The AO Foundation is a medically guided, not-for-profit organization, a global network of surgeons, and the world's leading education, innovation, and research organization specializing in the surgical treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
Founded by a group of Swiss surgeons in 1958, the AO has established specialty areas for trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial (CMF), veterinary (VET), reconstructive (recon), and sports surgery. The AO’s clinical specialties continually redefine the state-of-the-art in their fields, maintaining activities in research, development, clinical investigation, innovation, and education.
Today, the AO fosters one of the most extensive global networks of over half a million health-care professionals. Each year we offer over 900 educational events around the world, supported by around 8,000 faculty and attended by over 65,000 participants. To date, the AO has trained more than one million course participants. We have approximately 20,000 surgeon members working in the fields of trauma, spine, CMF, VET, recon, and sports surgery.
The AO has world-leading institutes in research and innovation, delivering value-added products and services to the AO's clinical specialties, its global network of surgeons and operating room personnel, and to its partners. They create new concepts for improved fracture care, deliver evidence-based decision-making, guarantee rigorous concept and product approval, and ensure the timely and comprehensive dissemination of knowledge and expertise. Innovation at the AO goes from bench to bedside, including basic research, product development, clinical validation, and valorization.
Key areas of expertise:
AO Research Institute Davos (ARI)
The ARI advances patient care through innovative orthopedic research and development. Its goals are to contribute high-quality applied preclinical research and development focused on clinical applications and solutions, investigate and improve the performance of surgical procedures, devices, and substances, and build a close relationship with the AO Foundation's medical community, academic societies, and universities.
AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC)
The AO ITC streamlines and drives innovation projects, with activities ranging from developing solutions with industrial partners, innovation gathering, and proof-of-concept studies with innovators, to strategic investment in intellectual property, technology, or companies, and evidence creation through clinical research.
AO Education Institute (AO EI)
The AO EI is the driving force behind the global educational programs of the AO Foundation. Specialists in medical education and training collaborate with surgeons from around the world to develop continuing education programs based on the latest research.
Additionally, the AO EI develops multimedia educational resources for medical training to support surgeons and operating room professionals in continuously improving the treatment of their patients.
Highlights of the AO’s activities include:
AO Innovation Funding provides support for ideas improving patient care
Clinical evidence current studies
Clinical research studies on trauma: Research programs
Clinical research studies on spine: Research programs
Contact information:
AO Foundation website: AO Foundation: Transforming Surgery–Changing Lives
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