Highlights from the 15th Annual Emily Berend Adult Reconstruction Symposium (EBARS)

EBARS 25 Recap
(l to r): Nicholas Bedard, MD; Andrew Schwartz, MD; Jeffrey Hodrick, MD; Thorsten Seyler, MD; Adam Brekke, MD; Doug Padgett, MD; Michael Berend, MD; Nate Heckmann, MD; Keith Berend, MD; Jeremy Gililland, MD; Sam Wellman, MD, and Michael Bolognesi, MD.

The 15th annual Emily Berend Adult Reconstruction Symposium (EBARS), presented by the Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Adult Reconstruction Service, gathered orthopaedic surgeons, surgeons-in-training, and advanced practice providers to share expertise. This comprehensive course, supported by Duke Ortho Residency alumni Dr. Mike Berend and Dr. Keith Berend in honor of their mother, Emily, focused on advancing education in hip, knee, and shoulder replacement. The event highlighted innovative techniques, patient care strategies, and cutting-edge research.

Berend brothers
(l to r) Michael Berend, MD '92, HS '92-'98 and Keith Berend, MD '97, HS '97-'02.

Program Highlights:

  • Keynote Address: Dr. Douglas Padgett, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery, delivered an inspiring keynote address, sharing his career lessons on improving patient care safety and efficiency entitled "Retrievals, Recalls, and Regrets." Under the programmatic theme “The Delivery of Orthopaedic Care," Dr. Padgett's 
  • Regenerative Medicine Advances: Dr. Ben Alman, Duke Orthopaedic Surgery Chair, showcased groundbreaking research on biologic injections for osteoarthritis treatment. The innovative therapy, Cartivive™, is under FDA review and hopes to be approved by 2033.
  • OR Strategy and Perioperative Care: Dr. Alison Toth, Duke Surgeon-in-Chief, provided updates on optimizing operating room performance and uniting Duke’s perioperative services.
  • Values-Based Care: Dr. Chad Mather emphasized the importance of delivering quality, holistic patient care that integrates therapies and guidance, ensuring lasting benefits.
  • Concierge Medicine: Dr. Keith Berend shared insights on improving patient outcomes through personalized strategies, including pre-operative nutrition programs and efficient communication systems.
  • AI-Driven Population Health Management: Dr. Christian Pean introduced the concept of care navigation infrastructure, leveraging data-driven insights and generative AI to streamline musculoskeletal care and address fragmented care cycles.
EBARS 25 awards
(l to r) Christine Wu, PGY4; Michael Bolognesi, MD; Allen Champagne, PGY3; Aaron Hofmann, MD; Erin Hofmann; Thorsten Seyler, MD, and Sean Ryan, MD.

The symposium recognized excellence through insightful case presentations from residents and fellows and medical student research abstracts. It also featured and presented the third annual Aaron A. Hofmann Family Fund Resident Research Grant in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

We congratulate:

  • Medical Student Abstract Winner: Kate Kutzer, MS3
    Abstract: Global Variations in Preoperative Imaging for Total Hip Arthroplasty: Influences of Diagnosis Technology and Surgeon Training
  • Aaron A. Hofmann Family Grant Recipients: Dr. Allen Champagne, PGY2, and Dr. Christine Wu, PGY4
  • Resident Case Presentation Winner: Dr. Lindsey Droz, PGY3

Guest faculty presenters included esteemed professionals such as Dr. Nicholas Bedard (Mayo Clinic), Dr. Jeremy Gililland (University of Utah), Dr. Nathanael Heckman (Keck School of Medicine – USC), Dr. Aaron Hofmann (Hofmann Arthritis Institute), and Dr. Jeffrey Hodrick (Southern Joint Replacement Institute).

Reflecting on the program’s ongoing success, course director and Duke Orthopaedics Adult Reconstruction Division Chief Dr. Michael Bolognesi stated, “This is the future of adult reconstruction. I am proud that we gather annually to learn, network, and share knowledge. Our patients deserve only the best.”

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