Kambin Award

One of the key trailblazers in endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Parviz Kambin, was the first surgeon in the world to highlight the potential of transforaminal endoscopic access as the natural access channel for herniated discs (TESSYS® = Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery System).

In a series of trials on anatomical specimens, he identified a working area within the intervertebral foramen through which the spinal canal can be safely accessed. Since this safe zone is roughly triangular in shape, it was named ”Kambin‘s triangle.“

KambinTriangle with keyhole_NEW

Award Criteria
Kambin Award – Blue

  • 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)

Award Criteria
Kambin Award - Pearl/Crystal

  • Specific scientific exceptional achievement in endoscopic spinal surgery, either in training or research or in scientific work.

Award Criteria
Kambin Award – Gold

  • Individual decided upon by the scientific committee


about the idea

The endoscopic recogniting award

Wolfgang Ries initiated the idea of establishing an endoscopic recogniting award. joimax® together with SMISS (Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery), inaugurated the Kambin Award in 2011. The award honors spine surgeons who have notably excelled in advancing endoscopic spine surgery, particularly in the use of transforaminal access techniques. It has come to symbolize the importance of continuous development, from early advances toward a sustainable future in endoscopy. The Parviz Kambin Award was presented to Dr. Parviz Kambin himself for the first time in April 2011, during the international joimax® User Meeting at the Annual AANS Congress in Denver (Colorado, USA). Dr. Kambin is recognized as one of the pioneers of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery.

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.