The AO Foundation and DePuy Synthes partnership
For more than 60 years, the AO Foundation has partnered with DePuy Synthes (part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies) to transform surgery and save lives. This collaboration between the two independent organizations is rooted in mutual respect and a shared mission to innovate in surgical education and improve patient outcomes. It is a central part of who we are, as AO.
A cooperation agreement governs the partnership and defines the framework for the areas of collaboration. The AO benefits from DPS support for its hands-on training under an exclusive agreement, and it is in partnership with DPS that AO innovations in patient care are developed for application in a clinical setting. DPS is the key industry partner of the AO Technical Commission (AO TC) and its Global Expert Committees, Expert Groups, and Task Forces in the specialty areas of trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, and veterinary surgery.
An unrestricted grant provides DPS support for the AO's global educational offerings while enabling the AO to be fully independent in its selection of course content and faculty: These decisions are made exclusively and independently by the AO. The agreement confirms the independence of the AO and its surgeon volunteers. DPS supports the surgeon education programs for AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO CMF, AO VET, AO Recon, and AO Sports.
The AO and DPS both benefit from this longstanding partnership, which has evolved over the decades. We look forward to many more years of working together, and to seeing how our partnership will mature in the years to come.