Bringing together the world's leading experts in spinal surgery, “İstanbul Spine Masters 2025” is being held from April 24-27, 2025, at Üsküdar Üniversitesi NP Health Campus İbni Sina Auditorium, hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan:
“We established Turkey's first, and Europe's second, brain hospital. Today, we have over 24,000 students, approximately 4,000 of whom are international. We are pioneers in Turkey in postgraduate programs such as neuroscience and neuromarketing.”
Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman:
“Turkey is at the same level as advanced countries in the world in spinal surgery, and even in a pioneering position in many areas.”
Bringing together the world's leading experts in spinal surgery, “İstanbul Spine Masters 2025” is being held in İstanbul from April 24-27, 2025, hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi.
The opening speeches of the event at Üsküdar Üniversitesi NP Health Campus İbni Sina Auditorium were delivered by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, NPİSTANBUL Board Chairman Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, President of the International Spine Academy Oscar L. Alves, President of the International Spine Academy Jutty Parthiban, and Vice Chairman of the Congress and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Brain, Nerve and Spinal Cord Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We are pioneers in Turkey in postgraduate programs such as neuroscience and neuromarketing”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, NPİSTANBUL Board Chairman Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that today's meeting has a deep thematic connection with the university's founding mission, saying, “We embarked on our journey in 2011, focusing on neuroscience. We started with themes of molecular biology, engineering, and behavioral sciences. In 2018, we established Turkey's first, and Europe's second, brain hospital. Today, we have 24,000 students, approximately 4,000 of whom are international. We are pioneers in Turkey in postgraduate programs such as neuroscience and neuromarketing. It is a great pleasure for us to see you, the brain and spinal cord surgery group, among us. It is an honor for us to support such meetings where experiences and knowledge are shared and transferred.”
Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman: “Spine Masters event started in 2015”
Vice Chairman of the Congress and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Brain, Nerve and Spinal Cord Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman stated that the İstanbul Spine Masters event started in 2015, reminding that it has been continuously organized since then, except for the Covid period, and experts from all over the world, from Germany to Korea, Portugal to Japan, America to Tunisia, and Egypt, have come to give their presentations.
Not limited to theory, supported by live surgical applications…
“Participants share the most up-to-date literature in spinal surgery and convey their own experiences,” said Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman, continuing:
“Leading experts in spinal surgery from around the world share the latest literature and present their clinical experiences in many areas such as trauma, degenerative diseases, deformities, and congenital anomalies. The meetings are not limited to theoretical presentations; they are also supported by live surgical applications. This year's organization features two separate course programs. The first is the ‘basic course’, where fundamental training is provided. In this course, teams of five to six people work in groups divided into four tables. Participating surgeons get the chance to practice procedures like inserting screws into the cervical spine and thoracic spine directly on models. Thus, theoretical knowledge is reinforced with practical experience.
A part of the training is conducted in the hospital operating theatre
The second course is the ‘advanced course’, planned for advanced surgeons. In this program, special models called ‘Upsurgeon’, which are anatomically very similar to cadavers including muscle tissues but are not actual cadavers, are used. The first application of this technique on the spinal region in Turkey was held last year. This year, the second one is being carried out in cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi. A part of the training is conducted in the hospital operating theatre. In three different halls, surgical techniques for various regions of the spine are demonstrated separately.”
Surgical simulations with robot assistance…
Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman stated that participants will have the opportunity to practice on models highly compatible with anatomical structure, adding, “In the afternoon, within the scope of the advanced course, practical studies will be carried out in a specially designed spinal surgery training center. In this center, surgical simulations will be performed with robot assistance by introducing the structure of the spine to the system. Participants will have the opportunity to practice robot-assisted surgery on models. Why is this meeting important? Because physicians specializing in spinal surgery from all over the world come together to share their knowledge and experiences. As Turkey, we are extremely happy and proud to host such a prestigious organization.”
Dr. Yaman: “Turkey is at the level of advanced countries in the world in spinal surgery”
Yaman concluded his words by emphasizing that “Turkey is at the same level as advanced countries in the world in spinal surgery, and even in a pioneering position in many areas.”
At the opening of the event, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Middle East Spine Society Founder Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zileli, Middle East Spine Society President Mohammad Zohair Shaker, International Spine Academy President Oscar L. Alves, and International Spine Academy President Jutty Parthiban also delivered opening speeches.
The event will last 4 days
“İstanbul Spine Masters 2025”, one of the most prestigious events in its field with its scientific and educational content, hosts participants from 28 countries, while 44 academics, including world-renowned names in the field, contribute scientifically with their presentations. A total of 123 participants attend an intensive four-day program equipped with the latest techniques in spinal surgery, case analyses, video presentations, and consensus sessions.
Within the scope of the 4-day event; the 8th İstanbul Spine Masters Meeting, the International Spine Academy (IAS) Cervical Disc Herniation Consensus Meeting, the Middle East Spine Society Basic Spine Course Module 2, and practical applications in spinal surgery will be conducted on Upsurgeon models, in the operating theatre with O-ARM surgical imaging system and robot assistance.
This event aims to directly contribute to clinical practice by thoroughly discussing current developments, case analyses, results of new procedures, and advanced techniques in spinal surgery.