The NASS Podcast

Nathaniel P. Brooks, MD Karthik H. Madhavan, MD Stephen Pirris, MD Ernest E. Braxton, MD, MBA

Michael G. Fehlings MD, PhD, FRCS Yi Lu, MD PhD Rajiv Saigal, MD PhD

In this episode, Jamie Wilson, MD, FRCS, MSc interviews Christopher Ahuja, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FAANS and Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, about the challenges of sustaining a research career alongside a demanding spine surgery practice. They discuss how long timelines for scientific discovery, frequent setbacks in research, and competing clinical responsibilities can contribute to burnout. The conver...

Authors Preston Le, MD, and Dustin Anderson, MD, discuss their recent article, "Hip-Spine Syndrome: Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Considerations for Clinicians," with moderator Alex P. Michael, MD. Read the full article <a href="https://spinelinemag.spine.org/marapr26-me20626/invited-review">here</a>

Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc Evan K. Johnson, DPT, MS, OCS Santhosh Tomas, MD

In this episode, Moises Googe, DO interviews Victor Chang, MD and Matthew Karek, MD, about the challenges of mid-career burnout among spine surgeons. They discuss how administrative pressures, shifting career milestones, and competing personal and professional responsibilities can affect fulfillment during this stage of practice. The conversation highlights strategies such as reconnecting with mea...

Tobias Mattei, MD Vinicius Ricieri Ferraz Sr., MD

In this discussion Jonathan Grauer, MD and Tobias Mattei, MD share practical strategies for navigating the revise and resubmit process in academic publishing. Topics include responding to reviewer comments point-by-point, managing major versus minor revisions, improving manuscript quality through peer review, handling cascaded submissions from high impact journals, and communicating effectively wi...

In this episode, Rahul Shah, MD, interviews Roger Härtl, MD about how physicians can sustain long, demanding careers by building “physiological reserve” and maintaining balance between work, family, personal interests, and physical well-being. They discuss how regularly stepping back to identify what truly matters in life is key to maintaining resilience and continuing to find meaning in patient c...

Darius Ansari, MD William Chu Kwan, MD, PhD Thomas Wozny, MD

In this episode, Melvin Helgeson, MD and Peter Rhee, MD discuss physician burnout, including its definition, contributing factors, and the distinction between stress and burnout. Rhee shares his personal experience with burnout and highlights the importance of awareness, open dialogue, and accessing appropriate support resources. The conversation also explores cultural challenges in medicine, stra...

Authors Raj J. Gala, Aidan P. McAnena, and Taylor McClennen discuss their recent paper with NASSJ Deputy Editor, Tobias Mattei. Check out the full article <a href="https://www.nassopenaccess.org/article/S2666-5484(26)00029-6/fulltext">here</a>

Michael Y. Wang, MD, MBA Daniel M. Sciubba,MD Peter G. Passias, MD

Authors Robert Ravinsky, MD, MPH, and Jason Silvestre, MD, discuss their recent article, " Analysis of National Institutes of Health funding for back pain research in the United States ," with moderator Tobias Mattei, MD. You can read the full article <a href="https://www.nassopenaccess.org/article/S2666-5484(25)00252-5/fulltext">here</a>

Alison A. Stout, DO Kush K. Goyal, MD Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, MBA

In this episode, Eric J. Muehlbauer, MJ, CAE, executive director and CEO of the North American Spine Society (NASS), joins spine surgery fellow Uri P. Hadelsberg, MD, MBA for a forward-looking conversation on how AI is already influencing clinical decision-making, surgical workflows, patient triage, and medical education and what may come next. <br><br> From real-time image recognition...

Matthew L. Goodwin, MD, PhD, FACSM Daniel Tobert, MD

Tony Tannoury, MD Harish Kempegowda, MD Chirag Berry, MD

Steven J. Girdler, MD Vivek Babaria, DO

Virgilio Matheus, MD Ashley L. Botsford, PA-C

Ram Haddas, PhD, MBA, MEng Tobias Mattei, MD Bassel G. Diebo, MD William F. Lavelle, MD, MBA

W. Bryan Wilent chats about his recent article, titled  "The future of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in spinal surgery"  with NASSJ deputy editor Tobias Mattei. To read the full story, click <strong><ahref="https://www.nassopenaccess.org/article/S2666-5484(25)00197-0/fulltext">here</a></strong>

Richard Vogel, PhD, DABNM Natalie Peartree, PhD, CNIM

Gene Tekmyster, DO, chair of NASS' Patient Safety Committee, and his co-author William Richardson, MD, sat down with moderator Vivek Babaria, DO, to talk about their recent article,  "Preoperative and Preprocedural Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies. To read the full story, click <strong><a href="https://spinelinemag.spine.org/novdec25/patient-safety">here<...

Evan K. Johnson, DPT, MS, OCS Rick J. Placide, MD, PT Michael J. Suer, MD Lauren A. Barber, MD