APRIL 24, 2026- Orthopaedic surgeons, researchers, and health care executives from some of the world’s leading musculoskeletal institutions gathered in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, from April 15 to 18 for the 12th Conference of the International Society of Orthopaedic Centers, known as ISOC. Held every 18 months, the meeting has become a quiet but influential forum where global leaders in orthopaedic care compare approaches, share hard-earned lessons, and consider the future of their field.
ISOC was founded in 2006 by Thomas P. Sculco, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery, and is currently led by Mathias P. Bostrom, MD, HSS Associate Surgeon-in-Chief. Though independently incorporated as a nonprofit organization, the society continues to draw significant administrative and intellectual support from HSS, including leadership from administrators Briana Bloom and Nicole Earley. Today, ISOC’s 23 member centers span multiple continents and represent a collaborative network committed to advancing musculoskeletal care through shared knowledge and collective ambition.
This year’s conference unfolded around the theme Beyond the Bone: The Power of Corporate Culture in Orthopaedic Care, reflecting a growing recognition that excellence in patient outcomes depends as much on institutional culture as on surgical technique. Led by Drs. Tim Simmers and Mark Stegman of the Sint Maartenskliniek, the program explored topics ranging from organizational identity and safety systems to physician well-being and workforce sustainability. Steven Forti, Chief Wellness and Resiliency Officer at HSS, presented the hospital’s widely recognized approach to clinician wellness, an area of increasing urgency across medicine.
Beyond the formal sessions—which included more than 100 presentations, research discussions, roundtables, and keynote lectures—the conference placed equal weight on conversation and connection. The result was both an exchange of ideas and a renewal of professional bonds across borders. With six ISOC centers ranked among the world’s top specialized orthopaedic hospitals by Newsweek, the meeting underscored the society’s role as a convening force for many of the field’s most influential voices.
Next year will mark a milestone for the organization. In 2027, ISOC will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its first conference, held in New York City in 2007 and hosted by HSS. To commemorate the occasion, member institutions will once again convene in New York, where HSS will host the 13th ISOC Conference—bringing the society back to where its global experiment in collaboration began.
HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 16th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2025-2026), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2025-2026). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.
