Meet the elected officers of the AO VET Latin America Board
With a renewed commitment to education, collaboration, and community, AO VET Latin America welcomes its newly elected Regional Board officers. The visionary leaders Bruno Watanabe Minto (Education Officer) and Marcelo Flores (Community Development Officer), share a passion for elevating AO VET care across the region. From expanding access to world-class educational programs to empowering the next generation of the AO VET, they aim to position AO VET Latin America as a global reference in excellence, innovation, and engagement.
Following the elections held in the second quarter of 2025, the AO VET Latin America Board is pleased to announce the newly elected members of the Board.
The candidacies were carefully reviewed by their respective Nomination Committees and were confirmed by the AO VET International Board and AO VET Latin America Board, according to the criteria and requirements of the AO VET Terms of Reference.
Please join us in congratulating the newly elected officers of the AO VET Latin America Board.
The officers and their vision:
AO VET Latin America—Education Officer
Bruno Watanabe Minto (Brazil)
"It is a great honor to serve as the AO VET Latin America Education Officer. My primary goal is to further strengthen veterinary orthopedic education throughout Latin America by promoting inclusive, collaborative, and scientifically rigorous educational initiatives. I aim to expand access to knowledge through multilingual activities, support the development of new faculty members and mentors within the AO VET community, and foster a stronger integration between academic research and clinical practice. I strongly believe in the AO Foundation philosophy of “surgeons teaching surgeons,” and I am fully committed to contributing to a dynamic, connected, and forward-thinking Latin American community dedicated to excellence in veterinary patient care”
Bruno Watanabe Minto, from Brazil, was elected as the next Education Officer of the AO VET Latin America Board and his official term will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029.
Besides that, he is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Surgery at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, and a CNPq Level A Researcher, he has built a distinguished academic career dedicated to veterinary orthopedics, surgical education, and translational research. His work focuses on orthopedic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, deformity correction, and biological fracture repair, integrating scientific investigation, clinical practice, and teaching. He has led and collaborated on research projects supported by FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES, and the AO VET, with numerous publications in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals.
Within AO VET, he has contributed extensively as Faculty and Chairperson in AO Principles, Advanced, and Masters Courses, as well as in regional symposia and online educational activities, serving as Regional, National, and Chairperson Faculty. He has completed the Faculty Education Program (FEP) and Chairperson Education Program (CEP). He is also an active member of multiple editorial boards, peer-review panels, and scientific advisory committees, including FAPESP and UNESP, reflecting his strong commitment to academic leadership, mentorship, and the advancement of veterinary orthopedic science.
AO VET Latin America—Community Development Officer
Marcelo Flores (Chile)
“My objective is to continue strengthening AO VET Latin America as a collaborative, inclusive, and inspiring community for veterinary surgeons throughout our region. I have been actively involved with AO for 21 years, and during these years as Community Development Officer, I have confirmed that AO VET goes far beyond education. While it is true that courses, seminars, and congresses are fundamental, the professional and human relationships that emerge from them are what truly strengthen our community. Latin America is a region rich in talent, experience, and diversity. Our opportunity lies in continuing to connect people, strengthening ties with veterinary traumatology and orthopaedic societies, promoting the active participation of new generations, and creating spaces where knowledge, experience, and innovation can be shared without borders. I am committed to continuing to work so that more and more colleagues find in AO VET a close, open, and participatory community, where we can all learn, teach, and grow together. Because ultimately, education is the starting point, but the community we build is the true legacy we leave for future generations of veterinary surgeons.”
Marcelo Flores, from Chile, was re-elected as the Community Development Officer of the AO VET Latin America Board and his official term will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. He is currently completing his first term as Community Development Officer of AO VET Latin America.
In addition, he is a veterinarian, graduated in 2001, and a professor at the Universidad Católica de Temuco, Chile. He has been actively involved with AO VET since 2005 as Faculty Regional, National, Chairperson, Co-Chairperson and collaborator in various educational and community development initiatives across Latin America.
During this period as AO VET Latin America Board Officer, he has led initiatives aimed at strengthening the AO VET community, promoting regional participation, establishing links with veterinary traumatology and orthopaedic societies, and generating opportunities for collaboration among professionals from different countries. Moreover, he has completed the FEP, CEP, and LEP trainings and is a member of the Chilean Society of Veterinary Traumatology and Orthopaedics (SOCHITOV).
Throughout his career, he has combined private clinical-surgical practice, teaching, and professional development with a strong commitment to community building, mentorship, and the strengthening of veterinary traumatology and orthopaedics in Latin America.
Please join us in congratulating the election winners!
Find out more about AO VET's Governance structure and bodies here.