OTW POD

OTW POD Episode 17 - Total Joint Orthopedics

In this episode, Robin sits down with Dr. Aaron Hofmann, an orthopedic surgeon whose four decades of innovation in large joint reconstruction have shaped the field in ways still felt today. Dr. Hofmann shares his journey from growing up on a small farm in Medina, North Dakota, to becoming a pioneering force in cementless fixation and knee system design. He reflects on how a childhood spent fixing everything himself, from farm equipment to electrical systems, laid the foundation for a career defined by mechanical thinking and creative problem solving. The conversation covers the development of the ultracongruent insert, the asymmetric tibial component, and the Natural Knee system, tracing how each innovation grew directly out of clinical challenges Dr. Hofmann encountered in practice. He also shares the story of Operation Walk Utah, the humanitarian chapter he founded to bring total joint replacement to underserved patients in El Salvador, and how the constraints of that work, limited inventory, minimal instruments, and improvised solutions, directly informed the design philosophy behind Total Joint Orthopedics. Together, Robin and Dr. Hofmann explore how TJO's universal knee, the Klassic® Knee System, with its single-instrument tray system, is built around the principle that less is more and addresses the challenges of ASCs. Dr. Hofmann discusses 10-year clinical outcomes, kinematic studies, and ongoing bone ingrowth research. The episode closes with a look ahead, and Dr. Hofmann's view on the future of orthopedics - making excellent care simpler, more accessible, and available to far more of the world's patients.

OTW POD Episode 16 - Orthopedic Driven Imaging

In this episode, TJ sits down with Scott Banks and Scott "Mac" McCaig, who are revolutionizing how surgeons understand and visualize joint motion.Scott Banks shares his remarkable 40-year journey from a Cleveland kid whose dad suffered through constant knee pain to becoming a pioneering biomechanics researcher at MIT and the University of Florida, and one of the rare non-surgeon members of the prestigious Knee Society. He recounts the pivotal 1989 moment when he first used fluoroscopy to capture knee motion in real-time, collaborating with orthopedic legends like Dick Laskin, Leo Whiteside, and Martin Roche to influence implant designs at companies from Mako to Smith & Nephew. At 60, facing a personal health scare, Banks made the bold decision to walk away from tenure to finally bring three decades of research out of academic journals and into clinical practice.Scott "Mac" McCaig brings the industry expertise to make that vision real, explaining how his journey from chemical engineering through Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical, and back again taught him that hardware in the OR is the key that tech giants like Google and Apple have been missing in healthcare. Together, they're building Orthopedic Driven Imaging (ODI), a company that has the ability to upgrade 23,000 C-arms across the country while developing AI-powered systems that capture how joints actually move during weight-bearing activities, not just static snapshots. They discuss their FDA-approved surgical imaging system already in use, their upcoming Academy debut of AI-enabled preoperative planning tools, and their bold prediction that within five years, surgeons will routinely prescribe dynamic kinematic exams the same way they order CT scans today, using digital twins to simulate procedures before ever entering the OR.To learn more about ODI, visit their website at https://linkly.link/2am6S.

OTW POD Episode 15 - 3D Systems

In this episode, TJ sits down with Ben Johnson from 3D Systems, who leads their medical device division and brings a fascinating perspective shaped by his journey from chemical engineering into the cutting edge of additive manufacturing. Ben shares how his early work on drug-eluting stents and transcatheter heart valves led him to discover the transformative potential of 3D printing when he needed patient-specific anatomies for bench testing, ultimately bringing him to 3D Systems in 2014. The conversation explores the evolution of additive manufacturing in orthopedics, from the company's founding in the mid-1980s with the invention of stereolithography to today's sophisticated capabilities across titanium, PEEK, and cobalt chrome materials. Ben provides valuable insights into the current market dynamics, explaining how titanium has surged from being overshadowed by PEEK a decade ago to now holding roughly half the spine market, driven by its superior osseointegration properties when 3D printed with porous structures. They dive deep into emerging technologies, particularly the exciting developments in HA-coated PEEK implants that combine the mechanical advantages and radiolucency of PEEK with enhanced biological integration. Ben discusses 3D Systems' recent white paper demonstrating successful osseointegration in both cortical and cancellous bone, and why he believes this technology will see heavy research and investment over the next five to ten years. The conversation also addresses the realities of personalization in orthopedics, with Ben offering a measured perspective on why point-of-care printing in hospitals faces significant regulatory and cost hurdles, while centralized hybrid models show more immediate promise. Perhaps most valuable for listeners is Ben's explanation of how 3D Systems partners across the entire spectrum of companies, from startups with napkin sketches to major OEMs. He details their comprehensive capabilities, from concept ideation and prototyping through validation, manufacturing, and even technology transfer, emphasizing their mission to solve unmet clinical needs whether that's faster osseointegration, oncology reconstruction, or supply chain challenges. It's a compelling look at how a manufacturing partner can accelerate innovation from concept to commercialization in orthopedics.

OTW POD Episode 14 - Dr. Kevin Plancher

In this episode, TJ sits down with Dr. Kevin Plancher, a dual board-certified orthopedic surgeon in both sports medicine and hand surgery. His remarkable journey spans from an asthmatic child spending time in ERs to becoming a Harvard-trained physician and globally recognized leader in orthopedics. Dr. Plancher shares how his mentors shaped his relentless drive to push boundaries and his unconventional path through medicine, fueled by curiosity. He also discusses his philosophy on creating the next generation of leaders by giving others opportunities, even when risky.The conversation explores Dr. Plancher's 15-year success building Ortho Summit (OSET) from a bold idea that industry said would never work into one of today's most popular conferences. Dr. Plancher candidly addresses the controversies and disagreements with AAOS, explaining his unwavering commitment to educational opportunities that serve all surgeons globally, regardless of organizational politics.Now, Dr. Plancher is launching the Global Knee Summit in Dubai this January 22-24, bringing together 125 faculty members from around the world, all volunteering their time to debate everything from kinematic alignment to complex trauma cases. They discuss why bringing East and West together matters, how he's making the conference accessible for everyone, and his vision for spatial recognition technology replacing robotic arms in the OR. Dr. Plancher believes the future of knee surgery will be disrupted by innovations we haven't even imagined yet—if we're willing to learn from each other with open minds and honest disagreement.Click here to learn more and register for the Global Knee Summit: https://linkly.link/2VuOU

OTW POD Episode 13 - Jantzen Cole

In this episode, TJ Halvorson sits down with Jantzen Cole, a medical device marketing leader whose career bridges engineering, sales, and creative strategy across Wright Medical, Zimmer, AmniOX, Artelon, and Kuros Biosciences.Jantzen shares how resource constraints at startup Artelon forced unconventional thinking—turning authenticity about their journey, including struggles with "10x10 booths in the back corner," into genuine connections that polished perfection never could. His decade in sales taught him that every marketing promise impacts the fragile trust reps build with surgeons, making the OR experience as critical as long-term outcomes.The conversation explores practical strategies: why "small is big enough" matters (Artelon pivoted from being generalists to owning lateral ankle reconstruction before expanding), how to use social media as a low-cost testing laboratory, and why LinkedIn outperforms other platforms for medical devices. Jantzen emphasizes building measurement systems around marketing intuition, viewing marketing as sales enablement, and giving sales teams a voice in strategy.For early-stage companies, his advice is clear: be honest about your journey, invest in your skill gaps, leverage affordable tools, and build networks that decentralize your message through authentic advocates.