Week 1 of the AO Davos Courses 2025: Celebrating the AO spirit across generations

The fully sold-out AO Davos Courses 2025 opened its doors on Sunday, November 30, marking the start of the 66th edition of the AO Foundation’s annual flagship event. The Opening Ceremony brought together 472 participants from 57 countries and 161 faculty members for the first week, with 11 courses connecting the diverse communities of AO Spine, AO CMF, AO Recon, AO VET, and the AO Trauma Course Basic Principles for Swiss Surgeons. Over two weeks, a total of 1,052 participants from 78 countries are expected to attend, underscoring the AO’s global reach and impact.

AO President Mark D Markel officially inaugurated 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, “My story is similar to that of many senior surgeons in this room. Looking back at my AO journey, what stands out are the lasting friendships and the community that began to be created in my very first course.”

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. Markel emphasized the importance of nurturing—not taking over—the already existing young surgeon groups within the AO’s community, and encouraged the audience to download myAO 2.0, the AO’s new digital platform for meaningful connections and shared learning.

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. “Do share this with your colleagues at home,” Harrington said. “We want to create a bit of FOMO.”

Panel discussion: The AO spirit through shared experiences

A lively panel discussion, featuring Mark D Markel, Elspeth Lederer (AO VET), Martin Stienen (AO Spine), Anthony Albers (AO Recon), Miho Tanaka (AO Sports), and Stefano Fusetti (AO CMF), delved into the three central questions posed to participants earlier on. Common themes emerged from the audience’s answers: education, community, learning, knowledge, and networking. Panelists shared impactful insights—Elspeth Lederer valued “quality,” Martin Stienen highlighted “excellence” and a sense of family, while Anthony Albers spoke of the global connections fostered through the AO’s courses and events.

Audience members were invited to share their personal stories, and an inflatable microphone was tossed by Markel to catch the comments from the audience. Markel summed up what had brought this crowd together: “Gaining expertise to deliver better patient care.”

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 AO Davos Courses. Olga Harrington applied the first temporary tattoo to Markel—albeit upside down, much to the audience’s amusement.

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.