Ms. Shupryt, Ms. Bonaminio, and Dr. Baaj’s panel “Philanthropy in Spine Surgery” (45 minutes) discusses how spine surgeons can ethically leverage philanthropy to fund education, global outreach, research, and care for underserved patients, drawing from their experiences with hospital foundations and spine‑specific charities.
Key topics and models
Hospital and disease foundations: Funding for fellowships, implant donations, free‑care programs, and registries, with examples like SpineHope and Spine Research Foundation supporting pediatric deformities and low‑income access.
Global initiatives: Training local teams in low‑resource settings (e.g., scoliosis camps, endoscopic workshops) to build sustainable capacity, avoiding “mission tourism” pitfalls.
Practical advice
Project design: Focus on measurable outcomes (e.g., surgeries performed, trainees mentored) with transparent governance to attract donors and avoid conflicts.
Surgeon roles: Write proposals, partner with development experts, and use platforms like VGSC for visibility; emphasize ethics to separate fundraising from clinical decisions.
Ethical and impact takeawaysPhilanthropy scales spine care beyond budgets, funding innovation and equity without compromising independence; the panel urges surgeons to engage as “decathletes” blending clinical work with giving back.