This issue SSN talks to Walter Bini, a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon based in Germany, and president of the organising committee for the 3rd International Conference on Spine and Spinal Disorders
Walter Bini completed his diploma from Westminster School, Simsbury Connecticut, USA and his postgraduate degree from Universidad de Zaragoza , Facultad de Medicina, Zaragoza, Spain. In 2014 he became the Middle East Chairman of ISLASS. He was Head of Neurosurgery at Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital, UAQ-UAE from 2014-2016. Currently, he is the lead neurosurgeon responsible for spinal surgery in the Waldkrankenhaus for Special Surgeries by Leipzig in Germany and also visiting consultant neurosurgeon, of the orthopaedic department of Healthpoint Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
He is an active member of 31 national and international societies and is also president of the organising committee for the 3rd International Conference on Spine and Spinal Disorders, taking place in London on 11-12 June 2018.
Q: As a specialist in spine surgery, could you tell us more about your experience and training background in this field?
A: I was privileged to receive my neurosurgical training from Professor Dr M Samii in Hannover, Germany, and during the years that I continued to work there I had the opportunity to come in contact with exceptional spine specialists from Germany, France and Switzerland. Through this training period I became passionate for this field and developed further skills for spine pathology and surgery.
Q: What drove you to choose surgery as a career – and spinal surgery in particular?
A: From the very beginning in med school I was fascinated by surgery and the possibility to correct or improve, through the surgery, a patient’s condition directly. This is why I combined my interest in neurology and went into neurosurgery. Further along the line, I wanted to incorporate and apply the delicate and special techniques and principles we use in brain surgery to spine operations and therefore offer truly less invasive surgical procedures.
Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: Seeing a patient smiling and having contributed to the resolution or improvement of their condition.
Q: … and the worst?
A: Even though, in general, things have drastically improved in our field and in medicine as a whole, the worst still is the dilemma and personal tragedies we face when fighting together with our patients’ oncological conditions.
Q: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
A: Highlights … there have been several and in different areas. It would be unfair and very difficult to pinpoint just one. Significant for me is the continued and ongoing trust that the patients place in me.
Q: If you weren’t a spine surgeon what would you be?
A: If I weren’t a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon I would probably be an architect.
Q: What would you tell your 21-year-old self?
A: “Ora et labora” with all your heart.
Q: If you were Health Minister for the day what changes would you implement?
A: There are many and important changes necessary. As Health Minister I would empower and assure that physicians and not business or industry persons are the people responsible for directing healthcare administrations and policies.
Q: Away from the clinic and operating theatre – what do you do to relax?
A: Travel, teach, spend time with friends and read.
Q: How do you think the future looks in the field of spine surgery?
A: The future looks bright for spine treatments, if we as responsible actors avoid pure industry-driven trends. Yes, technical innovations are fundamental and industry should, can and often is a key partner, but we need to maintain a clear vision and not be misled into believing that every innovation is a “magic wand”. What must always prevail is sound clinical judgement, superb training and clear notion of when to treat and what is best for the patient.
I believe and am a supporter that more functional and biological treatment options will rapidly be introduced and resolve key degenerative conditions such as DDD.
Q: Tell us a little about what to expect at the forthcoming Spine and Spinal Disorders conference in London?
A: With the theme of ‘Divulging advances for better comprehension of spine health’, the 3rd International Conference on Spine and Spinal Disorders is a unique platform that aims to generate new ideas for treatment and management of spine and spinal disorders that will be beneficial across the globe.
Spine 2018 will witness an assembly of experts from all over the world who will present their current cutting-edge research for the improvement of spinal health.
The Spine and Spinal Disorders conference is an opportunity to bring together surgeons from around the world with a focused learning about spine and spinal disorders. The conference brings together some of the latest, most thought-provoking research from around the world. In a small and intimate setting, researchers and clinicians can exchange ideas, share findings and discuss future collaborations.
The aim is to produce a broader international knowledge-base and wonderful advances in the field of spine and spinal disorders.
World-renowned speakers, the most recent techniques, and the newest updates in spine and spinal disorders are hallmarks of this conference and I am looking forward to being a part of this wonderful two-day conference.
For more information about the conference, visit: https://spine.conferenceseries.com
