Lead keynote surgeon adjusting lapel mic, hands gesturing mid-thought in diffused morning light

Surgical Innovation Summit

CONVENE

2026

September 14 – 16, 2026

The Langham, Chicago, Illinois

Early Bird Open

412 seats remaining

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Featured Speakers

The voices
shaping practice

24 presentations across cardiothoracic, neuro, transplant, trauma, and surgical education tracks.

Female surgeon in white coat standing in hospital corridor, confident posture

09:15

Dr. Miriam Osei-Bonsu

Minimally Invasive Cardiac

Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery · Northwestern Memorial Hospital

"Robotic-Assisted CABG: 500 Cases and What the Data Actually Shows"

A retrospective review of 500 consecutive robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass procedures reveals outcomes that challenge conventional wisdom on patient selection. We present mortality data, conversion rates, and the specific anatomical findings that should — and should not — change your practice tomorrow.

09:15 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Male doctor in scrubs reviewing tablet in surgical suite, focused expression

11:00

Prof. James Rutherford

Surgical Robotics & AI

Director, Surgical Robotics Lab · Johns Hopkins University

"When the Algorithm Disagrees: Intraoperative AI Decision Support"

Real-world deployment of intraoperative AI in 14 academic centers surfaced a critical question: when the model flags an anomaly your eyes do not see, what is the appropriate clinical response? This session presents a framework developed with input from 60 attending surgeons.

11:00 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Female physician in clinical setting with stethoscope, warm professional expression

14:30

Dr. Priya Venkataraman

Neuro-Oncology Surgery

Associate Professor, Neurosurgery · UCSF Medical Center

"Awake Craniotomy Protocols: Reducing Anxiety Without Compromising Mapping"

Patient anxiety during awake craniotomy directly impacts cortical mapping reliability. A prospective trial across three centers tested a structured pre-operative familiarisation protocol against standard care. The results reframe how we prepare patients — and ourselves.

14:30 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Male surgeon in operating theatre attire, standing with arms crossed, thoughtful gaze

16:00

Dr. Tobias Wehr

Organ Transplantation

Head of Transplant Surgery · University Hospital Zürich

"Extended Criteria Donors: Where the Line Moved in 2025"

Normothermic machine perfusion has shifted the boundary of what constitutes an acceptable donor organ. This presentation maps the protocol changes made at Zürich over 36 months, including the three cases that caused us to pause — and the two that made us accelerate.

16:00 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Female doctor in blue scrubs, standing in bright clinical environment, attentive look

10:00

Dr. Ama Quansah

Trauma & Acute Care

Clinical Director, Trauma Surgery · Grady Memorial Hospital

"Damage Control in Urban Trauma: Protocol Gaps That Cost Lives"

An audit of 2,200 penetrating trauma cases across six Level I centers found protocol adherence gaps at three specific decision points. Addressing two of them — identifiable in the first four minutes of resuscitation — is associated with a 19% reduction in 30-day mortality.

10:00 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Male physician in white coat standing in academic medical setting, professional demeanor

15:30

Prof. Daniel Sørensen

Simulation & Training

Professor of Surgical Education · Karolinska Institutet

"Competency-Based Progression: Retiring the Time-Based Model"

Five Scandinavian programs completed a five-year transition to fully competency-based surgical training. This session presents the metrics used, the political resistance encountered, and a practical roadmap for programs considering the shift.

15:30 — Day 1·Main Ballroom

Day 1 — September 14