For the first time, the AO Chairperson Education Program (CEP) and the Faculty Education Program (FEP) took place in Hong Kong in 2016. The CEP and FEP are the new faculty development programs of AO, aimed at improving the surgeon's knowledge, skills, and attitudes in their role as course chairperson and faculty, which were previously known as T4C and T4T respectively. The programs both consist of 5 weeks of intensive online preparation, a 1.5 days face-to-face course, and post course online follow-up, which equips participants not only with theoretical knowledge but also provides them with a platform to sharpen their practical skills under experienced surgeon faculty and educator guidance.

The CEP was held successfully under the chairmanship of Dr YH Yau and the educator Miriam Uhlmann from August 20–21, 2016. Participants were from all over Asia Pacific including China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The program equipped participants with the course chairperson skills: identify chairperson roles and tasks, addressing learner's gaps, faculty management, and curriculum design.

The FEP was chaired by YH Yau together with Vijay Kumar Gomatam, and facilitated by the educator Woei Yun Siow. The course took place in Hong Kong on November 19–20, 2016. Participants were from China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. All participants provided positive feedback on what went well, what they would do differently, in addition to expressing that the program enlightened them to reconsider their teaching and educational skills.

AOSpine is confident that the program will lead the participants of FEPs and CEPs to become effective and successful teaching and chairing surgeons.