AO Foundation

The AO Foundation is a medically guided nonprofit organization based in Davos (CH), led by an international group of surgeons specialized in the treatment of trauma and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

It was founded in 1958 by a group of surgeons who pioneered a new system of operative fracture fixation that radically improved patients' quality of life.

The first AO Davos Courses were offered in 1960, and now the AO hosts over 830 educational events annually worldwide with over 54,000 participating surgeons.

With a membership of over 20,000 surgeons, operating room personnel, and scientists, and an extensive network of more than 170,000 health care professionals in 124 countries the AO builds on its legacy every day – raising standards in hospitals globally and developing innovative treatments to improve patient outcomes.