The Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI) was launched on the 18th December 1985. The aim of ASSI is to bring all the spine surgeons together under one umbrella and to promote scientific spine care, both surgical and non-surgical, in India through the medium of national, regional and local meetings, symposia, CMEs, workshops and conferences. At present the association has 2500 members.

ASSI’s Motto is “if we are doing it, let us do it better”. The association promotes any spine related scientific activity, anywhere in India. ASSI has also helped in the formation of local spine bodies.

ASSI has been implementing two year fellowship programs in centres across India. ASSI also conducts outreach programs across the country and has come out with its journal, capacity development program, textbook as well as monographs. The society has been a strong propagator of research and has launched research grant awards, established a Spine Registry and a mobile application (ASSI Connect) based case discussion forum.

ASSI also plans to come out with elearnspine.org. It will have two versions – one for spine experts and the other for consumers. The aim of this project is to develop a web-based teaching and educational resource which will up-skill and educate those responsible for patient management and which will ultimately lead to improvements in the care and management of people with Spinal ailments around the world. The web site of ASSI is www.assi.in