Rise and Shine—AO Spine Youth Club at the GSC in Rio

A group of young, motivated surgeons in the early years of their careers, with a deep interest and passion for spine surgery, have come together around the idea to create a community that would help them grow. What began as an idea has now realized and blossomed into a large, dynamic group of young surgeons from all around the world, sharing common interests, ideas, challenges, and goals.

The first in-person activities and get-togethers that took place at the AO Davos Courses in December 2024 have grown into scientific content and awards that will be presented at the Global Spine Congress in Rio in May 2025.

Young surgeons who would like to take part in the SYC activities in Rio and be eligible for the awards should register in advance. 

Connect, bridge the generation gap, and empower young surgeons

The AO Spine Youth Club (SYC) is thrilled to invite all young spine surgeons attending the Global Spine Congress to the Rise and Shine event—the combined AO Spine Youth Club breakfast, Science Slam, and Awards session. There is no better time or place to make a move and get involved in the exciting SYC activities aiming to bridge the generational gap by working side-by-side with established experts, to empower the next generation of spine surgeons, and to connect with a global network of young spine surgeons.

"We are fortunate to be growing within AO Spine, one of the largest and most respected communities in the field," said one of the founders of SYC Gisberto Evangelisti, spine surgeon from Italy. Since the beginning, the SYC have been involved in numerous AO Spine activities.

"This year, we have the exciting opportunity to be part of GSC in Rio, where we will support our members presenting their work, some of whom will be co-moderating sessions," Franziska Altorfer, spine surgeon from Switzerland continued. "We’ll also have the chance to connect, exchange experiences, and share knowledge!"

Victor Martin-Gorgojo, spine surgeon from Spain assured, "we’ll also have a lot of fun during our Science Slam at AO SYC Breakfast Session with a prize awarded to the winners. So sign up and don’t miss your chance to win one of the first AO SYC Awards!"

Science Slam at AO SYC Breakfast Session

Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 7:00–8:00 AM local time | Room 3

AO Spine Youth Club Awards

Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9:00–10:00 AM local time | Theatre in the Exhibition Ares

The first-ever SYC awards will be presented by Pedro Berjano and Riccardo Cecchinato.

All young surgeons who would like to get involved in the SYC activities at the GSC in Rio, should register here.

To learn more about SYC, please go to the website.