Week 2 of the AO Davos Courses 2025: Welcoming trauma surgeons at every stage of their careers
The fully sold-out AO Davos Courses 2025 continued into their second week on Sunday, December 7. The second Opening Ceremony brought together 553 participants from 66 countries and 186 faculty members, with 12 educational events from AO Trauma being held during week two. In total, 1,025 participants from 78 countries are attending the AO Davos Courses over the course of two weeks, underscoring the AO’s global reach and impact.
AO President Mark D Markel officially opened the second week of the event, setting an inspiring tone with a film chronicling the AO’s rich history and its enduring spirit of collaboration. Sharing his personal journey, Markel reflected, “The reason I stayed with the AO for 41 years… of course it’s about excellence, it’s about improving patient care, but it’s also about the connections and the relationships I’ve forged. I’m still friends with some of the people I took my first principles course with.”
To foster engagement, Markel invited the audience to submit one-word answers via their phones to three thought-provoking questions: What inspired you most about wanting to become a part of the AO? How has the AO supported your career development? What is one skill or experience that you hope to take home from this year’s AO Davos Courses? The audience’s answers were to be revealed and reflected at a later point during the Opening Ceremony.
AO NextGen: Empowering the future of surgery
Markel moved on to introduce AO NextGen, a new initiative designed for medical students, residents, and young professionals passionate about musculoskeletal trauma, spine, cranio-maxillofacial, and veterinary surgery. AO NextGen seeks to connect early-career surgeons with peers and mentors, providing pathways for engagement, practical learning, and professional growth. Additionally, Markel encouraged the audience to download myAO 2.0, the AO’s new digital platform for meaningful connections and shared learning. “It’s meant to create and support communities. And it's just beginning. We’re intending to implement very powerful education tools over the coming year,” Markel said.Olga Harrington, the AO’s Head of Communications, highlighted the week’s vibrant agenda and encouraged participants to immerse themselves in the AO Experience. She introduced the AO Innovation Hub, an interactive space where participants can engage with experts, explore new technologies, and participate in hands-on sessions. Fireside Chats and podium discussions are designed to spark dialogue and connect attendees with industry leaders.
Harrington also unveiled Window on the AO Davos Courses, a video streaming platform delivering the excitement of the AO’s flagship event. This platform ensures that even those unable to attend in person can connect with the heart of the AO’s offerings.
Panel discussion: The AO spirit through shared experiences
A lively panel discussion, featuring Mark D Markel and AO Trauma representatives Selma Fensel, Joseph Galloway, Sean Nork, Mark Reilly, and An Sermon, delved into the three central questions posed to participants earlier on. Common themes emerged from the audience’s answers: knowledge, learning, education, community, excellence, network, and friendship. An Sermon highlighted “the combination of education and research” that made her want to join the AO. Joseph Galloway valued “excellence”: “The people during my education that demonstrated the most excellence were always with the AO, and that just kept drawing me in more and more.” Mark Reilly emphasized that the AO supported him “in every single step of my career.”
Audience members were invited to share their personal stories, and an inflatable microphone was tossed by Markel to catch comments from the audience. Markel summed up what had brought this crowd together: “The faculty that participants get to interact with, the concept of community, and that we, as faculty, gain as much as we give.”
The ceremony concluded with a lighthearted anecdote as Markel recounted a story about a participant’s AO tattoo, which inspired the distribution of temporary AO tattoos that will be available at the Community booth throughout the courses. Markel encouraged the audience to get one but gave everybody a warning: “They do last five to seven days, and mine from last week are still visible!”
In closing, Markel invited everyone to the Founders’ Reception and issued a challenge true to the AO spirit: “During the reception, introduce yourself to three people you don’t know.” This simple task encapsulated the essence of the AO Davos Courses—a unique gathering where education, innovation, and community come together to shape the next generation of surgical leaders.