NASS Recognition Awards: Honoring Leaders in Spine Care
Each year, NASS recognizes individuals whose contributions to spine care, research, service, and advocacy reflect the breadth of the Society and its mission. The 2026 NASS Recognition Award recipients have distinguished themselves through decades of leadership and service, groundbreaking research, international education, and sustained advocacy on behalf of the spine care community.
This year, NASS honors five members whose contributions have advanced the field and strengthened the Society: Todd Albert, MD, recipient of the Leon Wiltse Award; Brian Kwon, MD, PhD, FRCSC, recipient of the Henry Farfan Award; Paul Arnold, MD, recipient of the David Selby Award; David Gendelberg, MD, recipient of the Spine Advocacy Award; and Jin-Sung (Luke) Kim, MD, PhD, recipient of the International Award.
Leon Wiltse Award
To recognize excellence in leadership and/or clinical research in spine care.
Todd Albert, MD
Todd Albert, MD has been a NASS member since 1995. He is Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), where he previously served as Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief Medical Officer, and is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He also serves as Chief Medical Officer of Legent Health and co-founded See All AI, a company focused on advancing medical imaging and surgical navigation technologies. Throughout his career, Dr. Albert has combined clinical excellence with visionary leadership, helping transform two of the nation's premier orthopaedic institutions while mentoring more than 150 spine fellows and contributing significantly to innovation in spine care. Dr. Albert is internationally recognized for his contributions to spine research and leadership. He has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications, 80 book chapters, and 14 books, while securing NIH funding and holding multiple patents for spine technologies that have generated widespread clinical impact. He is the only orthopaedic surgeon to have served as president of both the Cervical Spine Research Society and the Scoliosis Research Society, and currently serves as President of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. His distinguished career has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2025 Hospital for Special Surgery Lifetime Achievement Award. An active NASS member for more than three decades, Dr. Albert has served on numerous committees, including the Annual Meeting Program Committee, Continuing Medical Education Committee, Resident & Fellow Education Committee, Compensation & Benefits Committee (as both member and chair), and as a peer reviewer for The Spine Journal. His decades of leadership, research, innovation, and dedication to advancing spine care make him a deserving recipient of the Leon Wiltse Award.
Nominated by: NASS Nominating Committee
Henry Farfan Award
To recognize outstanding contributions in spine-related basic science research.
Brian Kwon, MD, PhD, FRCSC
Brian Kwon, MD, PhD, FRCSC has been a NASS member since 2000. He is a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia, where he serves as the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Spinal Cord Injury and holds the endowed Dvorak Chair in Spine Trauma. As Director of the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), one of the world's largest spinal cord injury research centers, Dr. Kwon has dedicated his career to advancing translational research that improves outcomes for patients with spinal cord injury. "Dr. Kwon's work has fundamentally transformed the field of spinal cord injury research and has inspired investigators around the world," said Heidi Hullinger, MD. "His relentless pursuit of scientific discovery, coupled with his commitment to collaboration and mentorship, has accelerated the translation of laboratory discoveries into meaningful advances for patients." Dr. Kwon has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, secured more than $95 million in extramural research funding, and established the world's only International Spinal Cord Injury Biobank to support investigators globally. His groundbreaking work in spinal cord injury biomarkers, large-animal translational models, and neurologic recovery has earned numerous honors, including the inaugural Neilsen Foundation Visionary Prize and the University of British Columbia's Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize.
Nominated by: NASS Nominating Committee
David Selby Award
To recognize contributions to the art and science of spinal disorder management through service to NASS but has not been elected NASS President.
Paul Arnold, MD
Paul Arnold, MD has been a NASS member since 1998. He is Professor of Neurosurgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and has devoted nearly three decades to advancing spine care through clinical practice, scholarship, and service to the Society. Throughout his career, he has played a leading role in shaping NASS policies, ethics, clinical guidelines, and scientific publications. "I am a proud and loyal member of NASS," Dr. Arnold wrote in his nomination materials. "The Ethics Committee had a large and influential role in many of these decisions." His leadership included 14 years on the Committee on Ethics & Professionalism, including six years as Chair while simultaneously serving on the Board of Directors, helping guide the Society through significant changes in governance and industry relationships. Dr. Arnold has also served on the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, Finance Committee, Audit Committee, Professional Compliance Panel, and numerous other NASS committees. In addition, he served on the editorial board of The Spine Journal, including three years as Deputy Editor, and has contributed extensively as an abstract reviewer and guideline author. His decades of dedicated leadership and service exemplify the spirit of the David O. Selby Award.
Nominated by: NASS Nominating Committee
Spine Advocacy Award
To recognize NASS members who have made exceptional contributions to the federal advocacy efforts on behalf of patients and members of the society.
David Gendelberg, MD
David Gendelberg, MD has been a NASS member since 2015. He is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Spine Pathology Advanced Research Center. His clinical interests include spine trauma, minimally invasive surgery, and expanding access to high-quality spine care, while his longstanding commitment to advocacy has made him a rising leader within NASS. "Dr. David Gendelberg represents the future of NASS in multiple areas," said Michael Klein, MD, MS, FACS. "He enjoys interacting with members of Congress on healthcare issues and the importance of building relationships with representatives and policy makers who support the mission of NASS." Within NASS, Dr. Gendelberg has served as Chair of the Political Engagement Subcommittee, a member of the SpinePAC Advisory Committee, the Health Policy & Advocacy Council, Early Career Advisory Council, Legislative Subcommittee, and several additional committees. He has represented NASS at congressional fly-ins, organized SpinePAC events that strengthened relationships between lawmakers and spine surgeons, and has become a passionate advocate for policies that improve patient access to high-quality spine care and advance the future of the specialty.
Nominated by: Ashraf El Naga, MD; and Michael Klein, MD, MS, FACS
International Award
To recognize International members of the North American Spine Society who have made outstanding contributions in basic science research, clinical research, or service to NASS.
Jin-Sung (Luke) Kim, MD, PhD
Jin-Sung (Luke) Kim, MD, PhD has been an International Member of NASS since 2015. He is Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of the Medical Device Development Center at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. Internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Kim has become one of the field's most influential educators, researchers, and innovators. "Dr. Luke Kim is committed with NASS international in multiple forums and events," said Hani H. Mhaidli, MD, PhD. "He is an international spine surgeon leader, well known as a master in minimally invasive surgery because of his outstanding contributions in basic science research and clinical research."
Dr. Kim has served in numerous NASS leadership roles, including several roles in NASS International groups, Governance Committee, and Section on Minimally Invasive Procedures. He has authored more than 250 scientific publications, delivered over 700 invited lectures worldwide, trained surgeons from more than 40 countries through the SpineWalker Academy, and currently holds the highest h-index globally in endoscopic spine surgery based on first and corresponding authorship. Through his research, education, and international leadership, Dr. Kim has played a pivotal role in advancing minimally invasive spine surgery worldwide.
Nominated by: NASS International Strategic Growth Committee; and Hani Mhaidli, MD, PhD