It might not be the traditional ruby milestone, but the North American Spine Society (NASS) is celebrating 40 years in style—with a time capsule.

The organization sealed an official time capsule during the Presidential Assembly at its Annual Meeting in Denver earlier this month. The capsule captures a message across generations—uniting voices from the founding era, today’s members, and those who will shape spine care in 2065.

“This project connects the past, present and future of spine care,” said Richard L. Skolasky Jr., director of the NASS Administrative Council and lead for the time capsule project. “It’s both symbolic and practical—a living record of our community at this turning point and an invitation for future generations to build on what we’ve started.”

The collection features “Letters to the Future of Spine Care” from NASS’ Board of Directors, partner societies, emeritus and early career members, and global collaborators. Submissions include essays, video reflections and recorded statements that document the current state of spine care and the shared hopes of clinicians, scientists and innovators worldwide.

“We are writing to you from an era of both extraordinary progress and profound uncertainty. The boundaries between surgery, rehabilitation, and technology are blurring. Artificial intelligence is beginning to inform diagnosis, predictive modeling, and personalized care. Robotics and navigation systems have transformed precision in the operating room. Biologic therapies and regenerative science are pushing the limits of what we once believed possible,” NASS’s letter states. “At the same time, we are confronting challenges that test the very purpose of our profession: disparities in access to care, clinician burnout, environmental and economic pressures on healthcare systems, and the constant need to measure what truly matters to patients—their function and ability to live fully. We write this letter not simply to record where we stand, but to share what we hope you will continue to carry forward.”

Visitors can explore the digital companion exhibit, which showcases submissions and historical artifacts. The time capsule is now on display at NASS’s Burr Ridge, Ill., headquarters and reopened at the society’s 80th Annual Meeting in 2065.

NASS is a global multidisciplinary medical organization dedicated to fostering high-quality, ethical, evidence- and value-based spine care by promoting education, research, and advocacy. NASS membership is comprised of spine professionals from several disciplines, including orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, radiology, anesthesiology, research and physical therapy.