- Welcome from CDC Chair
- Leadership Spotlight: Eric Klineberg, AO Spine North America Board Chair
- Photo Diary: 2025 Spine Fellows in Davos
- Registration Open: OneAO® 2026
- Call for Applications: Fellowship Funding
View the Winter 2025 newsletter email
Welcome from Dr. Elizabeth Yu, AO Spine NA CDC Chair
Dear AO Spine NA Community,
Happy holidays! With the calendar year coming to a close, I am excited to share recent achievements, upcoming events, and other relevant news with AO Spine members.
Since the previous newsletter, there have been several initiatives underway geared toward fostering community with the next generation of spine surgeons. The Early Career Mentorship program—which pairs surgeons just entering practice with more senior Spine surgeons within AO in small groups to share experiences and provide guidance—launched it’s second cohort. It is not too late to sign up and connect with senior members of AO Spine NA and/or be a mentee. A group of AO Spine North America Davos Fellows attended this year’s AO Davos courses, held annually in Switzerland. Read below for additional details about the successful and engaging experience of this year’s Spine fellows.
The inaugural Advanced MISS Techniques course was held in October in Raynam, MA. Attendees ranged from fellows to early career surgeons. Thank you to the chairs, Dr. Roger Hartl and Dr. Christoph Hofstetter, for their organization of the course. Looking to the new year, there are several upcoming courses for both trainees and practicing surgeons. They include the Principles and Treatment in Spinal Disorders in January in Charlotte, NC and the Part II ABOS Oral Board Review in Chicago, IL.
The new myAO 2.0 app launched this month. This revitalized platform is a place for interaction, networking, and collaboration with members from around the world and a space to connect with those members in your local area. As an active AO Spine member, you gain access to mentorship and a national and international network of spine surgeons. Additionally, you have access to professional development opportunities, research resources, and educational programs. Please contact me directly for further information.
Thank you for to Dr. Nicholas Spina for acting as contributing editor for this issue and conducting a thoughtful interview with AO Spine North America Board Chair, Dr. Eric Klineberg. We hope you enjoy learning more about the efforts and contributions of our dedicated members.
Elizabeth Yu, MD
AO Spine NA – Community Development Committee Chair
Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Division of Spine
Chief, Division of Spine Surgery
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
AO Leadership Spotlight: Dr. Eric Klineberg, AO Spine North America Board Chair
By Dr. Nicholas Spina, AO Spine NA Community Development Committee Member
As we finish another year and the holidays near, I find myself reflecting on what that past year has looked liked, what can I do better, what am I proud of, and what I am excited for. This year marks the last year of Dr. Eric Klineberg’s term as AO Spine NA Board Chair, and the Community Development Committee (CDC) thought it would be great to highlight his presidency and his commitment to the AO. I was able to have a conversation with Eric and wanted to share his thoughts with the AO NA community.
Why should surgeons continue to stay involved in the AO?
The AO has given so much more to me than I have contributed. My best friends are in the AO. I’ve learned to be a better surgeon, father, and husband from my friends in the AO. I’ve been mentored and have also been a mentor. It has also allowed me to become a better leader which has influenced my local career and local success. I have found that the more you put into the AO, the more you get out.
What can the AO do for its spine surgeons?
I think the AO is the trusted name in education, with surgeons that are focused on the principles in addition to the implants. We can help educate young surgeons through fellowships, our educational offerings and mentorship programs. For the mid-career surgeon, we can provide education and understanding of the newest research, as well as opportunities to engage in education as a learner via travel grants or as faculty in the Global Spine Diploma program, or at other AO events. We can provide senior surgeons with the opportunity to interact with surgeons around the globe. I enjoy that as much as anything. My colleagues in Latin American, APAC, and the Middle East have been some of the most rewarding relationships to build. Understanding their local restrictions and their creative solutions has helped me become a better surgeon. The AO international exposure is meaningful and allows me to have a greater mission of helping people from around the world.
What are you most proud of during your tenure as Chair of the AO Spine NA Board?
When I assumed the role, the AO Spine community faced financial uncertainty and needed to define why AO matters in North America. We refocused on the consistency of AO Spine in our educational product, commitment to fellowship and our research directive. We also focused on the interaction of AO SNA globally, and have emphasized our teamwork, and our collegiality around the globe. I believe that when AO SNA is involved and thinks globally, we are enriched locally. Recently, we have more clarity on our financial future, and am happy to report that the AO has a signed Cooperation Agreement (CA) in place with support from DePuy Synthes, and have an exciting direction in which to move
What are you excited about in the coming years?
I’m excited about the continued success of our fellowship program. We have 130 fellows at nearly 50 sites—with this year highest number of sites and fellows. We have the opportunity to train the best fellows from the best programs which is testament to the AO brand.
I’m excited that my friend and colleague, Dr. Dan Sciubba, will be taking over as AO Spine NA Board Chair next year. He will bring a different perspective as both neurosurgeon and as a physician with an MBA. We have laid the foundation to allow Dan to expand on the great things we already do and to build on our societies mission of collegiality, education, and research.
I’m excited to celebrate another year of fellowship education with the AO Spine NA Fellows in Banff. It is the culmination of the fellowship year and a chance to continue to build relationships which will continue for the rest of our careers.
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The CDC would like to thank Dr. Klineberg for all his work and his continued passion for the AO. He is true to his words as evidence by my relationship with him, which started with him Socratically questioning my plan for a surgical case at a fellows course, evolved further over a game of pool at the Banff course, and continued most recently with him asking genuinely about my life during this interview. I will leave you with this final quote exemplifying his humility:
“I am humbled to have served as the Board Chair of AO Spine North America. It has been incredibly rewarding to work for and with all of my friends these past few years. While it definitely has its challenges, it’s really fun to be able to do this kind of work and make a difference.”
Photo Diary: 2025 AO Spine Fellows in Davos
This year, a group of six surgeons from across the region were selected as the AO Spine North America Davos Fellows, and attended the AO Spine Advanced Course—Cervical Spine: Dealing with Complex, Revision and Deformity Problems in Davos, Switzerland! This annual program includes 1.5 days of interactive discussions and one full day of hands-on exercises on human anatomical specimens.
In addition to skill-building, this immersive opportunity has a valuable social and networking emphasis. The Davos courses bring together emerging spine surgeons from around the world, offering an opportunity to learn alongside international peers, and deepen involvement in the AO community. There is also guidance and interaction with expert surgeons, esteemed educators, and leaders within AO Spine.
Among the prominent faculty that this year’s fellows connected with was North America’s own Dr. Bradley Jacobs, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Spine Program at the University of Calgary, who has served on the AO Spine NA Fellowship committee and is currently Chair-Elect of the AO Spine North America Education Committee.
Dr. R. Adams Cowley, an orthopedic spine fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, shared insight into this unique educational experience, calling his selection as an 2025 AO Spine NA Davos Fellow “an honor and a privilege.” Learn more about Dr. Cowley’s transformative time in Davos.
Other highlights from the Fellows’ experience are documented below, including moments from the Opening Ceremony, AO Davos Courses Night, and tours of AO’s Davos Congress Centre and other world-class facilities. These snapshots illustrate moments of connection during a busy and impactful time abroad.
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The 2025 AO Spine NA Fellows gather with Dr. Bradley Jacobs for an inaugural group photo. Pictured (L to R): Dr. Muhammad Padela, Dr. Hansen Deng, Dr. Gabrielle Santangelo, Dr. Elliot Johns, Dr. Renzo Laynes, |
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A few of this year’s cohort pictured at the Opening Ceremony, where the AO President and other leaders welcome participants, faculty, industrial partners, and special guests to kick off the AO Davos Courses. |
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The Fellows attended AO Davos Course Night, an evening dedicated to exploring the AO experience and engaging with participants, faculty, and the wider AO community. |
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The Fellows were joined by Dr. Jacobs for a festive photo opportunity at AO Course Night. |
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The group took a moment to appreciate the alpine landscape of the surrounding area outside of the Davos Hospital. |
Registration Open: OneAO® 2026
OneAO® 2026 brings together surgeon leaders from every AO-supported specialty for a transformative, multidisciplinary experience. Prepare for an exceptional experience of learning, networking, and professional growth in the beautiful city of Tampa, Florida.
This flagship event is where collaboration, innovation, and professional growth intersect — uniting experts, mentors, and rising leaders shaping the future of surgical excellence. This year’s theme centers on human performance and the factors that drive exceptional outcomes in high-stakes environments. Renowned speakers, researchers, and frontline leaders will explore resilience, grit, decision-making under pressure, and the behaviors that elevate individuals and teams.
The main event will take place from April 29-30, 2026. We will also offer a range of specialized courses before and after the main event on April 27-29 and May 1-3, 2026.
Call for Applications: Fellowship Funding
Application open from November 1, 2025—January 31, 2026
Applications are now being accepted for your incoming spine fellow(s) to become an AO Spine North America Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year. The award provides educational support and access to high-quality AO Spine North America (AO SNA) educational content and courses. In addition, the institution will receive funds to support the high caliber of intensive learning opportunities for orthopedic and neurosurgeons as they pursue a career in spine surgery.
Quality, consistency, and evidence of academic and scientific excellence at the institution for the fellow are taken into consideration as part of the peer-reviewed selection process by our AO SNA Fellowship Committee. It will be the responsibility of the fellowship site and its Program Director to ensure that the fellow selected is conversant in principles, indications, planning, techniques, and complications of spinal surgery at the completion of his/her fellowship.
A limited number of awards are available, and funding will continue down the ranked list of institutions until the available funds are exhausted.
Benefits of all awards:
Access to AO educational content, including the AO Global Diploma Program, the AO SNA webinar series, online AO educational materials, and AO library of references.
1. Invitation for one or more fellows (based on available capacity) to attend the AO SNA Fellows Course in Fall and the Banff Fellows Forum in Spring. Travel and hotel costs for invited fellows will be covered by AO SNA.
2. An AO SNA Fellowship certificate for each fellow in the fellowship program.
3. An AO Global Spine Diploma Program for each fellow.
Expectations of all awards:
Each fellow in the fellowship program is expected to:
1. Participate in the AO Global Diploma Program. This is standardized course content for spine surgery to ensure all AO Fellows have the highest quality and breadth of spine education.
2. Attend AO SNA Fellows Global Diploma webinars and online educational meetings with an attendance rate of at least 80%.
3. Complete a self-assessment at the beginning and end of the fellowship year.
Each director will be required to complete a mid-year and end-of-year evaluation of each fellow as well as submit a final financial report at the end of the academic year (if funding is awarded).
Application Process
Our fellowship application process is online. The individual completing the application must apply using the link provided. Additional users may be added as a collaborator to help complete the application.