SMISS launches online series of CME-accredited education modules for spine surgeons

Since its founding in 2007, the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) has become the pre-eminent professional society for MIS surgeons. On March 1, 2010, the organization’s educational activities expanded dramatically with the launch of SMISS Highlights, an online series of CME-accredited education modules that are free of charge for spine surgeons.

“While the SMISS Annual Meeting partially meets this need, we want to make top-quality MIS education available for far more surgeons worldwide. The SMISS Highlights series meets this goal. Surgeons around the globe can now advance their MIS knowledge by viewing these modules at their convenience and at no charge.”

SMISS Highlights features 10 informative video modules that address indications, techniques, and outcomes for current minimally invasive spine techniques. Participants who review the modules may take a brief online test, and upon passing the test, may immediately print their CME certificate.

“There is immense need and demand for quality education addressing minimally invasive spine techniques,” said Choll Kim, MD, Executive Director of SMISS. “While the SMISS Annual Meeting partially meets this need, we want to make top-quality MIS education available for far more surgeons worldwide. The SMISS Highlights series meets this goal. Surgeons around the globe can now advance their MIS knowledge by viewing these modules at their convenience and at no charge.”

Topics of the SMISS Highlights series include: minimally invasive TLIF, interspinous process, pre-sacral, and direct lateral techniques, plus MIS techniques for spinal trauma, deformity, and degenerative problems.

The SMISS Highlights series is available at www.SpineCME.org. SpineCME is the leading site for online CME materials addressing the spine. Every online program offers CME credit—and all programs are free of charge. Since its launch in 2009, more than 1,000 spine surgeons have participated in SpineCME’s programs.

“Ultimately, the goal of MIS surgery is to give our patients better outcomes than open surgery,” Dr. Kim notes, “To achieve that goal, surgeon education and training is vital. The SMISS Highlights series is a major step toward that goal.”