President's Message
Peter O. Newton, MD
SRS President 2018-2019
I hope you are all set for the SRS Annual Meeting later this month! We will be gathered in Montréal, Canada, September 18-21, 2019 for what is shaping up to be another fabulous Annual Meeting. You can read my Welcome Letter in the final program for the details and highlights to expect. In addition to the science, I am especially looking forward to René Castelein’s Harrington Lecture entitled “Dropping the 'I' in AIS, What will it take?” and the Steel Lecture, presented by Normand Laprise, Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux at TOQUÉ! Restaurant and co-owner of BRASSERIE T! and BEAU MONT, who will share with us his perspective on Quebec's culinary tradition.
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Inside this Issue
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Hot Topic Articles
Bylaws & Policies Committee Update *Proposed Amendments*
Education Committee Update
Treasurer's Report
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In Memoriam
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Ethics Corner
Christian P. DiPaola, MD
Ethics & Professionalism Committee Member
The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and the doctor-patient relationship
The evolution of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) has profoundly impacted medical care. Along with the benefits of newer EMRs, such as legibility, near instantaneous transmission of information, and remote access, come unintended consequences such as data entry errors and information distortion.
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Historian Corner
George H. Thompson, MD
SRS Historian
Did you know that 10 years ago…
Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods (MCGR) were gaining popularity and the new version of the MCGR was first used. Early Onset Scoliosis continues to present significant treatment challenges. This new technology allows for non-invasive lengthening after the initial surgical implantation.
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Pat on the Back
SRS would like to congratulate Douglas C. Burton, MD on being selected to provide the 2019 “Stanley R. Friesen Lecture in the History of Surgery,” at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where Dr. Burton is the Marc and Elinor Asher Spine Professor and Vice Chairman. The lecture will take place on Thursday, November 14, on the topic of The History of Spine Instrumentation through a Kansas Lens.
Congratulations Dr. Burton!
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IMAST Committee Update
Henry F.H. Halm, MD
IMAST Committee Chair
We have just concluded the 26th International Meeting of Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) in Amsterdam July 17-20, 2019. Attendance was higher than in previous years with 722 registered participants – 590 pre-registrations and 132 onsite registrations. The number of 325 non SRS members who attended IMAST was also very high. We had attendees from all over the world with the majority coming from North America (45%), Europe (27%) and Asia/Asia-Pacific (20%).
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Bylaws & Policies Committee Update
Brian Hsu, MD
Bylaws & Policies Committee Chair
After careful consideration and discussion with the Board of Directors, the Bylaws & Policies Committee is proposing the amendments listed below to current SRS Bylaws. These amendments will be presented to the membership for a vote at the Members’ Business Meeting, at 12:00 on Friday, September 20 in 517A of the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Canada.
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Nominating Committee Update
Todd J. Albert, MD
Nominating Committee Chair
As in past years and per the SRS Bylaws, the 2019 Nominating Committee was made up of a chair appointed by the President (typically the immediate Past President) and four members elected by Active members attending the 2018 Members’ Business Meeting. This year, elected members of the Committee were Lawrence Lenke, David Polly, Amer Samdani and Daniel Sucato.
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Education Committee Update
Burt Yaszay, MD
Education Committee Chair
We are less than a month away from the 2019 Annual Meeting in Montréal. At the meeting you will see all the work the education committee has done in providing the education program including the Pre-Meeting Course, Half Day Courses and Lunchtime Symposia. There should be something for everybody as the topics are both innovative and fundamental to spinal deformity treatment.
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Treasurer's Report
J. Abbott Byrd, III, MD
Treasurer
The big news since my last report in February of this year is that the stock market has bounced back from its low in December. Along with it, as of May 31, 2019, the total Assets of the SRS have risen to $15.0 M compared to $13.4 M as of December 31, 2018.
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Development Committee Update
Rick C. Sasso, MD
Development Committee Chair
Donations to the SRS were significantly higher in 2018 compared to 2017 and 2016. So far in 2019, this trend continues.
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Morbidity and Mortality Committee Update
William F. Lavelle, MD
Morbidity and Mortality Committee Chair
The Mortality and Morbidity Committee has created and implemented a single sign-on for M&M reporting to ease data entry. Our Committee encourages members to sign-on and enter their data so we can have a larger sample size to better interpret results and treatments. We plan to also provide a tutorial for data use in the future.
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Corporate Relations Committee Update
Todd J. Albert, MD
Corporate Relations Committee Chair
Although a relatively small group, the Corporate Relations Committee has the important charge of monitoring and guiding the relationship with medical device companies that support SRS through grants, exhibits and marketing. Committee members include the Presidential Line, Treasurer and selected regional representatives to help identify and work with “local” companies.
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