When the AAOS and other orthopaedic associations moved into the new orthopaedic headquarters building in December 2014, the Orthopaedic Learning Center (OLC)—a global leader for laboratory-based medical/surgical learning since 1994—also got a new home.

Located on the building’s first floor, the OLC Education & Conference Center, as it is now known, is twice the size of the old facility. Although it has a new address and new name, the OLC’s objective remains largely the same.

“The mission of the OLC is to provide an accessible, world-class forum for meetings and education,” said Lise Puckorius, CMP, OLC chief executive officer.

The centerpiece of the OLC is the 6,000 square-foot state-of-the-art Bio-Skills Training Lab that holds up to 96 participants and features 24 fully equipped workstations that can be divided into two 12-station labs to accommodate multiple events simultaneously. The lab also offers large-format high-definition display with four DLP (digital light processing) projectors, eight 80-inch retractable LED displays, and two 30-inch-wide imaging screens. Lab support facilities include a clean/staging room, decontamination room, anatomic storage area, and men’s and women’s locker rooms.

“The new OLC is an amazing educational venue and raises the bar for optimal, non-biased surgical training in an environment set up for maximum learning,” said Felix H. Savoie III, MD, president of the OLC.

Adjacent to the Bio-Skills Training Lab is a demonstration station that can be used in conjunction with the lab or as a stand-alone studio for production projects. In addition to onsite training, the lab enables distance learning, including webcast functions and virtual/simulated surgeries. It can also be configured for research development, new surgical product and technique presentations, and other events.

“The entire OLC, including the training lab, is an incredibly well-run machine. OLC staff manage everything seamlessly, including huge amounts of equipment and medical supplies,” Ms. Puckorius said.

Annunziato Amendola, MD, who has experienced the new site firsthand, agrees.

“The facilities, technology, and most importantly, the staff expertise and equipment made the recent course we held at the OLC a huge success for faculty and participants,” he said. “The OLC is definitely designed to be the most comprehensive surgical and skills education center in the country.”

As a stand-alone entity, the new OLC is also an ideal forum for just about any type of conference, including training seminars, education sessions, live-streaming broadcasts, and off-site corporate meetings. Its 5,300-square-foot multipurpose meeting space includes a divisible 180-seat auditorium and two conference rooms, all equipped with the latest in audiovisual technology. Catering services are also available.

“Although the new OLC is a state-of-the-art venue for a variety of meetings and events, its primary purpose is medical/surgical learning and continuing medical education,” Ms. Puckorius said. “We want to create an environment where change takes place by providing cutting-edge technology and superior service in distraction-free surroundings.”

The AAOS, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine are equity partners in the OLC.

For more information about the OLC, visit www.OLCevents.com

Maureen Leahy is assistant managing editor of AAOS Now. She can be reached at leahy@aaos.org

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