Education
AO Spine courses—the best in the world of spine surgeon education!
AO Spine has been leading the way in spine surgeon training for over 20 years. More than 230'000 spine surgeons around the world have already attended our courses.
The participants of an AO Spine Pan-Iberian specimen course on complex spine surgery in 2023 explain what makes AO Spine courses superior and why you should attend.
AO Spine provides over 200 educational opportunities to over 13,000 spine surgeons and spine specialists worldwide
From face-to-face practical courses to recorded webinars—AO Spine has the educational option to suit your learning needs at a time and place to fit around your other commitments.
Global Spine Diploma
The Global Spine Diploma (GSD) certifies spine surgeons’ knowledge internationally. The 12-month online Global Spine Diploma Program will give you access to a network of spine professionals around the world, and the experience and support of global leaders in spine surgery.
It is the first globally developed, ultimate and systematic training pathway for recently graduated orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.
Competency-Based Curriculum Courses
The AO Spine competency-based curriculum courses offer hands-on learning to build essential surgical competencies and elevate spine surgery standards worldwide.
Developed by global experts, these courses prioritize active engagement with faculty, combining evidence-based knowledge and practical skills to address real patient challenges. New best practices are continuously integrated into the programs.
Participants will learn, apply, and ultimately master the competencies required for effective patient care.
AO In-Hospital
AO In-Hospital is a faculty-exclusive platform designed to help you provide high-quality, practical education for your hospital’s surgical staff—right at your workplace, and on your schedule.
AO In-Hospital reduces the barriers by offering a growing library of expertly developed, ready-to-use modules in spine surgery—designed to support you in delivering impactful education with minimal effort
Educational resources
AO Spine Injury Classification Systems
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)
Videos and webinars
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Faculty
Curriculum
Fellowships
Education task forces
The task forces are surgeon led working groups. Most of the work is done virtually. The following criteria applies to all task force positions
- Commitment to and active engagement with AO Spine as a paying member for at least a year;
- Established regional/international AO Spine surgeon network to help obtain buy-in;
- Demonstrated experience and expertise in the specific focus area of the task force;
- Recommendation letter from a longstanding and respected AO Spine member.
Task force members are selected on merit. All interested AO Spine Members are welcome to contact the AO Spine office to discuss how they can add value to task force activities. Individual surgeons can also be recommended for a task force position. The final selection is made by the Task Force Leader and the AO Spine Education Commission Chair.
Pedro Berjano
Chair of the Taskforce
Representing Europe and Southern Africa
Luis Carelli
Representing Latin America
Eric Klineberg
Representing North America
Omar Alnori Deformity taskforce
Representing Middle East and Northern Africa
Yong Hai
Representing Asia Pacific
Alpaslan Senkoylu
Representing AO In-Hospital
Fred Nicholls
Representing Global Spine Diploma
Michael Kelly
Representing Knowledge Forum Deformity
Richard Bransford
AO Spine Education Commission Chairperson
Bryan Ashman
AO Spine Curriculum Advisor
The Educational Strategies Task Force aims to lead innovation in spine surgery education by delivering education that reflects the learning culture in the surgical workplace. Its key objectives are to ensure AO Spine education includes:
- Blended learning
- Hospital based events
- Hands-on courses that are realistic
- Remote access events that are low cost
Words from our Task Force leader:
"The Educational Strategies Task Force will allow AO Spine to develop and offer innovative educational programs on a variety of platforms to meet the changing needs of our members."
Steven Theiss, Educational Strategies Task Force Leader
Steven Theiss
Task Force Leader
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States
AlaaEldin Ahmad
Arab Care Hospital
Ramallah, Palestine
John DeVine
AO Spine Education Commission Member
Augusta University
Augusta, United States
Harry Gebhard
Kantonsspital Baden, Switzerland
Luiz Gustavo
Hospital Universitario Cajuru
Curitiba, Brazil
Jose Manuel Ignacio
University of the Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Alpaslan Sasnkoylu
Gazi University
Ankara, Turkey
Muzahem Taha
Sedram Private Hospital
Erbil, Iraq
The MISS Task Force aims to see AO Spine become the leading educator in minimally invasive techniques and procedures and meet surgeons' needs for improved surgical outcomes and reduced morbidity. Its key objectives are based on the following focus areas:
- Target – Optimized patient selection
- Technology – Optimal combination of access, visualization, navigation, instrumentation, biologic augmentation
- Technique – Principles, approaches, neural protection, decompression, stabilization
- Training – Simulation, observation, mentorship
- Testing the boundaries – MISS for deformity, robotics.
Words from our MISS Task Force leader:
"The MISS Task Force spearheads the process within AO Spine to better define the role of MISS going forward, to evaluate the great variety of technologies and techniques available, and to establish successful ways to teach and train surgeons globally and at every stage of their career."
Roger Härtl, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) Task Force Leader
Task Force Members:
Roger Härtl
Task Force Leader
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, United States
Richard Assaker
Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire
Lille, France
Mohammed Assous
Razi Spine Clinic
Amman, Jordan
Christopher Hofstetter
University of Washington
Seattle, United States
JinSung Kim
The Catholic University of Korea
Seoul, South Korea
Avelino Parajón
Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
Madrid, Spain
Néstor Taboada
Clinica PortoAzul
Barranquilla, Colombia
Paul Taylor
SpinesWA Mount Hospital
Perth, Australia
“AO Spine Education constantly strives to move with the latest trends and to be relevant—to make AO an even better educational organization in an increasingly challenging world and market.”
Richard Bransford, Chairperson AO Technical Commission Spine