News from AO Trauma India Country Council
Message from the Chairman’s desk By Dr. M Ajith Kumar
It gives me great pleasure to announce the inaugural issue of the AO Trauma India Newsletter.
Over the past year, AO Trauma India has expanded its reach, strengthened academic collaborations, and created new opportunities for our members. From successful national courses and workshops to impactful research contributions, our community continues to embody the AO ethos of excellence and education.
The aim of this newsletter is simple: to keep members and aspiring colleagues informed about the breadth of AO Trauma activities. We intend for the newsletter to be your one-stop source for the latest AO news.
With Dr. Siddhartha Sharma and his dedicated team, we bring you distilled updates from the AO Foundation website along with highlights of AO Trauma India’s initiatives, making information easier to access and apply.
Through this platform, we encourage members to seize opportunities in research, inventions, publications, courses, seminars, and fellowships. A major milestone is the approval to launch self-funded (OTTS) AO-certified inland fellowships at AO-recognized centers, with the same selection criteria as international fellowships.
I congratulate the editorial board for their enthusiasm and commitment.
I am confident this newsletter will become a regular feature and act as a valuable resource for our community. My sincere thanks to all council members for their proactive efforts, with special appreciation to Prof. Mandeep Dhillon for his pivotal role in bringing this initiative to fruition.
Best wishes,
M Ajith Kumar
Achievements of AO Trauma India members
Dr. Sudhir Warrier - Lead, AO Hand Expert Group
My association with the AO Foundation was rekindled in 2015, thanks to Dr Mandeep Dhillon and Dr Dhaval Desai. On their recommendation, I was selected as a faculty member for the Davos Master Courses, then chaired by Dr Jesse Jupiter.
Until that point, I had been an AO member who had completed the Basic and Advanced Courses. Davos soon became far more than a milestone. It became a constant presence in my professional life and contributed to my career advancement.
Over the years, the Davos Courses grew into a regular rhythm. I completed the Faculty Education Program (FEP) and two additional leadership programs, and subsequently served on several committees, including ETF, RPC, and IPE.
This was followed by editing ten hand fracture fixation videos and chairing the Masters Course in Davos. Each role deepened my engagement and sense of purpose within AO.
Being invited to join the Hand Expert Group (HAEG) marked a true high point in my academic career. Working alongside Tom Fischer and his team, I became closely involved in meaningful innovation and development initiatives.
Our efforts were recognised by the AO Technical Commission, which awarded the group the Innovation Prize for 2026. A dream I scarcely dared to imagine has now been realised. I have the honour of leading the Hand Expert Group.
We are committed to identifying unmet clinical needs, advancing meaningful innovation, and improving patient outcomes while staying true to the responsibilities entrusted to us. Had I missed that call from Dr Mandeep Dhillon all those years ago, I might never have discovered this world, the world of AO, where we continue, together, to make a difference.
AO Research Olympiads
The AO Research Olympiad brings together researchers from around the world to showcase their best work.
Two Indians represented Asia Pacific in the Olympiad. Dr. Sandeep Patel was awarded the bronze medal in 2023. Dr. Prasoon Kumar was shortlisted to represent Asia Pacific in the 2025 Olympiad.
Congratulations to both!
News from past AO Courses
Principles of Fracture Management Course, Chennai
Chairs: Dr. S. Vaidyanathan, Dr. A. R. Gottemukkala
By Dr. Srivatsa N. Rao, Dr. Karen D’Sa
The AO Trauma Basic Principles of Fracture Management (Twin Course), held from January 9–11 in Chennai, India, brought together over 100 delegates and more than 15 distinguished faculty members in a landmark academic event.
Led by Dr. Singaravadivelu Vaidyanathan (Kauvery Hospital, Chennai) and Dr. Ashok Raju Gottemukkala (Care Hospitals, Hyderabad), the course exemplified competency-based orthopaedic education delivered with precision and purpose. Coordinating a structured, high-quality program for such a large cohort over three days was no small undertaking, and the faculty rose collectively to the challenge.
The course combined plenary lectures, interactive small-group discussions, and ten focused skills-lab stations covering biomechanics, torque measurement, drilling principles, fracture mechanics, reduction techniques, intramedullary nailing, plate fixation, fracture healing, implant removal, and external fixation. Eight practical exercises on bone models allowed participants to apply AO principles.
Equally significant was the mentorship ecosystem. Senior educators such as P. V. Jayasankar Sundaram and Dr. George Thomas guided junior and newly appointed table faculty, reinforcing pedagogical excellence and AO’s culture of lifelong learning.
The camaraderie among table faculty further enriched the experience, strengthening collaboration and academic growth.
Beyond three days of engagement, the course leaves a lasting impact. For delegates, it strengthens foundational principles, refines surgical judgment, and reinforces disciplined, evidence-based fracture management. For faculty, particularly emerging educators, it represents meaningful professional evolution.
The course stood as a testament to academic rigor, teamwork, and the enduring spirit of the AO community.
