Side activities

The AO Davos Courses are much more than an educational event—they are a gateway to inspiration, innovation, and lifelong connections. Alongside world-class courses, our side activities offer a rich and engaging program that brings the AO community together in meaningful and impactful ways.

Whether you're looking to explore new ideas, meet global experts, or enjoy the spirit of Davos, this is where your journey goes beyond the classroom.
The AO Davos Courses are much more than an educational event—they are a gateway to inspiration, innovation, and lifelong connections. Alongside world-class courses, our side activities offer a rich and engaging program that brings the AO community together in meaningful and impactful ways.

Whether you're looking to explore new ideas, meet global experts, or enjoy the spirit of Davos, this is where your journey goes beyond the classroom.
Register now for the AO Davos Courses 2025

Key events

Opening Ceremony  

The AO President and other leaders welcome participants, faculty, industrial partners, and special guests to kick off the AO Davos Courses.

Check out this news article about the 2024 Opening Ceremony.

AO Davos Courses Night  

An exciting evening dedicated to exploring the AO experience and engaging with participants, faculty, and the wider AO community. 

Read more about the AO Davos Courses Night 2024 here.

Throughout the two weeks and during the AO Davos Courses Night, the AO Experience area showcases the AO Foundation’s products, services and innovations. It is hosted by the AO Innovation Translation Center, the AO Education Institute and AO’s Community Development.

Innovation Hub

Where ideas meet action.

The new Innovation Hub is your front-row seat to the future of surgery. This is where AO’s brightest minds, industry partners, and development teams come together to share, challenge, and shape what’s next. 
  • Meet the Experts
    Watch live sessions delivered by expert surgeons who are directly involved in the development of the AO Technical Commission’s latest approved solutions. Watch recorded Meet the Experts sessions from previous issues of AO Davos Courses here.
  • Fireside chats
    Intimate discussions on breakthrough ideas and real-world impact.
  • Industry sessions
    Insights from our partners on how innovation is transforming care.
  • Meet the AO’s researchers and innovators
    Go behind the scenes with the creators of the AO’s latest technologies.
  • Podium discussions
    Open forums to explore bold ideas and emerging trends.

Community moments

Celebrate the power of connection.  
 
These activities bring together participants, faculty, and AO leaders in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. 
  • Bridging the generations sessions  
  • Meet and greets  
  • AO Access sessions  

See what a Bridging the Generation event feels like here and learn more about the Meet and greet events here.

Educational extras

Go deeper into preclinical and clinical topics and current challenges with focused sessions led by experts. 
 
AO Center visit 
Take a tour of our headquarters, the AO Center, and gain insights into the AO's ongoing activities and resources available to support you in your clinical work. 

Live surgical demonstrations 
Observe a range of live surgeries with RIMASYS' SHARD—a 360-degree mobile operating theater. 
 
Lunch symposia 
AO Spine and AO Recon combined lunch symposium   
 
Fireside chats  
Small-format discussions with global leaders in surgical research, innovation, and education from diverse clinical specialties. 

Discover Davos

Take a break, recharge, and enjoy the beauty and culture of our alpine home, organized by Davos Klosters tourism (fees apply).
Learn more about the Discover Davos events

Quick links


Key events

AO Davos Courses Night
Opening Ceremony

Community moments

AO Access—driving the AO's diversity, inclusion, and mentorship programs
AO Spine Youth Club: Our future is bright!
Bridging the generations
Meet and greet

Innovation Hub

AO Technical Commission Meet the Experts
Watch a Meet the Experts session from the AO Davos Courses 2024

Explore the full program of side events

  • December 3, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    17:00–19:00 Opening Ceremony Davos Congress Centre, Davos room
    		 no registration  

  • December 4, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    19:00–20:30 Horse carriage ride into the side valleys
    		 Davos area
    		 registration at DDO desk  CHF 39
    18:15–20:00
    		 Visit the AO Center

    AO Center

    		 registration at welcome desk
    		  

  • December 5, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    07:00–08:00
    		 Surgical sunrise: coffee & croissants
    		 Davos Congress Centre, Wandelhalle
    		 registration link
    17:45–20:30 AO Davos Courses Night
    		 Davos Congress Centre, AO Experience
    		 no registration
    		  

  • December 6, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost 
    18:00–19:30
    		 Innovation Showcase
    		 Davos Congress Centre, Faculty lounge
    		 no registration
    19:00–21:00
    		 Guided tour of the Davoser Craft Beer Brewery
    		 Craft beer brewery
    		 registration at DDO desk
    		 CHF 25
    19:30–21:00 Cross country skiing lesson on the night slope
    		 Cross country slopes
    		 registration at DDO desk
    		 CHF 49

  • December 7, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration  Cost
    19:00–20:30 Guided tour of the Wintersport Museum Wintersport Museum registration at DDO desk CHF 25
    19:00–21:00 Cheese fondue evening at Strela Alp
    		 Restaurant Strela Alp
    		 registration at DDO desk
    		 CHF 52

  • December 8, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    13:00–14:00
    		 Meet the Experts Session “Intrapelvic Acetabular System” Davos Congress Centre, SHARD no registration

  • December 10, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    12:00–13:00 Meet the Experts Session “A new look into TLIF – TELIGEN Vue LIF” Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    		 no registration  
    17:00–19:00 Opening Ceremony
    		 Davos Congress Centre, Davos room
    		 no registration

  • December 11, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration Cost
    18:15–20:00
    		 Visit the AO Center
    		 AO Center
    		 registration at welcome desk
    19:00–20:30
    		 Horse carriage ride into the side valleys
    		 Davos area
    		 registration at DDO desk
    		 CHF 39

  • December 12, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration
    		 Cost
    07:00–08:00
    		 Surgical sunrise: coffee & croissants
    		 Davos Congress Centre, Wandelhalle
    		 registration link
    17:45–20:30 AO Davos Courses Night
    		 Davos Congress Centre, AO Experience
    		 no registration
    		  
    19:00–21:00 
    		 Guided tour of the Davoser Craft Beer Brewery Craft beer brewery
    		 registration at DDO desk CHF 25

  • December 13, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration
    		 Cost
    19:00–21:00
    		 Cheese fondue evening at Strela Alp Restaurant Strela Alp registration at DDO desk CHF 52
    19:30–21:00 Cross country skiing lesson on the night slope
    		 Cross country slopes
    		 registration at DDO desk
    		 CHF 49

  • December 14, 2023
    Time Event Location Registration
    		 Cost
    13:00–14:00
    		 Meet the Experts Session “Veterinary Large Animal Screw Targeting Clamp” Davos Congress Centre, SHARD no registration
  • December 4, 2023
    Time Event Location
    13:30–14:30
    		 AO Trauma - Hip: Femoral neck using the FNS Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    16:30–17:15
    		 AO Trauma - Lower Extremity II: Reverse L, posteromedial and posterolateral approach variants for a tibial plateau fracture
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    19:00–20:00
    		 AO Trauma - Lower extremity I: Femoral neck fracture
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 5, 2023
    Time Event Location
    09:45–10:45
    		 AO Trauma  - Upper Extremity I: Clavicle fractures Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    13:00–14:00
    		 AO Trauma  - Upper Extremity II: Radial head fracture - approach ORIF and/or arthroplasty, ligament repair Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    15:30–16:30
    		 AO Trauma  - Tips from the Masters: MIPO approaches humerus
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 6, 2023
    Time Event Location
    10:00–10:45
    		 Siemens Healthineers Demo: Tips & Tricks in Intraoperative Imaging Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    13:30–14:30
    		 AO Trauma  - Hip: Periprosthetic fracture with the new proximal femur plate Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    16:00–17:00
    		 AO Trauma - Foot&Ankle: Alternative approaches for foot and ankle fracture fixation Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    18:30–19:30 AO Trauma  - Upper Extremity I: Scapular fracture
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 7, 2023
    Time Event Location
    08:00–09:00
    		 AO Trauma  - Tips from the Masters: Tibia plateau approaches  Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    14:30–16:00
    		 AO Trauma  - Tips from the Masters: Extended Lateral approach for pilon fractures  Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    19:00–20:00 AO Trauma  - Lower extremity I: Medial approach to the distal femur - Double plate osteosynthesis distal femur
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 8, 2023
    Time Event Location
    13:00–14:00
    		 ITC TRM PEEG: Pelvic Comprehensive System incl. new Acetabular Plate Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 10, 2023
    Time Event Location
    12:00–13:00
    		 ITC SPINE LDEG TELIGEN Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 11, 2023
    Time Event Location
    07:45–08:55
    		 AO Recon: Ligamentous Stability and fixation in Revision Knee Arthroplasty Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    13:00–14:00
    		 CMF MFT: Zygoma advancement, orbital recon, and lower tarsoraphie Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    15:00–15:45 Spine: Advanced opitions for posterior cervicothoracic correction and fixation in cervical deformity
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 12, 2023
    Time Event Location
    10:00–10:45
    		 Siemens Healthineers Demo: Tips & Tricks in Intraoperative Imaging Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    13:30–14:30
    		 CMF Masters: LeFort I osteotomy: functional and aesthetic nasal control Davos Congress Centre, SHARD
    16:30–17:30 Sports: ACL Reconstruction and antelateral tenodesis
    		 Davos Congress Centre, SHARD

  • December 14, 2023
    Time Event Location
    13:00–14:00
    		 Meet the Experts Session ‚Veterinary Screw Targeting Clamp’ Davos Congress Centre, SHARD