It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Margareta Nordin (Fig. 1), an internationally acclaimed clinician-scientist, educator and advocate for evidence-based musculoskeletal care. She passed away on 28 May 2025 in Paris, France at the age of 79, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that spanned continents, disciplines and generations.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland on 13 July 1945, Dr. Nordin pursued a career that transcended borders and specialties. She was a licensed physical therapist in Sweden and earned her Doctor of Medical Science (Dr. Med. Sci.) degree from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in 1982. She thereafter moved to the United States and served as a Research Professor in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Environmental Medicine at the Grossman School of Medicine of New York University, New York City. There, she mentored and inspired countless students, clinicians, and researchers. Furthermore, she was the Founder and Director of the Occupational and Industrial Orthopedic Center of the Hospital for Joint Diseases and the Langone Medical Center of New York University. She also held adjunct professorships at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. After retiring from New York University, she settled in the community Romorantin-Lanthenay in France´s Loire valley, where she continued her extensive international activities in the spine field.

Dr. Nordin authored or co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific publications with approximately 13,000 citations. She also published five textbooks, including the seminal textbook Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System and its various editions– co-edited with Dr. Victor H. Frankel– which remains a cornerstone in medical and rehabilitation programs around the world. Her scholarly work reflected not only scientific rigor but also a deep-rooted humanism committed to improving patient outcomes.

Among her many accolades and honors were the Volvo Prize (now the ISSLS Prize), the Woodbridge Award, the Grammer-European Spine Journal Award and the Junior Nobel Faculty Lecturer among others. Most recently, in 2024, she was the recipient of the EuroSpine Career Award.

Beyond academia, Dr. Nordin was a tireless global health advocate. She served as a key investigator and advocate of the Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI), developing a scalable, evidence-based framework to address spine-related disability in low- and middle-income countries. As the founding President of World Spine Care Europe and Vice President of World Spine Care, she was instrumental in establishing sustainable spine clinics in underserved regions of Africa (e.g. Botswana, Ghana), the Caribbean (e.g. Dominican Republic) and Asia (e.g. India). In addition, she contributed to the World Health Organization’s initiative of Rehabilitation Interventions for low back pain and played an influential role in SPINE20, engaging G20 nations to prioritize spine health in global policy discussions.

A trailblazer for women in spine research and leadership, Dr. Nordin made history as the first female President of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) in 1999–2000. Her presidency marked a turning point for the society and served as an inspiration to countless women in science and medicine. She later became the first female President of EuroSpine (2016–2017). She was the Chair of Eurospine’s Diploma in Interprofessional Spine Care (EDISC) and the Founder and Past Chair of the Eurospine Taskforce Research (TFR). Moreover, she was also a member of the Secretariat of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Associated Disorders (2001–2008), a member of the Bone and Joint Decade International Coordinating Council (ICC) (2015–2020), and the first physical therapist joining the ICC of The Global Musculoskeletal Alliance.

Dr. Nordin held numerous leadership roles in professional societies, editorial boards and policy forums. She was known for her fierce advocacy for scientific integrity, diversity and global equity in healthcare. Her vision and voice were integral in changing the trajectory of spine care and rehabilitation worldwide.

Dr. Nordin’s legacy lives on the institutions she helped build, the science she advanced, and the global community she inspired. She is survived by several cousins and relatives in Sweden and France, as well as a vast network of colleagues, mentees and friends who will continue her mission of excellence, compassion and service.

On a personal note, Dr. Nordin was a staple at the ISSLS and Brussels International Spine Symposium (BISS) annual meetings. Colleagues fondly remember her calm presence and sharp eye for detail —always ready with constructive feedback and quiet encouragement. Despite her global commitments, she always made time for the youngest researchers in the room. She carried herself with grace, exuding love and a radiant smile to all she encountered.

We are deeply grateful for everything Dr. Margareta Nordin contributed to the field of spinal disorders and to the lives of so many around the world.