Charles Ray, MD
Past President (2000-2004)
Founding Member
Founding ISASS member and its first president, Charles Ray, MD, is an international lecturer and visiting professor in over 28 countries, and fluently speaks eight languages. He has had over 350 publications, more than 52 US patents and over 100 foreign patents. In the year 2000, he was honored with the Gold Prize and the Industrial R & D 100 Award for his invention of the Prosthetic Disc Nucleus.
Not only is Dr. Ray a past president of ISASS, but also of the North American Spine Society and the American College of Spine Surgeons. Throughout his career, he has sought to point out that the human spine is inherently flexible and that better surgical options exist outside fusion. He is one of only a few clinicians that have had the knowledge and skill necessary to both design and manufacture innovative medical devices. Dr. Ray is retired, but is a consultant to Universities and Industry.
Rudolf Bertagnoli, MD
Past President (2004-2005)
Founding Member
Dr. Bertagnoli is one of the world’s leading spine surgeons and teaches spine surgery to other doctors all over the world. He has instructed more than 2,500 doctors from more than 55 countries. Dr. Bertagnoli is leading the development of 360 motion preservation surgical techniques.
Dr. Bertagnoli is the founder, CMO and CEO of ProSpine, the first European Centre for Spine Arthroplasty and Associated Non-Fusion Technologies, which has five facilities across Germany. Additionally, he is the president of Spine Evolution Nucleus Europe (SEN), a member of the North American Spine Society (NASS), a faculty member of IMAST and a past German representative of the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS).
Stephen Hochschuler, MD
Past President (2006-2007)
Founding Member
Dr. Stephen Hochschuler looks fondly on his tenure with ISASS as well as the entire ISASS community. “I am proud of the stature of ISASS and what it has brought to the spine community,” says Dr. Hochschuler. “I am also proud of all my new spine surgeon friends, as well as the administrative people I have worked with.”
During his tenure with ISASS, Dr. Hochschuler has worked toward incorporating the synergies of best of breed medical techniques and education in terms of running a successful business organization. Through recruitment of appropriate personnel, systems and accountability and transparency across all efforts, Dr. Hochshuler has created a global organization reaching new geographic areas and enticing leaders in spinal surgery to join the society.
In addition to his involvement with ISASS, Dr. Hochschuler is a member of several national and international professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; the American Pain Society; North American Spine Society; and the Southwest Chapter of the Society of International Business Fellows. Internationally, he is a member of the International Intradiscal Therapy Society; the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery; the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine; and is a founding board member of the Spinal Arthroplasty Society. He has also been a founding board member of The American Board of Spine Surgery and The American College of Spine Surgery. He is published in a wide range of profession journals and is the author of two books: “Back In Shape” and “Treat Your Back Without Surgery”.
Theirry Marnay, MD
Past President (2005-2006)
Dr. Theirry Marnay has been a vital part of ISASS since the beginning. He helped set up the original meeting with the Viscogliosi brothers, organized the Montpellier meeting and was one of the leaders who brought current executive director Kristy Radcliffe on board. “I am very proud to have chosen Kristy. She came in and put some order into the society—made it successful and profitable.”
During his tenure as president, Dr. Marnay is most proud of these major accomplishments:
- Invented Prodisc
- Created the original idea for ISASS organization in 2000
- Hosted and organized (with his own money) the Montpellier Meeting in 2002
- Chose to hire Kristy Radcliffe
Hansen A. Yuan, MD
Past President (2007-2008)
Dr. Hansen Yuan is a Professor of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. He holds hospital appointments at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. His surgery Internship and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency were at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center. Dr. Yuan was in a post-graduate Fellowship with Dr. Leon Wiltse specializing on low back and cervical pain. During his medical studies and fellowships, Dr. Yuan served in the United States Army for a total of six years.
Dr. Yuan holds membership in many professional societies a few of which include: the American Medical Association, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Research Society, American College of Surgeons, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Past President of The North American Spine Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society. Many of these societies have honored Dr. Yuan’s research and writing with grants and research awards. He has authored over 100 articles and many abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals. He has been a contributing author of 16 chapters to medical books. Dr. Yuan researches in the areas of degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and bone healing and bone substitute. In North America and Asia, universities and hospitals invite Dr. Yuan as a visiting professor. Many times, he has been a Presidential Guest to the Republic of China speaking on Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Yuan was attracted to ISASS by the driving force of the founders and their unique and successful efforts to create a technology-directed society for surgeons. During his tenure with the society, he is most proud of his work growing membership internationally and his efforts with ISASS Journal, of which he remains the editor-in-chief.
Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, MBA Germany
Past President (2007-2008)
Dr. Hansen Yuan is a Professor of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. He holds hospital appointments at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. His surgery Internship and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency were at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center. Dr. Yuan was in a post-graduate Fellowship with Dr. Leon Wiltse specializing on low back and cervical pain. During his medical studies and fellowships, Dr. Yuan served in the United States Army for a total of six years.
Dr. Yuan holds membership in many professional societies a few of which include: the American Medical Association, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Research Society, American College of Surgeons, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Past President of The North American Spine Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society. Many of these societies have honored Dr. Yuan’s research and writing with grants and research awards. He has authored over 100 articles and many abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals. He has been a contributing author of 16 chapters to medical books. Dr. Yuan researches in the areas of degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and bone healing and bone substitute. In North America and Asia, universities and hospitals invite Dr. Yuan as a visiting professor. Many times, he has been a Presidential Guest to the Republic of China speaking on Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Yuan was attracted to ISASS by the driving force of the founders and their unique and successful efforts to create a technology-directed society for surgeons. During his tenure with the society, he is most proud of his work growing membership internationally and his efforts with ISASS Journal, of which he remains the editor-in-chief.
Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD
President (2009-2010)
He is the director of the Spine Center at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, and is the chairman of the department of neurosurgery and a professor at the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul.
Prof. Park recently researched and published on such areas as balloon kyphoplasty and artificial discs in the cervical and lumbar spines, and his clinical interest includes motion preservation spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. He was awarded the 2008 Academic Award by the Korean Neurological Society.
Thomas Errico, MD
President (2010-2011)
Dr. Errico is an internationally recognized leader in spinal research at the NYU Medical Center in New York, New York. He has received multiple national and international awards in the last 25 years for outstanding research and development involving spinal diagnostic and management techniques.
Errico Spine Care is designed to work with patients and their families to improve the quality of life for patients with spinal disorders through innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, research, and patient education.
Jean-Charles LeHuec, MD, PhD, France
President (2011-2012)
Professor LeHuec is Chief of Spine Unit and chairman of Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology at the Bordeaux University Hospital. He is Director of the laboratory of surgical research at the Bordeaux University School of Medicine. Professor LeHuec has numerous publications and participates in numerous research projects about spine pathologies, biomaterials and computer assisted surgery.
Steven Garfin, MD, USA
President (2012-2013)
Steven R. Garfin, MD is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of California. Additionally, Dr. Garfin holds hospital positions at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center and at the La Jolla Veterans Administration Hospital.
Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD, Brazil
President (2013-2014)
Luiz Pimenta, born in 1947, completed all of his education in his homeland, Brazil. He had graduated in Medicine at the Medical School of the University of São Paulo in 1971. He started his residency in Neurosurgery in 1972 at the Paulista Medical School, currently Federal University of São Paulo. During residency, Dr. Luiz Pimenta participated in various research projects in Neurosurgery. He finished his residency in 1977, starting his PhD in Neurosurgery in 1978 at the same university, finishing his project in 1980.
Gunnar B. J. Andersson, MD, PhD, USA
President 2014-2015
Co-President 2015-2016
Dr. Gunnar B. J. Andersson is the The Ronald L. DeWald, M.D. Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Andersson was Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery from 1994 to 2008. During his tenure as Chairman he has also been the President of the Medical Staff, the Vice Dean for Surgical Sciences and Services and the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs each for two year periods.
Dr. Andersson received his M.D. from the University of Göteborg, Sweden, did his residency at Sahlgren University Hospital and also obtained a Ph.D. in medical science at the University of Göteborg in 1974. After a fellowship at the London Hospital he joined the faculty at the University of Göteborg for ten years. In 1985 he moved to the United States and Rush University Medical Center.
His clinical area of interest is spine while his research interests are disc degeneration, epidemiology and occupational biomechanics. He is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health for a Program Project on Disc Degeneration.
Dr. Andersson is a past President of the Orthopaedic Research Society, the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He has been a council member of the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at NIH, Chairman of the Research Committee at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of three Institute of Medicine committees.
He is a member of 15 Editorial Boards, a Deputy Editor for Spine, Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Spine Surgery and an Associate Editor of Clinical Biomechanics. He is the author of over 260 original publications, over 160 books and book chapters and over 440 abstracts.