2026 ISAKOS Regional Summit - Mumbai, India

Sachin Tapasvi, MBBS, MS, DNB, FRCS, INDIA David A. Parker, MBBS, BMedSc, FRACS, AUSTRALIA

ISAKOS eNewsletters   eNewsletter Article 2026   rating

A Historic Milestone in Global Orthopaedic Education

The inaugural ISAKOS Regional Summit 2026, held from 4th to 6th June 2026 at the iconic The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake, marked a defining moment in the history of orthopaedic education and international collaboration. As the first-ever ISAKOS Regional Summit of its kind to be organized anywhere in the world and the first such initiative to be hosted in India, the meeting represented a landmark achievement for the global orthopaedic community and reaffirmed ISAKOS’ commitment to advancing education, innovation, and international cooperation.

Over three extraordinary days, Mumbai transformed into the global epicentre of arthroscopy, sports medicine, and arthroplasty, bringing together leading surgeons, researchers, educators, physiotherapists, fellows, residents, and industry innovators from around the world. The summit provided a unique platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, discussing contemporary challenges, and exploring future directions in musculoskeletal healthcare.

The remarkable success of the summit reflected not only the growing influence of ISAKOS as a global educational society but also India’s emergence as a preferred destination for world-class scientific meetings. From inspiring keynote lectures and thought-provoking debates to hands-on workshops and engaging Fireside Chats, every aspect of the summit was meticulously designed to foster learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Visionary Leadership Behind the Summit

The success of an event of this magnitude is built upon vision, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The entire scientific framework and educational structure of the ISAKOS Regional Summit 2026 were carefully guided and formulated under the stewardship of Summit Directors Dr. David Parker and Dr. Sachin Tapasvi.

Their collective vision was to create an academic experience that would seamlessly integrate global expertise with regional perspectives while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and educational value. Months of meticulous planning, faculty engagement, scientific deliberations, and organizational efforts culminated in a programme that successfully addressed the most relevant and contemporary topics in orthopaedic surgery.

The summit also received invaluable guidance and unwavering support from the President of ISAKOS, Dr. João Espregueira Mendes, whose commitment to advancing orthopaedic education globally was evident throughout the meeting. His leadership and encouragement elevated the summit to an international platform, fostering collaboration between surgeons, institutions, and societies across continents.

Together, Dr. David Parker, Dr. Sachin Tapasvi, and Dr. João Espregueira Mendes created a scientific platform that truly embodied the core values of ISAKOS—education, innovation, mentorship, collaboration, and excellence. Their collective leadership transformed a visionary concept into a historic reality and established a benchmark for future ISAKOS Regional Summits worldwide.

Historic Participation from Across the Globe

One of the most remarkable achievements of the summit was the unprecedented response from the international orthopaedic fraternity.

The ISAKOS Regional Summit 2026 welcomed a historic 1,389 registered delegates, making it one of the largest and most successful educational meetings ever conducted under the ISAKOS banner. Delegates travelled from across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, creating a truly global academic environment.

The attendee profile reflected the multidisciplinary nature of contemporary orthopaedic care. Participants included sports medicine specialists, arthroscopy surgeons, arthroplasty experts, rehabilitation professionals, physiotherapists, researchers, fellows, postgraduate trainees, and healthcare innovators. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences enriched discussions, promoted collaborative learning, and strengthened international professional relationships.

The enthusiasm of delegates was evident from the inaugural ceremony until the closing session. Lecture halls remained full throughout the congress, workshops witnessed active participation, and networking areas became vibrant centres for academic discussions and collaboration. The record-breaking attendance served as a testament to both the quality of the scientific programme and the trust placed in ISAKOS as one of the world’s leading orthopaedic educational societies.

A Distinguished International Faculty

The summit was privileged to host an exceptional international faculty comprising 17 globally renowned experts specializing in knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy, sports medicine, joint preservation, and arthroplasty.

These faculty members represented some of the world’s most respected institutions and centres of excellence. Their participation elevated the academic standards of the meeting and provided delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from pioneers who have significantly influenced contemporary orthopaedic practice.

A defining feature of the summit was the invaluable contribution of the International Scientific Committee Chairs, whose dedication and meticulous planning played a pivotal role in shaping an exceptional scientific programme.

The Knee Scientific Committee was expertly chaired by Dr. Maria Tuca (Chile), Dr. James Robinson (United Kingdom), and Dr. Daniel Wascher (USA). Through their collective expertise, vision, and academic leadership, they curated a comprehensive programme encompassing the latest advances in sports knee surgery, arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, meniscal preservation, osteotomies, joint preservation, and arthroplasty. Their commitment ensured that every scientific session reflected the highest standards of evidence-based orthopaedic practice.

Similarly, the Shoulder Scientific Committee was led by Dr. Giovanni Di Giacomo (Italy) and Dr. Denny Lie (Singapore). Their outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment resulted in a world-class shoulder programme covering shoulder instability, rotator cuff pathology, sports injuries, shoulder arthroplasty, complex reconstructive procedures, and emerging innovations. Their careful planning and faculty coordination contributed immensely to the academic success of the congress.

Throughout the summit, the international faculty shared their expertise through keynote lectures, panel discussions, instructional sessions, surgical technique demonstrations, debates, and interactive case discussions. Beyond the lecture halls, they remained highly approachable, generously interacting with delegates during workshops, networking sessions, and informal discussions, thereby creating an inspiring atmosphere of mentorship and collaboration.

Celebrating National Excellence

Complementing the international faculty was a distinguished panel of 54 esteemed national faculty members, representing the very best of Indian orthopaedics.

These respected surgeons, educators, and thought leaders played a pivotal role in the scientific success of the summit. Through keynote lectures, panel discussions, debates, instructional sessions, and case-based presentations, they contributed immensely towards delivering a scientifically rich and clinically relevant programme.

The seamless integration of international expertise with national perspectives created a balanced educational experience that resonated strongly with delegates. It demonstrated India’s growing academic strength and reinforced the country’s emergence as a global leader in orthopaedic education.

Industry Partnership: Advancing Education and Innovation

A key contributor to the success of the summit was the participation of 36 distinguished industry partners, whose unwavering support played a vital role in fostering education, technological innovation, and professional growth.

The exhibition area became a vibrant hub showcasing the latest developments in arthroscopy, arthroplasty, robotics, navigation systems, biologics, rehabilitation technologies, surgical instrumentation, and digital healthcare solutions.

Industry-sponsored educational initiatives, technology demonstrations, and interactive learning platforms enabled delegates to experience firsthand the innovations shaping the future of orthopaedic surgery. Their enthusiastic participation significantly enriched the educational experience and reflected a shared commitment towards improving patient care through continuous innovation.

The Organizing Committee sincerely acknowledges all industry partners for their invaluable support in making this historic educational endeavour an outstanding success.

A Spectacular Opening Day

The summit commenced with one of the most inspiring and memorable scientific programmes of the entire meeting.

The opening day featured an outstanding plenary lecture by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala on the topic “Return to Performance after Orthopaedic Injuries in Elite Athletes – Strategies and Execution.” Drawing upon his vast experience in managing elite international athletes, Dr. Pardiwala delivered remarkable insights into evidence-based rehabilitation, multidisciplinary coordination, performance optimisation, return-to-play strategies, and the evolving role of orthopaedic surgeons in elite sports. His thought-provoking presentation was exceptionally well received and set an inspiring academic tone for the remainder of the congress.

This was followed by one of the most anticipated sessions of the summit — the plenary discussion on “Sports Injuries in Elite Sports Stars – Impact, Prevention and Management.”

The distinguished panel included:

• Saina Nehwal – Former World No.1 Badminton Player and Olympic Medallist
• Irfan Pathan – Ace Indian Test Cricketer, Commentator and Analyst
• Viren Rasquinha – Former Captain of the Indian National Hockey Team
• John Gloster – Former Physiotherapist of the Indian Cricket Team and Head of Medical & Sports Sciences

The session captivated delegates from beginning to end. Through personal experiences, professional insights, and engaging discussions, the panel explored the realities of elite sport, injury prevention, rehabilitation challenges, psychological resilience, and multidisciplinary management.

This unique interaction between elite athletes and sports medicine experts became one of the defining highlights of the summit and received overwhelming appreciation from delegates and faculty alike.

A Scientifically Rich and Engaging Programme

The scientific programme was meticulously curated to address the most contemporary and evolving topics in orthopaedics.

Across three intensive days, delegates participated in:

• Keynote lectures
• Expert panel discussions
• Clinical case reviews
• Surgical video demonstrations
• Evidence-based debates
• Consensus discussions
• Interactive audience engagement sessions
• Practical problem-solving forums

The programme covered sports knee surgery, ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration, meniscal preservation, shoulder instability, rotator cuff pathology, osteotomies, joint preservation, primary and revision arthroplasty, robotic-assisted surgery, navigation technologies, rehabilitation protocols, and future innovations.

Particularly popular were the debate sessions, which challenged conventional thinking and encouraged evidence-based clinical decision-making. The case discussion sessions equally attracted enthusiastic participation, allowing delegates to observe expert reasoning while managing complex real-life clinical scenarios.

The programme consistently maintained an outstanding balance between scientific rigor, practical relevance, and interactive learning.

Packed ICL Breakfast Sessions

Among the most appreciated educational initiatives were the Instructional Course Lecture (ICL) Breakfast Sessions.

Despite their early morning schedule, every session witnessed packed auditoriums filled to capacity. Delegates greatly appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with internationally renowned faculty in an intimate and interactive learning environment.

The topics ranged from fundamental concepts to advanced surgical strategies, enabling participants to gain practical insights, discuss challenging cases, and learn valuable surgical pearls from global experts.

The phenomenal response to these sessions reflected the delegates’ enthusiasm for focused, high-quality education.

Fireside Chats and Meaningful Conversations

The evening Industry Sponsored Fireside Chats emerged as another defining feature of the summit.

Designed as relaxed yet intellectually stimulating discussions, these sessions created an ideal platform for meaningful conversations between faculty, delegates, and industry experts.

Every Fireside Chat attracted a jam-packed audience. Delegates appreciated the opportunity to hear internationally renowned surgeons discuss surgical philosophy, leadership, innovation, complications, mentorship, and lessons learned throughout distinguished careers.

These sessions reinforced that some of the most impactful learning often occurs beyond traditional lecture halls.

Simulation, Workshops and Hands-On Learning

Recognizing the importance of practical skill development, the summit incorporated extensive opportunities for experiential learning.

Advanced virtual surgical simulators became one of the most popular attractions, allowing delegates to experience contemporary simulation-based surgical training and refine technical skills in a safe educational environment.

The congress also featured multiple day-long workshops focusing on emerging surgical techniques, arthroscopy, arthroplasty technologies, and procedural innovations. Delegates enthusiastically interacted with faculty experts while gaining invaluable practical exposure.

Together, simulation technology, workshops, and faculty mentorship created a comprehensive educational experience extending far beyond conventional classroom teaching.

Fostering Collaboration and Building the Future

Beyond the outstanding scientific programme, the summit served as an exceptional platform for networking, mentorship, and international collaboration.

Faculty members remained highly accessible throughout the congress, interacting with delegates during scientific sessions, workshops, exhibitions, networking events, and informal discussions.

Young surgeons, fellows, and postgraduate trainees particularly benefited from these interactions, gaining invaluable mentorship and inspiration from internationally renowned leaders. The spirit of camaraderie, friendship, and academic collaboration reflected the very essence of ISAKOS and its unwavering commitment to nurturing future generations of orthopaedic surgeons.

A Historic Legacy

As the curtains came down on the inaugural ISAKOS Regional Summit 2026, it became abundantly clear that the meeting had exceeded every expectation.

The summit successfully united 1,389 delegates, 17 internationally renowned faculty, 54 distinguished national faculty, and 36 valued industry partners in an extraordinary celebration of education, innovation, and global collaboration. From the inspiring plenary lecture by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, to the captivating sports legends session featuring Saina Nehwal, Irfan Pathan, Viren Rasquinha, and John Gloster; from the intellectually stimulating debates and keynote lectures to the packed ICL Breakfast Sessions, Fireside Chats, virtual simulators, and hands-on workshops—every element contributed towards making the congress a historic success.

More importantly, the summit demonstrated the transformative power of international collaboration and reaffirmed the role of ISAKOS as a global leader in orthopaedic education. It showcased India’s capability to host scientific meetings of the highest international standards while fostering an atmosphere of warmth, inclusivity, academic excellence, and lifelong professional relationships.

The inaugural ISAKOS Regional Summit in Mumbai was not merely a scientific conference—it was a defining movement in global orthopaedic education. It established a new benchmark for future ISAKOS Regional Summits, strengthened international partnerships, inspired future generations of surgeons, and advanced the collective mission of improving musculoskeletal care worldwide.

As delegates returned to their respective countries carrying new knowledge, fresh perspectives, meaningful collaborations, and unforgettable memories, they also carried with them the legacy of a truly historic meeting—one that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most significant milestones in the global journey of orthopaedic education and excellence.

The resounding success of this inaugural summit has laid a strong foundation for future ISAKOS Regional Summits and reaffirmed the Society’s enduring vision of bringing world-class orthopaedic education closer to surgeons across the globe. Its legacy will continue to inspire innovation, collaboration, and excellence in musculoskeletal care for years to come.