AO Foundation

At AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), we cultivate a nurturing environment for aspiring researchers like Daphne van der Heide. 🎓 Completing her PhD at ETH Zurich, she has thrived amidst challenges, especially during the Covid years. 💪 Our collaborative spirit fosters deep connections, enabling groundbreaking research in musculoskeletal health. 🦴 Here, talent meets support, creating a unique community dedicated to innovation and discovery. 🌟 Read the full story here: ⬇️

It's ✨#ThrowbackThursday✨! Let's take a look behind the scenes of the AO Davos Courses, which have been a cornerstone of surgical education since 1960, providing endless opportunities for growth, connection, and groundbreaking innovation. We have always aimed to make these extraordinary events accessible to as many people as possible—beyond those in attendance. Join us on a journey through time, 🔙 from the early days of recording to our current AO TV broadcast—diverse programming produced during the AO Davos Courses and featuring global leaders in the surgical field. 📹 Discover additional information about our AO Davos Courses and check out AO TV's 2023 programming, available to all! ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wNR3r

✨ We are proud to announce the AO’s brand-new quarterly R&D newsletter! 📬 Receive the latest news 📰 on AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) activities, as well as information on upcoming ARI Orthopaedics Conferences 📅, and become part of our growing community of collaborators 🤝, interested parties 🌍, and former as well as future conference attendees 🎉. 📩 Sign up now! 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wNPcV

In this week's 🎓 #MentorshipMonday 🎓 insight, we delve into the essence of mentorship with Martin Richardson, a member of AO Trauma, Asia Pacific. By participating in our 🤝 AO Access Mentorship Program 🤝, you will cultivate meaningful connections that elevate both personal and professional development. Strengthening your nonclinical competencies is just as crucial as honing your technical abilities. 💪 Take the first step today 🚀 to become a mentor or mentee by enrolling in our accredited online learning modules. Your path to mentorship starts here ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wNKr3

Join us for the "AO Technical Commission Meet the Experts" live sessions 📹 at the upcoming AO Davos Courses 2024, where you can meet our esteemed expert surgeon, Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Schulz-Drost, FEBS! 💡 As Chairperson of the Thoracic Expert Group, he will showcase the new MatrixSTERNUM system—an advanced and innovative system that addresses the closure of sternotomies and their potential complications while adhering to AO principles. ✨🩺 ❗ Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in thoracic surgery! To discover more about his other areas of expertise, be sure to read the full interview ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wNBlQ ✨

The AO is returning to DKOU_Berlin 🤩 This year's theme is "Future intended. Future implemented." The October 22–25 event will feature world-leading experts from the AO Innovation Translation Center, AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO Recon, and AO Sports. 🤩 Stop by our booth for a cup of coffee and a snack to learn more about the AO, our membership offerings, and ways to get involved! 🤗☕ Find more information and our full schedule here ⬇️

🎉 We celebrate the remarkable life of Stephan Perren (1932–2019) 🎂, who would have turned 92 years today! Stephan Perren was a visionary in the field of surgical research and education, whose pioneering work has left an indelible mark on the medical community. 🩺✨ As a founder and senior scientific advisor🧑🔬🔍of the AO Foundation, Perren’s innovative approaches and dedication to advancing surgical techniques have improved countless lives. 💖 His strain theory, explaining tissue deformation as a critical factor in bone healing, revolutionized fracture treatment. Under his 29 years of leadership 💡, the Laboratory for Experimental Surgery, today known as the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), made significant strides in internal fracture fixation and tissue-friendly surgical procedures. 🔬 Perren’s commitment to mentoring young researchers continues to inspire new generations of surgeons and scientists. Read more about his exceptional life ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wNwGk

🎉 66 years ago today, on October 6, 1958, the AO cortex screw was brought to life. Designed by AO founder Maurice Müller and crafted in an impressive eight days by engineer Robert Mathys, this innovative device quickly became an essential component of the AO Instrumentarium, transforming the landscape of fracture treatment. 🦴✨ The AO cortex screw features a distinctive design that involves pre-tapping a threaded hole in the bone, which minimizes microscopic damage and enhances stability. 🔩 This groundbreaking advancement has led to remarkable improvements in surgical outcomes and patient care. 🏥👏 Join us in commemorating this extraordinary milestone in the realm of surgical innovation! 🎊➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wNvaw

🎉 This week’s #InnovationsFriday highlights the 🚀success of the Momentum Spine app 📱and how it's been revolutionizing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) monitoring in Canada and the United States. Championed by the AO via its innovation funding as well as in-house expertise and AO Spine’s global network of surgeons, Momentum Health’s innovative Momentum Spine app became the first AI-enabled medical device approved by the FDA in October 2023. The app is upending 📈 conventional monitoring 💻 AIS and 💪 empowering patients, their parents, and their care teams to manage the condition remotely. Read the full story ⬇️

We were proud to 🤝welcome a group of senior 👨⚕️clinicians👩⚕️ from SingHealth at our AO Center yesterday. Our visitors were welcomed by ARI Director Prof. R. Geoff Richards, Prof. Boyko Gueorguiev and future ITC Director Roland Herzog. After briefly introducing us to the scope of their work in Singapore, they were taken on a tour of the AO Center and provided with insights into the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI). Always a pleasure welcoming clinicians from abroad and learning about their work, thank you for the visit! From left: Prof. R. Geoff Richards, Mann Hong Tan, Peter Varga, Henry HO, Jan Buschbaum, Darren Tay Keng Jin, Prof. Martin Stoddart, PhD, May Anne Cheong, Roland Herzog, Jiang Lei, Dominic Gehweiler, Wong Merng Koon, Robert Yap Tze Jin, Andrew Tan, Wee-Leon Lam, Cheong Wai Chye, Junwei Soong, Ivan Zderic, Prof. Boyko Gueorguiev