During the 31st Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society (NASS), F Todd Wetzel was named NASS president for 2016-17. Wetzel is an orthopaedic surgeon who lives in Wilmington, USA and practices medicine in Philadelphia, USA.
“As a NASS member for 28 years, I have seen this great organisation expand and mature to become the leading spine society in the world,” says Wetzel. “Many years ago, I made the decision that NASS would be my ‘primary’ society due to its incredible diversity and overall excellence. I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead this truly remarkable organisation.”
Wetzel identified several goals for the coming year that will help improve spine care globally and support NASS members:
- Advance NASS’ reputation as the premier spine society
- Maintain its leadership on ethical issues
- Continuously improve the services NASS provides to members
- Expand NASS’ widening international reach
- Grow NASS’ advocacy efforts on behalf of patients and members
Wetzel is currently professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University, Boston, USA, and a doctor of medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. His postgraduate training included an orthopaedic residency at Yale University, New Haven, USA, a postdoctoral fellowship in research (biomechanics) with Manohar Panjabi, also at Yale University, and a spine fellowship under the direction of the late Henry LaRocca, in New Orleans, USA.
Wetzel is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a member of numerous societies, including the AOA, CSRS, APS, APM and NASS. He was awarded the NASS Henry Farfan Award for outstanding contributions to the field of spine care, in the areas of conservative care and biomechanics.
Wetzel is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and numerous texts and chapters. His current research interests include disc biomechanics, the influence of activating factors on degeneration, ethics and conflict of interest in medical decision-making, and evidence-based assessment of diagnostic and therapeutic spine care. Wetzel most recently served on the NASS Board of Directors as the first vice president.
