahn Jahng, MD
William Sears, MD
Jacques Bouchard, MD
Melodie Metzger, MD
Gunnar Andersson, MD, PhD
Leonard Voronov, MD, PhD
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative | | 
Quick Links:
|
