Prof. Masahiko Watanabe is Senior Executive Director of Tokai University Hospital and Professor and Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at Tokai University School of Medicine, Japan. He obtained his MD and PhD from Keio University and completed advanced training and research, including a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Connecticut, USA. A senior academic leader in spine surgery, he has held progressive academic appointments at Tokai University and is actively involved in major international societies, including the North American Spine Society and the International Spinal Cord Society.