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Committee Descriptions and Assignments

IT Committee
Publications Committee
CME Committee
Membership Committee
Education Committee
Finance Committee
Industry Relations Committee
Public Policy Committee
Long Range Planning Committee
International Committee

IT Committee

The members of this committee will work to enhance the SAS website to ensure that current and relevant matters are addressed. The IT committee in conjunction with the Executive Director will guide and direct the appointed webmaster to make necessary changes and upgrades to ensure member needs are met.

Chairman:
Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD
Dilip Sengupta, MD, PhD
Hyun-Chul Shin, MD, PhD
Heather Howard and Michele Boylstein SAS Staff Representatives

Publications Committee

The design, text, layout and editing of the newsletter, hard copy and online books and instructional course material test books all fall under the realm of this Committee. They will develop standards and guidelines to ensure all items published by the SAS or with SAS endorsement meet the requirements set up by the Committee. The committee will monitor and approve all such materials with that goal in mind. They will assist in the appointment of editors, associate editors and editorial boards as well as offer advice and content ideas.

Chairman:
Jeff Goldstein, MD
Chris Bono, MD
Federico Girardi, MD
James Yue, MD
Choll Kim, MD
Jean-Charles LeHuec, MD, PhD
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative

CME Committee

Discusses and provides interpretations of the ACME guidelines regarding accreditation policies and decisions. Also concentrates on evaluating the effectiveness of the society’s system of accreditation, including the accreditation requirements and its processes for funding and support. This committee also forwards actions regarding accreditation decisions to the full Board of Directors for ratification. The CME Committee will work in the development and adherence of all CME rules and regulations. The will review all SAS sponsored programs to make sure that the SAS provides continuing education programs on substantive, practice-related subjects.

Chairman:
Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD
Ken Burkus, MD
Heather Howard, SAS Staff Representative
CMEProvider:
Medical Education Resources

Membership Committee

Responsible for increasing the number of individual and institutional members worldwide and to ensure members’ needs are met. This includes recommending ways for increasing the SAS membership base, formulating coordinating and implementing plans for membership recruitment, ways to acknowledge and welcome new members’ and encourage their participation in SAS committees and SAS sponsored activities. They will work with the Executive Director in the development of a renewal of membership program. This committee will be charged with developing a SAS membership directory and coordinating with the IT committee for membership access via the website. This committee will also work to identify members’ and non-members’ needs and perceptions, analyzing them and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Chairman:
Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, PhD
Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD
Heather Howard, SAS Staff Representative

Education Committee

The Education Committee is charged with devising goals and guidelines for the coordinating efforts of the Society to satisfy the changing needs of its membership in the field of continuing education. They will work closely with the CME committee to ensure the SAS educational programs meet all guidelines and requirements. It is the goal of SAS to be the leader in providing education and training opportunities through short courses, workshops, CD-ROM publications, seminars and conferences. This committee will regularly explore cost-effective training opportunities applicable to spine surgeons worldwide. They will develop new programs for those who cannot attend SAS sponsored seminars, such as short courses, distance learning programs and sanctioned educational opportunities. The main goal of this committee is to educate and promote medical excellence in the care of spine.

Chairmen:
Michael Janssen, MD/ Larry Khoo, MD
Amir Fayyazi, MD
Ken Yonemura, MD
Jean-Charles LeHuec, MD, PhD
Frank Phillips, MD
Chong Suh Lee, MD
Heather Howard, SAS Staff Representative

Finance Committee

The Committee will assess the financial condition of the society on a quarterly basis. The role of this Committee is to review proposed budgets and present recommendations and findings to the full Board of Directors for approval. They will track the income and expenses and make recommendations as necessary. The group will advise the Board of Directors and provide guidance and direction to the Executive Director on all matters relating to financial management. This committee serves as the watchdog for the financial stability of the organization, reviewing banking and investment options and establishing procedures for investigating and making recommendations for large expenditures.

Treasurer:
Tom Errico, MD
Bart Sachs, MD
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative

Industry Relations Committee

The members of this Committee will solicit exhibitors for meetings, recommend policies, and recommend policies governing and concerning exhibitors. They will advise on all aspects of the exhibit space and charges. They will monitor matters concerning exhibitors, the exhibits, the exhibit space and security of the exhibit space. They will provide input into location of meetings, policies and service providers and shall make recommendations to the board concerning policy and financial matters relative to exhibitors.

Chairman:
Gunnar Andersson, MD
Bill Christenson
Gary Lowery, MD, PhD
Mike Janssen, MD
Hal Matthews, MD
Frank Phillips, MD
Pat Miles
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative

Public Policy Committee

This Committee could deal with some of the issues coming from FDA approvals and the CMS. The Public Policy Review Committee would serve in an advisory capacity and provide guidance in identifying experts to speak at FDA, government or congressional briefings, assist in crafting public policy/position statements that reflect the concerns of SAS, surgeons and the spine care industry.

Chairman:
Stephen Hochschuler, MD
Chris Bono, MD
Charles Ray, MD
Isador Lieberman, MD
Vincent Traynelis, MD
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative

Long Range Planning

This Committee reviews the current state of the SAS, determines whether the Society has met its goals and decides what changes to make within the Society in light of the needs of its members and changes in the medical profession. In order to serve its purpose, the committee develops a strategic plan to be reviewed annually which lays out the SAS objectives in areas such as governance and administration, membership, member services, public services and it determines what steps to take to fulfill those objectives.

Chairman:
Stephen Hochschuler, MD
Thierry Marnay, MD
Rudolph Bertagnoli, MD
Charles Ray, MD
Kristy Radcliffe, SAS Staff Representative

International Committee

The purpose of this committee is to ensure the society enlists the views from an international perspective. To address all international issues and make sure there is a collaborative exchange of information.

Chairman:
Thierry Marnay, MD
Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, PhD
Luis Pimenta, MD
Chun Kun Park, MD, PhD
Massimo Balsano, MD
Dewei Zou, MD, PhD
Henry Halm, MD, PhD
Alejandro Reyes-Sanchez, PhD
Alexander Hadjipavlou, MD