Message From Scientific Chair

Dear Spine Surgeons
I would like to express my gratitude to all the executive committee members for nominating me as the
Chair of the scientific committee of the Association of Spine Surgeons of Nepal (ASSN). Despite the
pandemic, academic activities of ASSN had continued in various forms. With waning of the COVID
situation, we are now back to our physical and face to face academic events.

The following two years of my tenure will comprise various levels of academia throughout the country.
Spine courses will be held in each province depending on the need of the local surgeons. ASSN academic
calendar for 2023-2024 will soon be published in our webpage. As a first, ASSN will organize a two day
basic spine course for the orthopedic trainees and spine fellows. This event will feature approach based
disease management, long and short case presentation by the trainees, spine x-rays, orthosis,
instrument discussions and followed by lectures the second day. The aim of the basic spine course is to
create a uniform spine learning amongst the orthopedic trainees in the country irrespective of the
university or hospital the trainees are based in.

A masters and advanced level course will also be organized in each calendar year for the surgeons. The
basic, masters and advanced level courses will be held in Kathmandu. I believe that our success will be
based on strong academic programs.
I take this responsibility as an opportunity to further ASSN academia and disseminate basic to advanced
level spine knowledge throughout the country.
Thank You.

Prof. Dr. Gaurav Raj Dhakal
Chair
Scientific Committee
Association of Spine Surgeons of Nepal