Mara Lezama Opens Spine Surgery Congress in Cancún With Specialists From 13 Countries

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa inaugurated the 26th National Congress of the Mexican Association of Spine Surgeons (AMCICO) 2026, a gathering that has brought national and international specialists to Cancún to share knowledge, experience and scientific and technological advances in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions.

The congress runs from Sept. 11 to 14 and features 32 professors from 13 countries. Colombia is the guest country, joined by specialists from the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, China, Venezuela, Panama and Russia.

During the opening ceremony, Lezama heard remarks from Fernando Medina González, president of the Colombian Spine Society (SOCCOL); William Mitchell, president of the North American Spine Society (NASS); Guillermo Alejandro Salas Morales, president of the Mexican Council of Orthopedics and Traumatology; Miguel Antonio Saldoval Balanzario, president of the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery; Edgar Enrique Leyva Medellín, president of the congress; and the president of AMCICO.

The governor wished the congress success and said the exchange of expertise would benefit both established physicians and those still in training.

“I am very pleased that you can share great experiences with students, with interns who are in the middle of many years of study, who want to learn more and get more involved, and there is no better way than with great experts like all of you,” Lezama said.

The association presidents said the meeting would allow participants to exchange experiences on the transformation of the specialty, from minimally invasive surgery and research to endoscopy and vertebral destruction and oncology, always with patients’ interests at the center.

The academic program covers endoscopy, traumatic spine injuries, degenerative cervical and lumbar conditions, pediatric and adult spinal deformity, infection, osteoporosis, oncology and highly complex surgical cases. It also addresses emerging fields including robotic surgery, surgical navigation, virtual reality and artificial intelligence applied to complex spine surgery.

AMCICO board members, faculty from Mexico and abroad, specialists, academics, researchers, residents and health professionals attended the event, along with state Health Secretary Flavio Carlos Rosado.