AOSpine is the winner again! I am delighted to announce that the AOSpine Newsletter earned the "Best International & European Association Newsletter 2018" award at the Associations World Congress in Antwerp, Belgium on March 13, 2018. This is the second consecutive year that AOSpine has won this prestigious award, and I congratulate the AOSpine Community Development team for this fantastic achievement.

 

In just a few days, the worldwide spine surgeon community will come together in Singapore for the Global Spine Congress (GSC). Participants can expect four full days of parallel sessions covering more than 30 topics showcasing the very latest research, techniques, and technologies in spine surgery.

 

This edition of the newsletter features a personal interview with GSC Chairperson Jeff Wang. He shares how the GSC has developed and transformed since it was first established in 2009 and what makes it so different from other spine events worldwide.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of a few important events for AOSpine members at the GSC:

 

• On behalf of the AOSpine International Board, I cordially invite you to join the AOSpine Member Assembly on May 3, 2018!

 

• Once again, this year, our members will be able to elect the AOSpine Member Representative at the GSC.  You will find all information on the shortlisted candidates in this issue of the newsletter as well as in the GSC App. Don't forget to visit the AOSpine booth to meet the candidates and to vote!
  
  
• For the first time, our booth will have a designated member lounge, where we will offer free snacks and refreshments to our members.
  
  
• Last but not least, make sure you benefit from the exclusive privilege to attend the members-only sessions. They will provide you with useful information on non-scientific topics that are relevant to your daily practice, such as "How to Avoid Litigation," "Leadership Skills" or "Developing Your AOSpine Career."

 

Also, for the first time, we will live-stream a select number of GSC symposia. Therefore, if you are unable to join us in person, you still have the opportunity to participate in a portion of the GSC scientific program from wherever you are; all you need is an Internet connection.

 

In this newsletter you will also find the latest AOSpine research update.

 

The AOSpine Knowledge Forum (KF) Degenerative/Biologics is raising the bar. The current evidence in biologics is severely lacking, and there are no reliable comparative studies to guide surgeons' decisions. To increase accountability on a global level, the KF is moving into developing the first ever biologics classification.

 

Despite the fast improvement in injury assessment and surgical techniques in spine trauma in recent years, controversies remain. To address this and to stimulate thought about further questions that should be asked, the AOSpine Knowledge Forum Trauma (KF Trauma) recently published a Focus Issue in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT).

 

Furthermore, in this newsletter, you will be able to read about the latest addition to the AOSpine member privilege; AOPEER; a new, research web-based platform to support AO surgeons with their research efforts; and meet two of our global spine community members: Yoshiharu Kawaguchi from Japan and Osvaldo Ojeda Serrano from Chile.

 

We hope that you will find this issue of the newsletter interesting, and we look forward to continuing to improve spine care worldwide with you in Milan soon!

 

 

With best wishes,

 

Dan Riew

Chairperson,

AOSpine International

 

Best Association E-Newsletter

 

See you in Singapore shortly

Jeff Wang

– the global perspective

AOSpine Members Assembly

Member Representative Candidates

 

Members only Sessions

AOSpine KF Degenerative Biologics

AOSpine Knowledge Forum Trauma

 

 

AOPEER