To make sure AO CMF faculty members have the right tools to shine—whether they are on the big stage at FACE AHEAD 2021 or leading a live webinar— the clinical division in September 2019 piloted a totally new session on media skills, especially tailored to meet the needs of surgeons involved in education and public speaking in today’s online environment.

During the AO CMF European Faculty summit in Toledo, Spain, the new concept was put to the test—much to the delight of the media-savvy summit participants. For the session, AO CMF teamed up with Russell Wardrop, a leading business speaker who has delivered training at the highest levels. Experienced in analyzing and unpacking what makes world leaders effective speakers, Wardrop has made numerous televised appearances, offering critiques of high-profile debates and political speeches. In Toledo, he shared his best public speaking tips and tricks with the group.

The session was realized in collaboration with the AO Education Institute and covered everything from moderating a webinar and telling a compelling story on stage to looking good on camera—all skills that are expected to come in handy for educators in today’s fast-changing online world.