Welcome

Jin-Sung (Luke) Kim, one of world's leading MISS surgeons explains how the benefits of MISS have been understood in different regions and tells us how "putting family first" was the best career choice he ever made.

Global diversity is an invaluable asset for the Global Spine Journal (GSJ). We brought in four new Deputy Editors on the GSJ Editorial Board representing four AO Spine regions to hear their take on the GSJ and the importance of their new role.

We bring good news also for future AO Spine Global Diploma aspirants: the recently published mock exam allows you to test your knowledge level prior to applying for the real thing. The candidates and the Exam Committee Chairperson tell us why they think the mock exam is worth looking into.

AO Spine Latin America and AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa have been busy designing a new cross-regional collaborative event for advanced and masters level surgeons. The regional leaders believe working together offers great professional and personal opportunities and improves patient care.

The Scoli-Risk-I extension study to understand the long-term prospect of surgically treated complex adult spinal deformity is now completed. Principal Investigator Larry Lenke says spine surgeons can now be confident of the durability of the beneficial outcome of the surgery up to five years or longer.

The AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor EPOSO study is a milestone spine oncology project with broad and long-lasting impact. There is no doubt that selected patients will benefit more from surgery than others and these studies help us better identify these patients.

The AO Spine RECODE-DCM study is entering a new phase and uniting DCM research groups around the world. By addressing the disunity of groups working independently around the world, the AO Spine incubators aim to synergize global advances in DCM research.

We are proud to feature three of the 2019 AO Spine Discovery and Innovation Award recipients and their discoveries now that the studies are being finalized. The young researchers were invited to the AO Spine Knowledge Forums for the duration of their studies, and they share their experiences of the study groups.

Staying on the topic of AO Spine Knowledge Forums (KF), we approached some Latin American members to find out how spine surgeons in the regions contribute to global evidence-based research. They also share good tips with spine surgeon-peers interested in research.

The AO Spine International Chairperson S. Rajasekaran agreed to look back at his almost 30-year career as a spine surgeon and share his advice on the journey towards professional excellence. With snakes, ladders, and shortcuts ahead, find out what he thinks, what to make of it all.

And finally, the images we have all been waiting for! We invited a photographer to two of the first in-person events in the AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa region after the long period of virtual-only learning. We hope you enjoy the impressions as much as we do.