15th Annual MINS Conference: March 12-14, 2026 — Costa Rica
REGISTER NOW – 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 12–14, 2026
Los Sueños, Marriott Resort, Costa Rica
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“Mastering Minimally Invasive Surgery: Operative Nuances”
REGISTRATION
General Registration: Click Here to Register Now!
Physician/Doctor tickets to the 2026 Conference are now available. Register today!
***Refunds on tickets are accepted up to 14 days before the event, so we can determine an accurate food cost for the conference. Unfortunately, any refunds requested later than 14 days before the event will not be accepted by MINS.
Exhibitors/Sponsors: Click Here to Register Your Sponsorship!
Exhibitor/Sponsor Opportunities are Now Available for the 2026 Conference.
***Refunds on tickets are accepted up to 14 days before the event, so we can determine an accurate food cost for the conference. Unfortunately, any refunds requested later than 14 days before the event will not be accepted by MINS.
RESORT RESERVATIONS
Click Here to Book Your Group Rate by March 9, 2026
$329.00 USD/Night not including fees. This is valid 3 days prior to and after our conference. For any issues contact the Hotel Directly.
LOS SUEÑOS MARRIOTT RESORT
Herradura, Costa Rica 028-4023
Additional Contact Information
Direct reservations number: 2298-0880.
• WhatsApp (messages only): 7051-0292
• Available emails:
For any sponsorship or other related questions, please contact Jennifer Harris at harrisjen10@yahoo.com.
COURSE DIRECTORS:
Neel Anand, MD; Pierce Nunley, MD; Karam Asmaro, MD; Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, FACS; Daniel Fahim, MD; and Michael Song, MD.
 Neel Anand, MD Orthopedic Surgeon Los Angeles, California |
 Pierce Nunley, MD Orthopedic Surgeon Shreveport, Louisiana |
 Karam Asmaro, MD Neurosurgeon Royal Oak, Michigan |
 Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, FACS MINS President Southfield, Michigan |
 Daniel Fahim, MD Neurosurgeon Southfield, Michigan |
 Michael Song, MD Neurosurgeon Reno, Nevada |
2026 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT:
Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD
Luiz Pimenta, born in 1947, completed his education in his homeland, Brazil. He graduated in Medicine from the Medical School of the University of São Paulo in 1971. He started his residency in Neurosurgery in 1972 at the Paulista Medical School, currently Federal University of São Paulo. During residency, Dr. Luiz Pimenta participated in various research projects in Neurosurgery. He finished his residency in 1977 and completed his PhD in Neurosurgery at the same university.
In 1997, Dr. Luiz Pimenta received training in Spinal Endoscopic Surgery in Gainesville, Florida and in 1998 completed a fellowship with Dr. Daniel Rosenthal in Frankfurt, Germany. Since then, Dr. Pimenta has been developing new techniques and technologies to improve the surgical treatment of different spinal pathologies. His primary interests are in minimally invasive and motion preservation spine surgery. He participates in various research and development projects in this area.
Dr. Pimenta is considered the father of the lateral or XLIF approach to the spine. Dr. Pimenta introduced this approach to spine surgery to help preserve the normal anatomical structures of the spine while performing spinal fusion and instrumentation. The approach has been adapted for spinal arthroplasty. He has evolved the procedure to include the prone-transpsoas approach.
MINS is pleased to honor Dr. Luiz Pimenta with its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
2026 MINS MEETING AGENDA
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Society Annual Meeting
Los Sueños, Marriott Resort, Costa Rica
March 12–14, 2026
Mastering Minimally Invasive Surgery: Operative Nuances
Thursday, March 12
4:00 – 5:00pm Exhibitor Set-Up
5:00 – 6:00pm Signature Cocktail Hour with Exhibitors
6:00 – 9:00pm Dinner talks
5:55 – 6:00pm Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc – Welcome Address
MINS 5th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD
6:05 – 6:45pm Keynote address: Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD – Evolution of the Lateral Approach
MINS Lifetime Achievement Award to Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD (presented by Mick Perez-Cruet, MD)
Blue Marlin Session
Moderator: Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc
6:45 – 7:00pm Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc – Fundamental in Mastering MIS Surgery
7:00 – 7:20pm Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD – Mastering MIS Patients and Patience
7:20 – 7:40pm Daniel Choi, MD – What’s the Future of MIS
7:40 – 8:00pm Tze Yui Yeh, MD – Challenges of Setting Up a Minimally Invasive Practice in Developing Countries
8:00 – 8:20pm Karam Asmaro, MD – Mastering MIS Cranial Surgery
8:20 – 8:40pm Daniel Kim, MD – Operative Nuances to Endoscopic Spine Surgery
8:40 – 9:00pm Q and A Session
Session: Ocean Side Chat with Vendors
Friday, March 13
7:00 – 8:00am Breakfast with Exhibitors
Scarlet Macaw Session
Moderator: Arthur Jenkins, MD – What Is Misunderstood Brain/Spine Disorders (“Wrogma”)
8:00 – 8:20am Arthur Jenkins, MD – Cranial Spinal Hypermobility
8:20 – 8:40am Jason Cuellar, MD – Fusion is Archaic: Multilevel Lumbar Arthroplasty Should be the Future
8:40 – 9:00am Jose Jimenez – Kambin Approach to Lateral IB Fusion
9:00 – 9:20am Windsor Ting, MD – Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
9:20 – 9:40am Aaron Rapp, MD – Minimally Invasive Expandable Interbody Technique and Technology
9:40 – 10:00am Q and A Session
10:00 – 10:30am Keynote Address: Elad Levy, MD – Establishing an Endovascular Ambulatory Surgery Center of Excellence
Blue Marlin Exhibitor Sponsored Talks
10:30 – 10:40am Ken Wittenberg Investments – How to Retire Comfortably
10:40 – 11:00am Medtronic – New Innovation
11:00am till 4:00pm Pura Vida (Free Time)
4:00 – 5:00pm Signature Cocktails with Exhibitors
Poison Dart Frog Session
Moderator: Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc
5:00 – 6:00pm (Panel Discussion): Transitioning from Open to Minimally Invasive Procedures
Panel Specialists: Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD; Daniel Kim, MD; Karam Asmaro, MD; Neel Anand, MD;
6:00 – 9:00pm Dinner talks
6:00 – 7:00pm Keynote Address: Pedro Montero – Assistant Director, The Sloth Institute, Costa Rica: Wildlife of Costa Rica
Three Toed Sloth Session
Moderator: Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc
7:00 – 7:20pm Neel Anand, MD – Operative Nuances to Mastering MIS Scoliosis Surgery
7:20 – 7:40pm Pierce Nunley, MD – Operative Nuances to Mastering Cervical Arthroplasty
7:40 – 8:00pm William Tobler, MD – Managing a Successful Non-Profit: The Winter Clinic’s Story
8:00 – 8:20pm Daveed Frazier, MD – Outside Medicine Activities to Avoid Burnout by Diversification
8:20 – 8:40pm David Fessler, MD, PhD – Starting a Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Practice
8:40 – 9:00pm Q and A Session
Session: Beach Side Chat with Vendors
Saturday, March 14
7:00 – 8:00am Breakfast with Exhibitors
Toucan Session
Moderator: Aaron Rapp, MD
8:00 – 8:20am Daniel Fahim, MD – Operative Nuances to OLIF Approach
8:20 – 8:40am Richard Veyna, MD – Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
8:40 – 9:00am Robert Bray, MD – Nuances to Setting up Ambulatory MIS Surgical Centers
9:00 – 9:20am Karl Zakalik, MD – Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: Operative Nuances
9:20 – 9:40am Kevin Lee, MD – Endoscopic Rhizotomy For Chronic Lumbar Pain
9:40 – 10:00am Jeff Jacob, MD – Endoscopic Skull Based Surgery: Surgical Nuances
10:00 – 10:20am Hassan Fadel, MD – Laser Treatment of Malignant Gliomas
10:20 – 10:30am Q and A Session
SELECT VENDOR SESSION
New and Innovative Technology
10:30 – 10:45am Centinel Spine Prodisc C Vivo – Two Level Cervical Arthroplasty
10:45 – 11:00am Mick Perez-Cruet, MD, MSc – Ace Medical Dural Repair Instrument Set
11:00 – 11:15am TBD
11:15 – 11:30am TBD
11:30 – 11:45am TBD
11:50 – Noon Rose Carmichael – BonWRX VK100 A New Vertebral Augmentation Silicone Elastomer
Noon – Meeting Adjourned
Agenda: Subject to change
SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT REQUEST – Link Below!
If you would like the opportunity to present a talk at the upcoming 2026 MINS Conference in Costa Rica, please click the link below to submit an abstract request.
MINS will review all submissions and the selected abstract will be invited to present their talk at the conference during March 12–14, 2026. We will contact you by your provided email address if your abstract is selected.
Click Here to Submit an Abstract Request
2025 EXHIBITOR/SPONSOR INFORMATION
Sponsorship Levels
PRIMARY EXHIBITORSHIPS:
(also include their own display table and)
**Click on each sponsorship level to register.
7) Sailfish Dinner ($10,000)
2 guests for Dinner. Also includes 10 minute talk at dinner.
*Airfare and hotel bookings are the financial responsibility of the Sponsors and done directly with airlines and with Los Sueños Marriott Resort.
For any sponsorship or other related questions, please contact Jennifer Harris at harrisjen10@yahoo.com.
SHIPPING INFORMATION
For shipping, please make sure to get tracking information and ship via the address below for the different providers:
800 meters west of Herradura entrace, Jacó / Los sueños Marriott resort.
You can choose the shipping company you prefer, whether it’s FedEx, DHL, etc.
LOS SUEÑOS MARRIOTT RESORT
Herradura, Costa Rica 028-4023
Do you know how big are the items you’ll be shipping? And / or how many items will be shipped? Once you get here, you will ask front desk for the items, and they will give it to you.
Our Sponsors
Below is a list of our sponsors for this year's event. Thank you to all of our exhibitors and sponsors for the 15th Annual MINS Conference.
– Primary Exhibitors –
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Medtronic
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Wittenberg Investments, Inc.
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Centinel Spine
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Xstim
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Isto Biologics
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– Other Exhibitors/Sponsors –
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Isto Biologics
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Veritas Principles, LLC
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Location Information:
LOS SUEÑOS MARRIOTT RESORT
Herradura, Costa Rica 028-4023
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjols-los-suenos-marriott-ocean-and-golf-resort/overview/
RESORT RESERVATIONS
Click Here to Book Your Group Rate by March 9, 2026
$329.00 USD/Night not including fees. This is valid 3 days prior to and after our conference. For any issues contact the Hotel Directly.
Additional Contact Information
Direct reservations number: 2298-0880.
• WhatsApp (messages only): 7051-0292
• Available emails:
For any related questions, please contact Jennifer Harris at harrisjen10@yahoo.com.