Philip L. Schneider, M.D. Receives NASS’ 2024 Spine Advocacy Award

Philip L. Schneider, M.D., F.A.A.O.S. is the 2024 recipient of the North American Spine Society’s (NASS) Spine Advocacy Award.

“I am very happy to be recognized for my work done in advocacy over the years,” he told Orthopedics This Week.

Schneider joined NASS as a fellow in 1989 and became a full member in 1990. His work with NASS has always been very important to him. “Physician societies need to represent the interest of patients. No one knows what our patients need like we do, not insurance companies or the government. We need to advocate for the best patient care,” he said.

Advocate for Spine Care

For 33 years, Dr. Schneider has been a NASS member and, since 2018, served as NASS’ Advocacy Council Chair. He also served on NASS’ Board of Directors, many of its committees and as past president of the National Association of Spine Specialists.

“Phil has worked as a tireless advocate for us as spine professionals in his work as recent Advocacy Chair,” Heidi Hullinger, M.D., chair of NASS’ Legislative Sub-Committee, said in a statement.

“His enthusiasm for advocacy work is infectious, helping motivate others to be more involved. During a time of significant change at NASS as the organizational structure became more streamlined, he has worked to ensure that advocacy continues to be relevant within the NASS organization He has spent countless hours meeting with legislators and also conveying any relevant information about health care policies back to NASS members.”

Schneider serves orthopedic surgery patients in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he is vice president of The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics – Montgomery Orthopaedics Division. With more than 400 providers, the Center is the leading orthopedic practice in the Virginia-D.C.-Maryland region.

Schneider is also a strong advocate of spine care through his work in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates and as co-chair of Medicare’s Expert Panel on spinal fusions.

The House of Delegates is the legislative arm of the American Medical Association. State medical associations, national medical specialty societies, AMA sections, national societies and the federal services are all represented.

Schneider believes that the focus in spine care should be on preventing disabilities in spine and letting people live full active lives. We need to keep doing spine surgery safely and less invasive, he said.

A Top Doctor

Schneider decided to train in spine surgery after performing scoliosis surgery as a resident. “I enjoyed getting kids back in shape and then translated to adults.” His expertise includes minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, outpatient spine surgery as well as general orthopedic surgery.

Schneider is credited with over 60 publications and major research presentations. He is also a member of the University of Maryland Board of Trustees and serves on the Board of Directors of the Terrapin Club.

He is recognized annually as a Top Doctor by the Washingtonian Magazine since 2003. And since 2002, he has been recognized as a Top Surgeon by Consumer Reports, Consumer Checkbook, and the Consumer Research Council.

Schneider earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. His fellowships were with the American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a fellowship in spine surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York.

He is affiliated with Holy Cross Hospital and Suburban Hospitals. He is also the founder and director of the Holy Cross Hospital Spine Center, the first accredited Spine Center of Excellence in the Washington, D.C. area.

North American Spine Society

The North American Spine Society is a medical society for health care professionals who specialize in spine care. The mission of the society, which was founded in 1985, is to promote evidence-based and ethical spine care.

NASS honors five outstanding figures in the field of spine every year. Three of the awards are named for founding members of the NASS who not only made key contributions to the field, but who have played a role in the success of the society.

The 2024 NASS 39th Annual Meeting was held September 25 through September 28 in Chicago at the McCormick Place, West Building.