OrthoWorx 2013 Plans: Our Dedication to Advancing Orthopedics for Generations to Come

OrthoWorx is Advancing Orthopedics for Generations to Come. Click on the image to view the Orthopedic Capital Infographic Video.

“Since its inception in 2009, OrthoWorx has worked collaboratively with the orthopedic industry and other area stakeholders to successfully develop numerous projects and studies. These have resulted in positive changes for the community and industry,” states Sheryl Conley, CEO of OrthoWorx.

“As our organization has matured, we have sharpened our focus to Advance Orthopedics for Generations to Come.”

We have also re-defined the following as five key initiative areas for OrthoWorx:
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Education and Workforce Development
• Community Enhancement
• Transportation and Logistics
• Branding and Awareness

This year’s key highlights for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative include:
• Continuing our feasibility studies on developing the Orthopedic Capital Clinic,™ an orthopedic specialty facility focused on clinical research, innovation and education;
• Continuing to lead a local consortium exploring the addition of an incubator/accelerator to the community;
• Formalizing our University Engagement efforts to create stronger alignment between the orthopedic industry and Indiana-based universities.

These projects are designed to create benefits for our community and the state as a whole, not just the orthopedic industry cluster.

OrthoWorx will continue its collaborative work with educators in our region, including Warsaw Community School System, Ivy Tech Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (OAMTC) and OrthoWorx Center of Excellence at Grace College. We are exploring ways to better integrate Education and Workforce Development and focusing on building upon the strong foundations already established. We will continue to work toward identifying pathways for students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields and manufacturing positions from pre-K to post-secondary education.

Our Community Enhancement Initiative this year includes numerous goals. We have initiated a daycare center feasibility study and will soon be launching a study about the feasibility of a community/arts/convention center in the region. Our Diversity Council will continue its involvement in downtown Warsaw’s First Friday events and also will be working toward new networking opportunities for people of diverse cultures. We will also continue our efforts to support the expansion of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Network in our region and the build-out of MyWarsaw.Net™ community website.

This year, in the area of transportation and logistics, we plan to broaden our focus from the area of passenger travel to include logistics, especially the movement of products and materials. We will continue our involvement with a number of regional initiatives seeking to improve the levels of passenger air service, re-establish passenger rail service and upgrade highway quality.

Branding and Awareness of the Warsaw region as The Orthopedic Capital of the World™ will continue through our OrthoWorxIndiana.com website and our Orthopedic Capital e-Newsletter. We are also forming a new OrthoWorx Signature Event Planning Team, comprised of OrthoWorx member organization representatives, to explore the possibility of an annual event or conference series to address areas of interest to the orthopedic community.

“We have an ambitious agenda for 2013, but it is critical that we build on the momentum we’ve established in and for our community,” comments Conley. “We believe in our mission to ensure Warsaw remains a thriving home for the orthopedic industry.”

For more information about the goals and initiatives of OrthoWorx, please click here.