Fourteen years ago, not many surgeons were comfortable saying, “I was wrong.”
In that context, the Orthopaedic Summit: Evolving Techniques (OSET) meeting was born—to, in the words of OSET’s founder and maestro, Kevin D. Plancher, M.D., M.P.H, “Gather forward-thinking, innovative private practitioners and esteemed academicians who are willing to stick their necks out. To come to the podium and say, ‘you know what I said about such-and-such? Forget it. I was wrong.”
Comfortable in his role as a trail blazer, Dr. Plancher, a clinical professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and adjunct clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, curated a faculty composed of the most intellectually curious healthcare practitioners for his novel Orthopaedic Summit: Evolving Techniques.
Today, OSET stands as the preeminent orthopedic meeting of the year, second only to the venerable American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), boasting an esteemed faculty of over 300 speakers who address advanced topics spanning multiple specialties.
These top speakers cover all advanced topics for surgeons, fellows, residents, medical students, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, athletic trainers, physician and occupational therapists, and industry.
This year’s location is Boston’s Marriott Copley Place. The dates are September 20-23, 2023.
Spino-Pelvic Courses – New Cartilage Physiology Topics – And More…
Dr. Plancher told OTW, “Years ago, I had a vision to break the mold of traditional education and orthopaedic meetings. I could see that there was room for a gathering of innovative private practitioners and academicians to come together to discuss controversial topics in heated debates and friendly discourse to help better patient care.”
Dr. Plancher, who set out to mirror the multidisciplinary ethos that the best surgeons bring to patient care, is indeed raising the bar on team-based treatment. “This year we hope to show attendees that collaboration between multiple specialties—cross-pollination if you will—yields tangible benefits. We have designed several tracks that ‘live in the wrong lane.’ For example, the hip and spine people will be together to discuss hip and spine liquidity.”
“In the sports arena, we will highlight some of the new technology in cartilage physiology and take a hard look at how we can truly return patients to sport. And I’m not only referring to doing a procedure, but really getting them back and fully active. To that end, we are partnering with the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT). OSET will serve as their annual meeting providing its members an expanded educational platform and opportunities to network with their colleagues and referring orthopaedic surgeons.”
Down With Theory
OSET thrives on active engagement and critical discussions. Panel sessions encourage professionals from diverse backgrounds to challenge and question each other’s perspectives. “If during a panel, for example, a surgeon says he would operate on a given case, then maybe a physical therapist will chime and to say, ‘Wait, maybe you could do XYZ instead of surgery.’”
“While it’s all done with affection, in the end we want answers—not theory. We have very accomplished healthcare practitioners that do a huge number of surgical cases and share their experience as to what works and what doesn’t work well. I’m so pleased to say that we have a true meeting of the minds of the entire orthopaedic community, which was my original intent.” OSET continues to gather the brightest minds in the field, fostering collaboration within the entire orthopedic community.
Looking Back to Look Forward
Dr. Plancher knows that moving forward with wisdom requires a deep understanding of the past. He noted, “Our speakers appreciate the historical context, while pushing the boundaries to bring about things on the cutting edge of the field. With the speed of change in healthcare, it is imperative that we have the best minds working on the most efficient ways of bringing techniques and technologies to patients. Some will fail and some will work, but the pursuit remains grounded in patient safety and the drive to provide the most effective treatments.”
The Virus: No Match for OSET
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, OSET emerged unscathed. “The pandemic was obviously devastating for our country and personally for many people,” says Dr. Plancher, “and we are fortunate that it didn’t affect the OSET meeting. Industry partners stood by us, which gave people confidence and hope that the virus would not overrun our efforts to produce vital innovations.”
The meeting is immensely popular, with attendance remaining steady at roughly 1,500 participants. “We have attendees from across the country and the globe,” says Dr. Plancher. “And our loyal industry partners and returning registrants continue to show up and help us push boundaries, ensuring that each year offers a distinctive experience.”
Young Physician Leadership Forum. VC Tracks. Live Surgeries.
OSET extends beyond the realm of traditional medical education by introducing new programs. “This year, we have inaugurated a Young Physician Leadership Forum where doctors can learn about issues that aren’t typically addressed in traditional training. These include questions such as, ‘Is this the right practice for me? How do I handle a contract? What do I do with an overbearing boss? How do I make my way through the entire practice landscape?’” Recognizing the prominence of stress and burnout in the medical field, OSET features a robust session dedicated to addressing these concerns.
OSET is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (CME), further affirming the conference’s commitment to providing valuable educational opportunities.
Highlights that attendees will encounter:
- Venture capitalist track—How private equity might fit into someone’s practice
- Jeopardy Session on Alignment, Patella Resurfacing, and Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
- Reality Check: Simple Answers Please, do not pontificate—Technology & Difficult Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
- Fun, friendly, heated debates amongst faculty
- Robotic Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty-Live Surgery
- Shoulder and spine technology theater
- 13 Live surgeries
- Lifetime Achievement Award Honoring Bernard R. Bach, Jr., M.D. in Knee Sports Medicine, Andrew R. Burgess, M.D. in Trauma, Frank Eismont, M.D. in Spine, and Joseph D. Zuckerman, M.D. in Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Brian D. Busconi, M.D., Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation Pediatrics and Family Medicine and Community Health at Massachusetts Medical School, is serving as conference chair this year. “I am honored to be hosting the Orthopaedic Summit in my hometown of Boston and look forward to the continued growth of the course,” said Dr. Busconi. “OSET always strives to raise the bar in education through innovative techniques and our goal is to always provide relevant, scientific-based content that helps us all to improve patient care.”
“We owe it to our patients to give each other constructive criticism,” concludes Dr. Plancher. “At the end of the day, it’s always about the patient. They are relying on us—and we have to remind ourselves of that every single day.”
Join us at OSET, where esteemed professionals gather to make a lasting impact on the field.
