AO Spine has a new lookIt has been a very busy summer for AO Spine, and we have been working on some very exciting projects over the last few months. Most evidently, you may have noticed that AO Spine has a completely new look. This is a significant milestone in AO’s digital transformation and evolution, as we seek to ensure we remain relevant to younger generations of surgeons across the world.

 

  It’s time to shine a lightWe are delighted to feature three amazing women in this newsletter. With female spine surgeons making up as little as 5 percent of our membership, the gender gap is a real and pressing issue. AO Spine included an event on gender diversity at the Global Spine Congress 2019. Here, we continue the conversation by asking three leading surgeons to share their experiences. It’s time to shine a light on the women in our profession!

 

  Unconscious biasIn this newsletter, we also talk about unconscious bias. Often, unless it’s pointed out, people don’t realize their own internalized biases. It’s only human to have them. Here, we share how to recognize that blind spot in the brain and to overcome it.

 

 AO Spine Global Diploma Exam 2020On November 1, 2019, AO Spine launched the AO Spine Global Diploma Exam. This new exam has been designed by a group of worldwide leaders in spine surgery education, and allows candidates to demonstrate that they have attained a level that reflects their knowledge as a specialist spine surgeon with at least five years of practical experience. We invite you to enhance your professional reputation through expert certification! The registration process is open until November 14, 2019. You can find all the details at: aospine.aofoundation.org

 

 Launch of AO Surgery ReferenceAnother important milestone was reached by AO Spine research: the AO Surgery Reference has adopted and implemented the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor treatment recommendations and classifications for metastatic spine tumor. This module, now available on the surgery reference website, will highlight the key considerations and surgical indications when it comes to the evaluation of the metastatic spine tumor patient. It’s a great tool to help you make the right treatment decision.

 

Back to basics—clinician meets basic scienceIn terms of organ culture experiments, AO is at the international forefront and a favored consortia partner for studies on new cell therapies. AO Spine and AO Research Institute (ARI) collaborate in innovative applied pre-clinical studies to achieve more effective patient care worldwide. In this issue of the newsletter, find out more about this unique collaboration, and what the next projects are.

 

 Global Spine Congress (GSC) 2020Last but not least, I would like to also share the good news about the Global Spine Congress (GSC) 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Spine professionals from 61 countries have submitted 1,234 abstracts in over 25 categories, which is the highest number of papers received for Latin America and a 12% increase from GSC Singapore. GSC 2020 takes place from May 20–23, 2020. Make sure you register before December 20, 2019, in order to receive the early-bird registration discount: www.gsc2020.org

 

I hope you find this issue interesting and informative, and hope to see you in Davos in December!

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Bryan Ashman

AO Spine Education Chairperson

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