Jakub Godzik, M.D., MS, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, discussed the future of spine care and the growing need for integrated and multidisciplinary systems designed to improve patient access, efficiency and coordination of care at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
During his presentation, “Frontiers of Spine Surgery,” Godzik highlighted the challenges facing spine care, including an aging population and rising rates of back pain. He noted that by 2060, an estimated 843 million people worldwide could experience episodes of back pain requiring care.
Godzik emphasized the need for standardized, collaborative, patient-centered care pathways that improve triage, streamline referrals and better coordinate care among specialties like neurosurgery, pain management and physical therapy, noting that a fragmented care system can create delays and inefficiencies throughout the care process and cause confusion for patients and their families.
He also highlighted the role technology and artificial intelligence could play in the future of spine surgery, through digital triage processes, shared decision-making tools and data-driven care models designed to improve treatment outcomes and efficiency, while stressing that technology alone is not the solution.
Godzik shared examples of efforts underway within the UAB Department of Neurosurgery to centralize spine referrals and better route patients to the most appropriate care setting based on the complexity of their condition.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for standardized pathways, outcomes registries, faster learning and continuous operational improvement to meet the future demands of spine care.