AO Foundation

About the AO:

The AO is the premier innovator in the surgical treatment of bone fractures and disorders. Innovation at the AO goes from bench to bedside, including basic research, product development, clinical validation, and valorization.

Today we have a global network of over 215,000 health care professionals. Each year we offer over 830 educational events around the world, supported by nearly 9,000 faculty and attended by over 58,000 participants. We have 20,000 surgeon members working in the fields of trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, veterinary, and reconstructive surgery.

Organizational structure and governance:

The AO is structure reflects those areas in which it is active. The AO’s institutes, clinical divisions, clinical unit, and initiatives conduct research, development, education, clinical investigation and approval of new devices or methods. Management boards support, supervise, and ensure the AO’s diverse activities are carried out efficiently and effectively.

Corporate social responsibility:

The AO is proud to be a good corporate citizen in all geographies where it has a presence. From energy-saving initiatives at its headquarters in Davos (Switzerland), to projects in Malawi, and targeted initiatives in key locations across the world, the AO remains driven by its founders’ passion for improving lives.

The AO’s greatest CSR contribution is its continuing support for the AO Alliance Foundation, a developmental non-profit organization dedicated to improving fracture care in low and middle income countries.

Carbon compensation is the second biggest CSR activity at the AO. Since 2013, the AO has voluntarily offset part of its carbon footprint, and energy saving at the AO Center in Davos has been underway since 2007, achieving significant reductions.

The AO believes in good citizenship locally, as well as globally, and is proud to support HCD with comprehensive sports medical care for HCD juniors, and also to support ARGO, a foundation with commercial workshops and residential homes for adults with disabilities in Davos.

Our surgeon faculty and board members are able to donate a percentage of their per diems to support the AO’s CSR activities.

AO regions:

As the AO’s activities grew and diversified, defined AO regions were established in order to provide more localized support.  There are five AO Regions: Asia Pacific, Europe and Southern Africa, Latin America, Middle East and Northern Africa, and North America.

These regional departments, supported by specialist staff in Switzerland, help make the AO more relevant in their geographies.