about
Kambin Award

- More than 1,000 successfully performed transforaminal endoscopic spinal surgeries
- Training of more than 100 surgeons in transforaminal endoscopic spinal surgery
(for example at workshops, surgery visitations and symposia)
- Specific scientific exceptional achievement in endoscopic spinal surgery, either in training or research or in scientific work.
- Individual decided upon by the scientific committee

about the idea
The endoscopic recogniting award.
ESPINEA® will continue to honor outstanding surgeons and scientists with the established Kambin Award.
Award Winners

Observation is the first and most powerful step towards changing teaching practices. Daily observation reveals a wealth of information about students, their competencies and skills, and the work of the teacher.
2011-2023

2023
Dr. Frank Hassel, in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the ESPINEA® World Summit 2023 in Edinburgh.

2022
Junseok Bae, MD, in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the ESPINEA® APAC Community Meeting 2022 in Singapore.

2023
J.N. Alastair Gibson DSc MD FRCSEd FRCS(Tr & Orth) MFSTEd, in recognition and honor of specific, scientific and exceptional achievements in endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the ESPINEA® World Summit 2023 in Edinburgh.

2022
Michael Wang, MD, in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the ESPINEA® AMERICAS Community Meeting 2022 in Irvine, California.

2019
Dinh Ngoc Son, MD, in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the joimax® Faculty & User Meeting 2019 in Salzburg, Austria.

2019
Albert Telfeian, MD, PhD received a special scientific Kambin Achievement Award for his outstanding publication work since years. The award was presented at the joimax® Faculty & User Meeting 2019 in Salzburg, Austria.

2019
Christoph Hofstetter, MD, PhD in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the joimax® Faculty & User Meeting 2019 in Salzburg, Austria.

2019
Jian Shen, MD, PhD in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was presented at the joimax® Faculty & User Meeting 2019 in Salzburg, Austria.

2019
Sang-Ho Lee, MD, for his lifetime achievement and commitment to endoscopic spinal surgery. The award was given to his successor, Junseok Bae, MD, during KOMISS in Seoul, Korea as he could not be present.

2018
Prof. Yue Zhou MD, and Hyeun Sung Kim, MD, for their outstanding scientific and educational efforts, awarded by Prof. Jeffrey Wang, MD, and representative of NASS at WCMISST, held in Chongqing, China.

2016
Prof. Dr. Alastair Gibson in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery. The award was given during a scientific course and workshop meeting at the PMU, in Salzburg, Austria.

2016
Dr. Guntram Krzok in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery. The award was given during WCMISST congress on Jeju Island, South Korea.

2016
Dr. Ralf Wagner in recognition and honor of his outstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery. The award was given during the WCMISST congress on Jeju Island, South Korea.

2015
Sang-Ho Lee, MD, PhD for his longstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery. The award ceremony took place at NASS congress in Chicago, USA.

2015
Dr. Menno Iprenburg for his lifetime achievement. He successfully treated more than 2,400 patients suffering from disc herniations and stenosis. The award was given during a joimax® Workshop at Mainz University, Germany.

2015
Albert Telfeian, MD, PhD and Gabriele Jasper, MD in recognition of their outstanding scientific and educational dedication to transforaminal surgery. The two surgeons tremendously contributed to this field with numerous high quality publications.

2014
Daniel Laich, DO, the first adopter of the TESSYS® technique in the US and a long-time faculty member. Dr. Florian Maria Alfen as one of the pioneers performing the TESSYS® technique. Both got the award during the WCMISST in Paris, France.

2012
Anthony Yeung, MD for his life‘s work in endoscopic spine surgery. He was awarded during the SMISS meeting, held in Las Vegas / Nevada. As Dr. Yeung was unable to attend the meeting, his son Christopher Yeung carried it for him.

2011
Parviz Kambin, MD, PhD himself, as recognition of his pioneering work in transforaminal endoscopic spinal surgery. Dr. Michael Schubert who has successfully performed the highest numbers of surgeries until 2011, with the so-called ”intra channels“ TESSYS® technique. Dr. Menno Iprenburg who is one of the most dedicated surgeons in this field. Dr. Iprenburg renounced his position as chief surgeon to open his own private clinic to perform the TESSYS® technique. At that time he had successfully performed more than 1,800 cases.