The Duke Spine Health Program recently welcomed more than 100 clinicians from across the country—both in person and virtually—for its inaugural Low Back Pain Day of Learning conference. The event marked a significant step forward in Duke’s commitment to advancing evidence-based, interdisciplinary care for patients with spine-related conditions.
The day started with opening remarks from Dr. Christopher Shaffrey, MD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Spine Division Chief, and Shilpa Shelton, MHA, FACHE, Associate Vice President for Musculoskeletal & Spine Services at Duke University Health System. This was followed by a keynote from Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Vice Chair for Implementation of Spine Health Innovations, who highlighted the importance of collaborative discussions on low back pain and emphasized the urgent need to dismantle silos in care delivery.
“Low back pain is one of the most common and costly conditions in the world,” said Dr. Goertz. “Our goal with this conference was to bring together diverse perspectives and spark new ideas for how we can work together to improve care for these patients. The energy and engagement from attendees were inspiring.”
Throughout the day, panels and presentations highlighted patient-centered insights, interdisciplinary case studies, and innovative approaches to spine care.
Notable sessions included:
- A patient experience-focused presentation by Lindsay Ballengee, PT, DPT, PhD Candidate, and Dr. Goertz, underscoring the value of listening to patients’ perspectives.
- A multidisciplinary panel on axial low back pain moderated by Trevor Lentz, PT, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, featuring experts from physical therapy, chiropractic, psychology, and medicine.
- A specialist panel on radicular low back pain was led by Dr. Zachary Carter, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, with contributions from physicians, a physician assistant, and a public health expert.
- A forward-looking discussion on spine care innovation, moderated by Dr. Shaffrey, featuring presentations on machine learning, minimally invasive surgery, the GLA:D Back Program, value-based care, and functional restoration.
Interactive wellness sessions during breaks allowed participants to experience guideline-recommended treatments firsthand, including breathing and yoga exercises led by Dr. Ben Holmes, DC, PhD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a mindfulness meditation guided by Anna Batsakes, NBC-HWC, Health Coach and Health Education Specialist, Duke Health and Well-Being.
The conference concluded with recorded closing remarks from Dr. Benjamin Alman, MD, FRCSC, Chair and James R. Urbaniak Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Sara Holleran, MPH, Associate Vice President for Clinical Strategy and Communications, highlighting Duke’s commitment to advancing spine health through education, collaboration, and innovation.
The event was recorded, and resources are available for interested individuals. For access or more details, contact Dr. Goertz at Christine.Goertz@duke.edu.