- AdventHealth
As Chairman of the Navigation and Robotics Section of the North American Spine Society (NASS), Chetan Patel, MD, plays an important role in educating surgeons about the latest procedures and devices, and the evidence that supports their success. For a ninth consecutive year, Dr. Patel will bring his expertise to the annual NASS meeting, set for October 26-29 in Boston, Mass., where he will moderate forums featuring spine specialists from around the country. The goal of the symposium is to educate surgeons about the pros and cons of various robotic procedures based on evidence from medical literature and the experience of the experts.
“I have two different sessions this year that aim to provide information to physicians of every skill level,” Dr. Patel says. “In the first session, we are going to discuss the different operations that are available to spine surgeons and the evidence that supports their success in the operating room. This one is geared toward newer surgeons who aren’t as familiar with every surgical technique. After this session, I want these surgeons to be able to make an educated decision for themselves.”
Dr. Patel is a strong advocate for evidence-based healthcare, something he practices daily as Medical Director of the Spine Health Institute in Altamonte Springs, Fla. He is also at the forefront of emerging robotic procedures, and has even helped develop a new robotic technology that will soon be used in spine surgeries. All of Dr. Patel’s work has the primary goal of improving patient outcomes through long-term, effective medical solutions. This is what he hopes to get across in the second session with help from his symposium panel.
“The second session is geared toward experienced surgeons – it goes into more detail and focuses on tips and tricks to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the operation,” he says. “There’s always a learning curve when new equipment is introduced in the operating room. By gathering experts and hearing what their tips are for implementing this equipment successfully, we can decrease time in the surgery room, help the surgeons adapt faster and help the patient.”
Dr. Patel selected this year’s presenters based on their years of experience, unbiased expertise and evidence-based practices. By bringing experts together to discuss the pros and cons of procedures that are currently being performed, Dr. Patel and the surgeons of NASS can take what they’ve learned back to their operating rooms and help improve patient outcomes in the long run.