Kosciusko Leadership Academy met at the Ivy Tech Community College/Orthopedic & Advanced Manufacturing Training Center to learn about the Orthopaedic industry. Pictured from left are: KLA Cadet Alice Hitchcock, Lake City Bank; Guest speaker Brad Bishop, Executive Director OrthoWorx; Seth Nash, Global Sales, Zimmer Biomet; Bob Hastings, Research Director, DePuy Synthes; and KLA Cadet Mitchell Randall, Ivy Tech Community College student.

By JONI TRUEX
Kosciusko Leadership Academy Public Relations Director

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The world of the orthopedic business was the topic for a recent Kosciusko Leadership Academy meeting.

Seth Nash, global sales, Zimmer Biomet, offered a global perspective and introspective look at the U.S. market. Nash stated the focus areas include transformative technology, demographic drivers, policy and access to care, changing customer dynamics and doing the right thing. From a world perspective Brazil, Russia, and China have dense populations and the income levels to afford orthopedic care. Global growth of population and income shows increases and continued growth capabilities. Huge amount of growth as world population continues to increase. In Shanghai, Rolex watches, Prada bags, and Lamborghinis are common.

Nash stated the following factors: aging population, increasing obesity, limited activity levels, and demographic drivers, indicate an amazing growth potential in the industry. A very high percentage of patients undergoing knee and hip replacements return to work in order to pay for the surgeries. Joint replacement procedures were considered the heart and soul of orthopedic manufacturing.

Now, the external pressures have changed the perspective to encompass all factors. The formula for success now includes the original innovative products, surgeon relationships, plus all of the other factors. If you earn $50,000 income per year, you are richer than 95 percent of the people in the world.

Bob Hastings, research director, DePuy Synthes, provided a history of the Orthopedic Industry in Kosciusko County. Warsaw is the Orthopaedic Capital of the world due to the largest concentration of orthopaedic headquarters, manufacturers and providers, even with the consolidations that continue to occur in the industry.

In 1895, Revra DePuy operated DePuy Manufacturing out of Hotel Hayes. Revra started his entrepreneurship by inventing a method to sugar coat pills. In 1904, DePuy moves back to Warsaw from Michigan. DePuy manufactured metal wire splints out of aluminum. As time went by, several companies were started from DePuy. Since the late 1990s, there have been many acquisitions, some mergers and consolidations. Major consolidations occurred in 2012 and 2014. Orthopedic companies continue to keep core businesses in Warsaw, but expand their international presence.

Brad Bishop, executive director, OrthoWorx, provided information about OrthoWorx which was formed to promote, protect and advance the Orthopedic industry. OrthoWorx continues to create and maintain orthopaedic industry relationships with all ortho companies and to the community.

Bishop stated OrthoWorx is focusing on five strategic areas: Education and workforce development; innovation and entrepreneurship; community enhancement; transportation and logistics and branding and awareness. OrthoWorx is also partnering with Indiana colleges to recruit and keep college graduates in our state.

Working with Ivy Tech Community College and the OAMTC, OrthoWorx is emphasizing career opportunities and changing the perception of manufacturing facilities. ThinkOrtho Initiative has been introduced with new printed material and a video.

KLA is a not for profit organization devoted to serving Kosciusko County by encouraging leaders and future leaders to dream and create a better community through white paper projects.