Learning from the best
Each year, AOSpine runs over 80 educational events in various formats, covering all aspects of spine surgery and reaching out to surgeons at every stage of their career. AOSpine educational events, such as courses, symposia, academic congresses provide an opportunity for hands-on learning, alongside constructive discussions with moderators and colleagues in a stimulating environment representative of the community network of AOSpine. AOSpine Fellowships complement this offering, providing budding spine surgeons with the opportunity to work in some of the world’s top spine centers and learn from the best in the field.

Continuous professional development is essential for all spine surgeons to improve their daily practice and enhance patient outcomes. AOSpine educational events rely on chairpersons and faculty members focusing their attention on learners and learning outcomes. AOSpine is fortunate to count among its members highly motivated educators who represent a vast fund of knowledge, clinical experience, and teaching skills. AOSpine invests in this invaluable resource in order to pursue the teaching philosophy central to their mission.

Lifelong learning
It is never too soon or too late to learn. This is the core philosophy that drives AOSpine’s educational activities. AOSpine aims to go above and beyond classical teaching: the goal is to challenge current paradigms, provoke thought, and open the mind to new ideas and skills.

Today, continuous learning has become an essential survival skill for any professional, but spine surgeons especially have to make sure that they acquire new skills and knowledge throughout their career—be it through face-to-face interaction, distance learning, or self-directed access to resources.

The professional development of a spine surgeon is composed of a series of successive steps: there are periods of relative stability, which are punctuated with “obstacles” where a surgeon needs to apply his or her knowledge. In between each stage are transition points—prime opportunities for professional growth. AOSpine offers an educational platform that helps surgeons overcome these obstacles and navigate the transitions as they progress in their career.

In contrast to traditional teacher-directed courses, AOSpine’s programs are highly interactive and involve the learner, enabling him or her to acquire the specific knowledge progressively to fit his or her needs and clinical practice. And by developing the mentoring skills of its faculty members, AOSpine ensures they are in a prime position to impart their know-how to the next generation of spine surgeons.