William J. Sullivan, MD
SpineLine Medical Editor
University of Colorado School of
Medicine
Aurora, CO
Learning from Other Viewpoints
n Commentary | Message from the Medical Editor
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”
– Aldous Huxley
“When overseas, you learn more about your own country than you do the
place you’re visiting.”
– Clint Borgen
“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by
vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.”
– Mark Twain
nnn NASS has also
become more than a
North American spine
society. We have continued
to grow, with international
memberships increasing
steadily.
Imust admit, at some point in my life I was not just bitten by a single travel bug,
but suffered a full-scale attack of a massive
swarm. I am not really sure when this occurred, because as a child (with five sisters
and three brothers) our travel was primarily
via a 12-passenger green Dodge Super Maxi
van (below). As you might guess, we did not
really go all that far. I think Niagara Falls was
the farthest with everyone, and other trips
to places like Cumberland Gap, KY or Williamsburg, VA where we left some siblings
behind for a stay with cousins.
My first flight was toward the end of
college—a one-way trip to Alaska in order
to drive back to Michigan. I flew on the back
end of a round-trip ticket my roommate’s
brother got for his wife and son. I was flying
as an eight-year old, and the ticket salutation said “Master” on it. I had to hold my
thumb over that part when getting on the
plane, something one could never get away
with now. Hopefully, the statute of
limitations for this
youthful indiscretion has passed.
In any event, travel is a great way
to bring different
viewpoints into
one's life.
Those who read this column regularly
have read about how NASS membership
is a great way to learn other viewpoints. As
a multispecialty society dedicated to the
care of spine conditions, we are one of the
few medical societies that encourage and
embrace different viewpoints. NASS has
also become more than a North American
spine society. We have continued to grow
with international memberships increas-
ing steadily. Many outside of the United
States and North America are clamoring for
inclusion and the benefits of membership.
NASS courses continue to attract those from
far away, and I am always thinking of how
difficult it must be to come from Brazil, Ar-
gentina or a European country to Burr Ridge
for a course. It seems to be the norm rather
than the exception that someone at even a
small course is an international attendee.
As I write this column, I am preparing
talks and finalizing plans for travel to Sau-
di Arabia. NASS
was invited to
participate in the
first Saudi Spine
Society meeting
where the pro-
gram is planned
around "Promot-
ing Excellence in
Multidisciplinary
Spine Care." I am
