Studies Shed Light on Late-Onset Infection

While the spine industry has focused on 3D printed cages, enabling technology and minimally invasive surgery, it has forgotten a critical priority: infection prevention, says Aakash Agarwal, Ph.D., Director of Research at Spinal Balance.

What is the Future of Orthopedic Innovation? Lessons from HSS

In moving to the provider side of orthopedics after spending decades in industry, Doug Leach has learned a valuable lesson: Partner with providers. Not just the surgeon.

Spinal Kinetics Founder Shares Keys to Startup Success

Many of the lessons that Tom Afzal has applied throughout his career he learned while working at American Hospital Supply Corporation—one of the largest medical device companies in the ‘70s-‘80s—his first professional position after college. As part of a management path program, Mr. Afzal was required to work in many functional areas of the company—sales, marketing, finance, production, R&D, quality, etc.

Member Success Story: Marty Altshuler Shares Lessons Learned in Building a Spine Company

Marty Altshuler and Rick Henson were given an opportunity to acquire spinal products and transition from distributorship to a full line implant manufacturing company. They made the deal and founded ChoiceSpine back in 2006.

3 Questions on the Spine Reimbursement Environment

The spine market’s evolving reimbursement landscape can be hard for device companies and surgeons to navigate. While at NASS, we asked reimbursement expert Kim Norton for a high-level view of the reimbursement shifts taking place today. Ms. Norton is Vice President of Reimbursement for Simplify Medical and serves as a consultant, including in reimbursement and payor relations for Aesculap.

Orthopedic Market Forces to Watch: A Conversation with Ali Madani

The growth of robotics, additive, outsourcing and mid-sized device companies and contract manufacturers are among the main narratives that we-like Mr. Madani-expect will shape industry dynamics in the coming years.

Orthopedic Players Say Industry is Ripe for Business Model, Supply Chain Disruption

Ortho Spine Partners' business model is new to us. Using complementary perspectives from device company and hospital purchasing sides as a team approach, they serve as hired strategists and executors for product commercialization and corporate activities. Orthopedics is a relationship-driven industry, and the modern sales process requires different relationships. OSP's leadership is betting that its surgeon, hospital, sales rep and device company contacts, as well as its out-of-the-box thinking, can be leveraged to provide small partnering companies with national scale typically not attainable by young companies.