Connecting, Learning, and Growing at the Southern Orthopaedic Association Meeting

From July 23–26, I had the opportunity to attend the Southern Orthopaedic Association (SOA) Annual Meeting on beautiful Marco Island, Florida. The setting was stunning, but the real highlight was the people and ideas shared over the course of the week.

The presentations were both engaging and insightful, covering emerging research, clinical techniques, and the latest advancements in orthopedic technology. It was inspiring to see how rapidly our field continues to evolve, with innovative solutions designed to improve patient outcomes and surgical precision. Dr. Jayish Patel presented on JOURNAVX, a new non-opioid drug used to treat moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults.

One of the highlights for me was connecting with colleagues at the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) and the Stryker’s Women’s Network meet-and-greets. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships within the orthopedic community.

Events like the SOA meeting are invaluable—not only for staying current on the latest developments in my field, but also for building the professional connections that help us better serve our patients. I left Marco Island energized and motivated, with fresh ideas to bring back to my own practice.