President's Message

Peter O. Newton, MD
SRS President 2018-2019

Our society remains focused on providing you benefits of membership while advancing the care for all patients with spinal deformity. Our two major education events, IMAST and the Annual Meeting, are largely set with our next chance to share ideas and innovations in our specialty July 17-20, 2019 at IMAST in Amsterdam. If you haven’t made your plans it’s not too late. We will be in Montréal, Canada for Annual Meeting September 18-21, 2019. Anticipate a spectacular scientific program based on the more than 1700 submitted abstracts this year, as well as stunning fall colors. Please see Dr. Miyanji’s program report later in this issue.

In addition to our in-person gatherings for scientific and social exchange, the SRS is embracing the online educational movement with increased vigor.  We are in the midst of evaluating proposals for a Learning Management System to serve as the platform to launch online educational content feeding the SRS Core Curriculum in Spinal Deformity. Dr. Bas highlights in this issue of the newsletter the transformation of the E-Text into more varied and engaging forms of content curated by the Educational Resources Committee. In addition, our first blended learning (online and live) course on Early Onset Scoliosis is in the works with the remaining topics of the SRS Core Curriculum in Spinal Deformity coming in the future.

A task force to evaluate our society’s efforts in research was initiated early in the year as well. Four subgroups have been meeting and we anticipate a report with recommendations to the Board of Directors in July. Stay tuned as we continue to place emphasis on how the SRS can promote the creation and discovery of new knowledge in spinal deformity. Research was a foundation of the society when it was formed more than 50 years ago and it remains equally relevant today.

Our SRS brand is powerful and your leadership knows this is based on the quality and stature of its members. We are greatly appreciative of your contributions to the SRS as well as your patients and the larger spine community. No matter your country, your specialty training or the population of patients you treat, your shared commitment to advancing care for patients with spinal deformity is what makes the SRS brand what it is and what it will become in the future. We will launch a new logo (see below) in the coming months that will supplement our traditional logo, which will become our seal. We hope you find the fresh look representative of the SRS brand.

I will thank you again now, and every chance I get, for the opportunity to serve as your President. I have heard from many of you this year and welcome others who wish to share insight and suggestions for how the SRS can have an even greater impact on the very special patients we are so privileged to help. Reach out anytime, [email protected].

Most humbly yours,

Peter Newton, MD
SRS President 2018-2019