L.E.A.D. SRS 2026-2027 Cohort

Spine Deformity Journal

Spine Deformity, the official journal of the Scoliosis Research Society, is a peer-refereed publication to disseminate knowledge on basic science and clinical research into the etiology, biomechanics, treatment methods and outcomes of all types of spinal deformities. The international members of the Editorial Board provide a worldwide perspective for the journal's area of interest.

The journal will enhance the mission of the Society, which is to foster the optimal care of all patients with spine deformities worldwide. Articles published in Spine Deformity are Medline indexed in PubMed. The journal publishes original articles in the form of clinical and basic research. Spine Deformity will only publish studies that have institutional review board (IRB) or similar ethics committee approval for human and animal studies and have strictly observed these guidelines. The minimum follow-up period for follow-up clinical studies is 24 months.

Elite Reviewers & Burton Best Adult Deformity Paper Winners

More information on Spine Deformity can be found on a future presentation by the Editor in Chief.

SRS Annual Meeting

The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Annual Meeting is a forum for the realization of the Society's mission and goals, the improvement of patient care for those with spinal deformities. Faculty-led instructional course lectures, case discussions and abstract papers will be presented on an array of topics, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, growing spine, kyphosis, adult deformity, minimally invasive surgery, machine learning, and mental health considerations.

• Preferred Dates - Mid September
• During a five-year period, held in North America three times and outside North America twice
• 4-day program including Pre-Meeting Course, Scientific Program, Lunchtime Symposia, Case Based Decisions, Industry Workshops, and E-Point Presentations
• Podium presentations are four minutes in length
• Minimum two-year follow up required for abstract submissions. The two-year follow up rules does not apply for categories of basic science or biomechanical studies or for topics where two-year follow up is irrelevant, such as 30-day re-admission rates
• Topics focus on current scoliosis and spinal deformity research

During the week of the SRS Annual Meeting, Committee Day is typically held on Tuesday. This is an opportunity for most committees to meet in person and prepare for the SRS year ahead. Simultaneously, SRS offers educational programming through The Hibbs Society session on Tuesday afternoon. This session is planned by the SRS Traveling Fellows from the year prior.

International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST)

The International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) is an in-person meeting experience, where leading spine surgeons, innovative researchers, and the most advanced spine technologies come together in an international forum to demonstrate and discuss recent advances in spine surgery. IMAST focuses on innovative and new methods/techniques for spinal pathology. Educational content includes instructional course lectures, four-minute paper presentations, case discussions, E-Point Presentations, and industry workshops, all led by a multidisciplinary and international faculty.

The Meeting is held in North America when the SRS Annual Meeting is held outside of North America

IMAST Mission

To freely present, discuss, and debate emerging technologies used for the treatment and care of patients with complex spine conditions.

IMAST Vision

To be the premier global forum where professionals treating complex spinal conditions meet to share, discuss, and demonstrate groundbreaking research with a focus on innovation.

Regional Courses

Current Concepts in Spine Deformity (CCSD) - This curriculum-based, interactive regional course is designed for 150-200 delegates by the Scoliosis Research Society and regionally representative SRS members. These courses combine lectures, case presentations, and panel discussions covering a broad range of spinal deformity issues. SRS Regional Courses also include Industry Workshops and an Exhibit Hall.

Spine Deformity Solutions: A Hands-On Course - The SRS hands-on courses provide an opportunity for participants to expand their knowledge and improve their skills through training and discussions with leading spinal deformity surgeons from throughout the world. Registration will be limited to ensure access to faculty, small-group interaction for better learning, and opportunities for hands-on work. A minimum of eight hours of the course will be devoted to lab work, with a strong faculty-to-learner ratio. Topics and lab sessions will cover all areas of the spine and a variety of conditions and techniques. The intimate learning theme will begin on night one with small group "Fireside Chats" with faculty and will proceed to presentations, video demonstrations, and lab rotations on days 2 and 3.

Traditional Worldwide Courses (WWC) - These courses are hosted in conjunction with a local or regional society as a 0.5-1 day pre-course to their Annual Meeting. These courses largely serve as ambassador courses for the SRS to expand its global reach, not only for membership, but also for providing excellent education.

SRS Core Curriculum

The SRS Core Curriculum was developed by a dedicated group of members utilizing a Delphi process to determine the 10 Knowledge Domains relevant to SRS members and those training in spine deformity.

• Knowledge Domain I: Foundation Knowledge
• Knowledge Domain II: Early Onset Scoliosis
• Knowledge Domain III: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
• Knowledge Domain IV: Neuromuscular Scoliosis
• Knowledge Domain V: Cervical Spine
• Knowledge Domain VI: Adult Spinal Deformity
• Knowledge Domain VII: Degenerative Spinal Deformity
• Knowledge Domain VIII: Kyphotic Deformities
• Knowledge Domain IX: Spondylolisthesis
• Knowledge Domain X: Acquired Deformity

Each Knowledge Domain contains several Learning Objectives. Within each Knowledge Domain, the Learning Objectives have been organized into three categories:

1. Learning objectives concerning development and anatomy OR etiology, classification, and natural history
2. Learning objectives defining and identifying clinical and radiological parameters; patient health related quality of life (HRQoL) and guiding the treatment decision making process
3. Learning objectives concerning defining, formulating and recommending treatment options, considering safety, and predicting outcomes and potential complications

Scoliosis Dialogues: An SRS Podcast

Scoliosis Dialogues is a Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) podcast aimed at delivering the most current and trusted information to clinicians that care for patients with scoliosis and spinal deformities. From news in the world of spinal deformity, to discussions with thought leaders in the field, we aim to provide up-to-date, quality information that will impact the daily practice of spinal deformity. The podcast is posted bi-weekly on Wednesdays.

Quality & Safety Resource Library

The Quality & Safety Resource Library serves as a central resource to find key information on important topics such as infection prevention, implant related complications, perioperative planning, and medical management. The content is split into pediatric and adult teams, and includes such tools as checklists, guidelines, key publications, videos, and webinars.

SRS Research Agenda

The SRS Research Agenda is developed every 3-5 years through in-depth discussions with the various stakeholders of the SRS, including, but not limited to the SRS Membership and high-level SRS Corporate Partners. The SRS Research Agenda highlights the key areas on which the field should consider focusing their research efforts. While SRS does not commit to funding research on each of these topics, grant applicants are encouraged to consider the list, and the SRS chooses one topic to focus on for a directed research grant of $450,000.

Research Mission

The SRS research mission is to enhance the creation of meaningful discoveries for all patients with spinal deformity.

Research Vision

As the leading global platform for sharing and disseminating new knowledge of spinal deformity, the SRS will create, link, and support research.

Research Grants

SRS offers a robust investigator-initiated research grants program. SRS currently provides up to $375,000 in funding for these grants each year. Some of this funding is via partnerships with the Yves Cotrel Foundation and Lutz Biedermann. Grant types are:

• Biedermann Innovation Award
• New Investigator
• Resident/Fellow
• Exploratory Micro
• SRS-Cotrel Foundation Basic Science
• Standard

SRS-22r Patient Outcome Questionnaire

The SRS-22r Patient Outcome Questionnaire is currently a tool that can be used freely without permissions or licensing. This tool is widely used to evaluate patient-reported function, pain, self-image, mental health, and satisfaction with management. The SRS Board of Directors is currently considering evaluation and development of and updated tool.

Awards & Scholarships

SRS offers a wide variety of awards and scholarships for members and non-members alike. When exploring opportunities, it is important to note that scholarships = assistance for traveling to meetings, whereas fellowships = assistance to complete a brief traveling fellowship to an SRS member.

SRS offers two Member Recognition Awards each year. The SRS Lifetime Achievement Award will honor an SRS member for distinguished service to the Society as well as significant contributions to spinal deformity care. A plaque will be awarded and the recipient’s name announced at the Annual Meeting. The Walter P. Blount Award is a humanitarian award given to an individual who has provided outstanding service for those with spinal deformities, through their generous actions out of a sense of service to larger social and professional goals.

Additionally, SRS offers a variety of paper and point presentation awards at the Annual Meeting and IMAST.

The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) is an international society that was founded in 1966 with 37 members. It has gained recognition as one of the world's premier spine societies. The SRS has maintained a commitment to research and education in the field of spinal deformities. Strict membership criteria ensure that the individual Fellows support that commitment. Current membership includes over 1,600 of the world's leading spine surgeons, researchers, physician assistants and orthotists who are involved in research and treatment of spinal deformities.

• Founding Fellows
• Past Presidents
• Historical Timeline

This timeline is dedicated to the SRS Founders and early pioneers of spine deformity care. Their struggles and dedication led to the evolution of this field. The following timeline maps out this evolution from the “dark age” of spine deformity care to modern day knowledge and practice. Without the tremendous efforts of these innovative and creative thinkers, our continued journey would not be possible. This is a living timeline that will continue to be expanded upon and suggested additions are always welcome.

50^th Anniversary

• AANS – American Academy of Neurological Surgeons
  • AANS-SRS Joint Task Force (concluded)
  • Occasional Sign-on opportunities
  • Katie Orrico, JD, AANS CEO serves as an Advisory to the SRS Health Policy Committee. She will be replaced with the new head of the AANS Washington Committee once on boarded.
• AAOS – American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – Most US members of SRS also belong to the AAOS and SRS works closely with them in many areas.
  • BOS – Board of Orthopaedic Specialty Societies. A group developed and managed by AAOS to improve communication and collaboration among orthopaedic societies. SRS is a member and representatives to BOS are listed on the committee list. They meet three times a year: at the AAOS Annual Meeting, at the BOS/NOLC (BOS / National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference) in Washington, DC in June and once at the AAOS Fall meeting, usually in October.
•  BSS & BASS – British Scoliosis Society & British Association of Spine Surgeons
  • Joint Pre-Meeting at the 2025 combined BSS/NSDS Annual Meeting
  • IMAST 2025
    • In discussions to offer “Host Country” discounted registration = to member registration rate
    • In discussions to provide joint planned session(s) that may include BASS abstracts
• CNS - Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  • Joint Pre-Meeting Course at CNS Annual Meeting
  • In discussion to offer the SRS Best Spine Deformity Paper at the CNS Annual Meeting
  • Future collaboration discussions to be continued
• Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN) 
  • 2024 – SRS planned session at Spine Summit; planned by the IMAST Committee. DSPN planned session at IMAST
  • Future partnership discussions to take place following IMAST 2024
• POSNA – Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
  • Pediatric Device Subcommittee (Health Policy; was formerly the Pediatric Device Task Force)
• OREF – Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.
  • Two active research grants funded by OREF, selected in a joint process.
  • SRS members may donate through OREF. Donations to this program are immediately available for research funding. Contributions to the SRS/OREF Annual Giving of $1,000 or more qualify the contributor to the Order of Merit. The first $500 of every donation goes to OREF to support their orthopaedic research grants and the remainder stays with the SRS Annual Giving Fund.
• SOSORT – International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment 
  • SRS President is invited to SOSORT Annual Meeting to give a keynote address.
  • Produced several joint webinars
  • May have a role in the upcoming Comprehensive Care Committee
• EUROSPINE

  2024	2025	2026
  IMAST - April - San Diego Joint hosted EUMDR round table with corporate partners Current Concepts - June – Prague In collaboration with EUROSPINE EUROSPINE members receive “member rate” registration EUROSPINE Annual Meeting - October - Vienna Tentative Joint Session	IMAST - April - Glasgow EUROSPINE Members to receive SRS member rate registration EUROSPINE involvement in programing SRS & EUROSPINE to continue conversations around the extent of the programming to be done by EUROSPINE	IMAST - April – Toronto Continued discussion around EUROSPINE involvement in programming Ongoing Ashtin & Jürgen to draft cost/profit sharing parameters for future collaborations.