Curriculum
Based on the philosophy of lifelong learning, the AO Spine curriculum provides continuous acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills that will aid lifelong career progression.
The AO Spine curriculum is a framework based on entrustable professional activities (EPA’s).
An EPA is an essential activity that can be entrusted only to those who have acquired the requisite ability to work independently in a given healthcare context to achieve a desired outcome.
The AO Spine curriculum focusses on the final level of autonomy, independent practice, which is the level at which surgeons perform their clinical activities.
Watch a video on how the curriculum was developed
The AO Spine Principles
Stability
Stabilization to achieve a specific therapeutic outcome
Alignment
Balancing the spine in three dimensions
Biology
Etiology, pathogenesis, neural protection, and tissue healing
Function
Preservation and restoration of function to prevent disability
“The AO Spine curriculum greatly helped improve the learning outcomes of our activities.”
Pablo Vela, Educational Director at Degeneration Seminar, La Paz, Bolivia