More than 1,200 participants from all over the world attended the Global Spine Congress (GSC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from May 20-23, 2015. At the event, the latest approaches to spine issues were discussed in more than 80 scientific sessions including eight AOSpine symposia, nine symposia hosted by guest spine societies, and more than 60 paper sessions. More than 500 abstracts were presented as oral and e-poster presentations.

AOSpine has been hosting the GSC since 2009 and continues to provide a platform for surgeons, medical physicians, researchers and other spine specialists from all over the world to discuss the most advanced topics in spine care.

GSC Chair, Jeff Wang shared his thoughts on this year's event: "The number of spine professionals that travelled from all parts of the world to attend the GSC 2015 is testament to just how important this event is in the global spine calendar. The event promised to have the highest level of international diversity of speakers, participants, guest societies and industry representatives, and it didn't disappoint."

​Visit the GSC 2015 picture gallery

For the first time AOSpine is offering a formal Mentorship Scheme to its members who have been with AOSpine for more than two years. The scheme will be tailor-made to suit the individual mentees' needs and will last approximately two years. Mentors will be handpicked from the many elite senior spinal surgeons who are part of the AOSpine community.

The new Mentorship Scheme will see spinal surgeons at the start of their careers as attending or staff surgeons paired with accomplished peers for a unique educational and professional experience. The mentee will study a syllabus that has links to unique online AOSpine educational offerings   with the opportunity to interact with their mentor on all aspects of the material. The expectation is that the mentees' cases will complement this learning experience and online discussions with their mentor will confirm that they have necessary competencies related to the required modules. Each mentorship will be tailor-made to the mentee within the bounds of the syllabus framework, with specific care taken in selecting the appropriate mentor.

Duration

The individual's scheme will last approximately 2 years and consist of the following:

• Individual introductory virtual meetings
• Face-to-face meeting of all mentors and mentee's
• One year's virtual mentoring
• Three months face-to-face fellowship
• One year's virtual mentoring

Mentees will be expected to complete the entire scheme so a long-term commitment is required.

Mentee Criteria

• Applicants must have been a paying member of AOSpine for a minimum of two years
• Applicants must have completed at least two AOSpine face-to-face educational events
• Applicants must provide a letter of support and good standing from their Department Chair indicating the applicant's wish to become a spinal surgeon and with specific details of being allowed to attend the face-to-face element of the scheme
• Applicants must show a demonstrable commitment to spine (1)
• Applicants must show evidence of academic ambition (2)

Notes:

1. Completed ortho / neuro residency, two letters indicating applicant's wish to become a spinal surgeon (one from Department Chair (as detailed above) and one from a senior AOSpine paying member (who has also been faculty at an AOSpine event))
2. Published papers / abstracts / societal presentations (attendance at GSC although not mandatory will be favored above local or regional conferences)

The online application form will be available on the AOSpine website soon!

To honor Germán Ochoa, his unparalleled dedication to AOSpine, and his countless achievements, the Germán Ochoa Traveling Fellowship (GO Traveling Fellowship) offers a unique opportunity for a senior AOSpine faculty member to spend up to four weeks at a spine center of his/her choice. The main ethos of the fellowship is that the selected member will act as an "Ambassador", promoting AOSpine as a global community and a leader in spinal education.

At the Global Spine Congress in May, 2015, Michael Janssen became the first recipient of the Germán Ochoa Traveling Fellowship Award. While a high number of quality applications were received for the fellowship, only one could be chosen. Members of the AOSpine Education Commission scored each applicant according to specified criteria, in addition to faculty merit and their motivation letter, and it was Dr Janssen who accumulated the highest aggregate score.

Michael Janssen, one of the founding fathers of AOSpine, holds a high standing within the organization. He is Board-Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Board of Spine Surgeons. Dr Janssen received his medical education at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri, US. He completed his internship and residency at the Medical College of Georgia, as well as a pair of spine fellowships at Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic and with Professor Magrel in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Dr Janssen has been practicing at the Center for Spinal Disorders in Denver Colorado for two decades, and he has mentored over 100 international spine surgery fellows over the past 25 years of his surgical career. Michael Janssen, is a professor of Rocky Vista University, and clinical associate professor at the University of Colorado. He was the recipient of the life-time achievement award from AOSpine in 2013. Dr Janssen has travelled the globe extensively, dedicating his life to education and transferring his knowledge in spine surgery, techniques and principles of spine care. He has been the lead investigator for many FDA spine technology products with publications. Dr Janssen has the wonderful support of a physician spouse (Sharon), and two children that are pursuing a career in global medicine. He is passionate about many sports including teaching scuba diving, skiing, and has won 4 world championships in offshore powerboat racing.

On receiving the fellowship award at the opening session of the Global Spine Congress in Argentina. Dr Janssen stated:

“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings: On one hand I am deeply honoured with the award, but saddened with the loss of German Ochoa. This is a crowning point of my AOSpine Career.”

“Why does receiving this German Ochoa traveling fellowship have such prestige? Simple, German was Mr AOSpine before we were AOSpine. German changed the lives of many during his life’s journey, and we were just one of the privileged groups that had the chance to be impacted by him”.

“We each have a duty to educate, share our knowledge, and transfer our talents, with our peers, especially to those that have less of a chance than ourselves in medicine. I plan to make a difference in people’s lives, and continue to pass on the spirit of AOSpine, while guiding remote surgeons to doing things different and doing different things”

“I feel proud, I feel humbled to be the first recipient of this prestigious international spine fellowship of AOSpine. Thank you “