Organizational structure
Learn more about the diversity, inclusion, and mentorship working group.
Steering Committee
Tim Pohlemann
AO Foundation Board representative
AO Foundation Immediate Past-President, Prof. em. Chair of Trauma Surgery Saarland University, Germany
Claudia Medina
Diversity and inclusion representative
Trauma and Orthopedic Surgeon Professor ad honorem, Traumatology, Universidad de Antioquia and Pontifica, Universidad Bolivariana, Colombia
Jaime Quintero L
Mentorship representative
Emeritus Professor Hospital Universitario San Rafael Bogota, Colombia, AO Foundation Past President, Past President and Honorary Member SCCOT
Eberhard Denk
AO Executive Committee representative
Executive Director Community & Governance, Director AO Trauma & AO Recon
Task forces
Purpose
The faculty and leader development task force is about empowering innovative and inclusive faculty and leaders who value our global community and the diversity of our healthcare workers and patients.
Objectives
To identify, support, and develop healthcare professionals with diverse backgrounds and continue to build an organization that reflects our global community to best provide medical care and education to our patients. The AO Access faculty and leader development programs will identify, design and develop diverse, inclusive, and equitable global teams to make a positive impact on patient care throughout our global community. AO is the environment for healthcare professionals to gather and share their knowledge and inspire innovation and excellence in education to deliver evidence-based approaches for best patient care. We take pride in developing passionate and talented groups of diverse faculties and leaders from every background dedicated to providing the best care to our patients and community.
Hector Aguado Hernandez
Task force lead
AO Trauma, Europe
MD, PhD
Assistant professor, orthopedic and trauma surgeon, Universitario Valladolid, Spain
Nicola Anne Kildea
AO Trauma Asia Pacific
ORP
Clinical nurse, orthopedic trauma and emergency theater, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia
Temiloluwa Olufemi
AO Trauma, Middle East and North Africa; AO Recon, Europe and Southern Africa
FWACS, Dip Ortho (SICOT), FMCOrtho
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi- Lagos
Alejandra Giselle Juarez Rebollar
AO CMF, Latin America
DDS/OMFS/Mcs, PG Clinical Research
Colegio de Odontólogos del Valle de México (COVAM) A.C.
Celesta Zamora
AO Spine, Latin America
Dr
German Hospital, Buenos Aires Argentina
“The AO has a long-standing history of excellence in developing great faculty and leaders. As the lead for the Faculty and Leader Development Task Force for AO Access, our work will be to figure out how best to leverage our existing solid and proven infrastructure to help attract, include, and promote a more diverse membership.”
Samantha Morello,
Past Faculty and leader development task force lead
Purpose
For the membership, leadership, and culture of AO to reflect the diversity and aspirations of its membership and the needs of the patient population that we serve.
Objectives
To provide guidance and advice to the Clinical Divisions and Clinical Unit to implement a clearly defined, fair and transparent pathway and practices for officer and faculty recruitment and selection that are harmonized and implemented across AO, using best practices that promote inclusivity and ensure equal opportunity.
Jess McCarthy
Task force lead
AO VET, North America
DVM, BVSc, ECVS, EBVS
Faculty, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, United States
Pedro Jorba
AO Trauma, Latin America
MD
Specialist doctor, orhtopedics and traumatology, Centro Médico ABC, Mexico City, Mexico
Carla Smith
AO Trauma, North America
MD, PhD
Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon, Luke’s Health System in Boise, Idaho, United States
Carlos A. Bagley
AO Spine, North America
Professor Neurological Surgery
Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Muhammad Asim Naqash
AO CMF, Asia Pacific
MD, FCPS, MBBS
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
Francisco Javier Gómez Torres
AO Recon, Latin America
MD
Specialist doctor, Hip and Knee preservation and reconstruction surgery
Hospital Angeles Pedregal, Mexico City, Mexico
“For the organization to leverage diversity and potential effectively, we need to ensure that the AO is seen as a community for lifelong learning, mentorship, and leadership. The Officer and Faculty Selection Task Force will identify challenges and obstacles to entry and progression for individuals who want to contribute to the work of the AO with the goal of creating transparency and equity for everyone who wants to participate.”
Matthew J Allen,
Past Officer and faculty selection processes task force lead
Purpose
Inspire and support the AO global community to collaboratively reach new heights (excellence) and fulfil personal and professional goals.
Objectives
Transform the lives of mentors and mentees through a global network that enables collaborative learning and facilitates personal and professional growth in an inclusive and sustainable way.
Lynette Spalding
Task force lead
AO Trauma Europa and Northern Africa
MBBS MRCSEd PGDip
NHS East of England
AO Trauma, Europe
David Hamlar
AO CMF, North America
MD, DDS
Craniofacial and skull base surgeon, Assistant professor, University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, United States
Waeel Hamouda
AO Spine, Middle East and Northern Africa
MBBCh, MSc, MD-PhD, FEBNS, FRCS(SN)Eng, ESBD, ESAD, AOS-GDP
Assistant professor of Neurosurgery, Cairo University, Egypt
Senior consultant, neurological and spinal surgery
Muhammad Arsalan Azmat Swati
AO Trauma, Middle East and Northern Africa
Registrar, Department of Orthopedics
Dr, MBBS, FCPS (Orthopedic surgery), MRCS (England)
SMTI Mardan Medical Complex, Pakistan
Sumit Banerjee
AO Trauma, Asia Pacific
MS, MCh
Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon and Professor of Orthopedics
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur
Francisco Javier Gómez Torres
AO Recon, Latin America
MD
Specialist doctor, Hip and Knee preservation and reconstruction surgery
Hospital Angeles Pedregal, Mexico City, Mexico
“The AO Access initiative was developed to attract the very best clinicians to our increasingly global, diverse, and inclusive member-based organization. I look forward to embracing everyone's thoughts and ideas as we develop our mentorship program. AO mentors will encourage and support your personal and professional growth throughout your lifelong journey of learning, teaching, research, and leadership.”
Marinis Pirpiris,
Past Mentorship task force lead
| Florian Gebhard, AO Trauma, ESA Steering Committee Chairperson, AO Past President 2023-2025 | |
 | Robert McGuire, AO Spine, NA Steering Committee Chairperson, AO Past President 2020 – 2024 Voices for change article |
 | Amy Kapatkin, AO VET, NA Diversity and inclusion representative at the AO Access Steering Committee 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
| Urs Rüetschi AO Executive Committee (AO EC) representative to the Steering Committee 2020-2024 | |
| Samantha Morello, AO VET, NA Faculty and leader development task force lead 2020-2024 | |
 | Matthew Allen, AO VET, ESA Officer and faculty selection processes task force lead 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
 | Marinis Pirpiris, AO Trauma, AP Mentorship task force lead 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
 | Emmanuel Menga, AO Spine, NA Faculty and leader development task force member 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
.jpg?h=600&iar=0&w=600&rev=eaabaf65af90415b9d7880ad3e2b3160&hash=9DF4B2E8E9D5AB64E60EBF602576EF34) | Lauren Tatman, AO Trauma, NA Officer and faculty selection processes task force member 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
| Saeed Qaimkhani, AO Spine, MENA Mentorship task force member 2020-2024 Voices for change article |
If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail.