Device Nation Podcast

Truly a likeness that must be carved into Orthopedic Mt. Rushmore, Dr. Merrill Ritter.  We talk about his amazing career, Dane Miller, the Biomet AGC knee, Operation Walk, AAHKS, woodworking, Dr. Larry Dorr and so much more!

Kenyon College Tribute: http://bulletin-archive.kenyon.edu/x2705.html

Biomet AGC Results: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3978738/

JBJS Retirement Paper: https://www.jbjs.org/reader.php?rsuite_id=635518&source=The_Journal_of_Bone_and_Joint_Surgery/81/3/414&topics=hp+kn+pd#info

Marc Adams Woodwork Tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM34inb06TM

Thank you to our sponsor https://kinexmedical.com. Great company and great products, helping patients on their post-operative journey!

How can we help new reps get more comfortable with making sales calls?  Part of that involves hiring a commission-shaped person for a commission-shaped job.  Join me on the waitlist (launching SOON) at: https://www.incirqle.com 

Help our industry, and help yourself, to the easiest mailbox money EVER!

A most inspiring conversation with Orthopedic Surgeon and Rep Champion, Dr. Brian Blackwood!  Dr. Blackwood practices in Boulder, Colorado and is leading the charge on social media, fighting the good fight on behalf of OR Device Reps.

In this episode we talk:

• Robotic Joint Replacement
• Medial Pivot
• Credentialing 
• Repscrubs
• How to be a better Box-Opener

......and so much more!!

Dr. Brian Blackwood is Boulder's first fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement specialist, and is a nationally renowned robotic-assisted Joint Surgeon, having trained hundreds of other providers in this technique.

Dr. Blackwood has now performed 5,000 of these cases, which is the most by any surgeon in Colorado, the Rocky Mountains, and is in the top 0.1% nationwide. Adding to his accolades, Dr. Blackwood has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2024 & 2025!

We introduce the Device Nation audience to an awesome company worthy of consideration....Kinex Medical!

Kinex has 40+ years in the industry, providing post-operative rehab products across 40 states.  They have an extensive network of contracts, totaling more than 350 insurance providers and work with multiple suppliers for equipment to meet the needs of the physician customer.

They even designed their own Continous Passive Motion (CPM) machine to run off of a tablet device, allowing capture of important rehab data! 

Connect with confidence at [email protected] to learn more!

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-blackwood-131907234/

Clinic: https://www.bouldercentre.com

Kinex Medical: https://kinexmedical.com/

What a privilege, a conversation with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jon Minter!

We talk about his work at Save a Warrior, robotic surgery, infection, 1.5 knees, his time with Dr. Larry Dorr, disasterplasties, Mad magazine....and so much more!!

Dr. Minter served on active duty in the US Army during the height of the Cold War in West Germany and in particular West Berlin. He was Chief of Emergency Services and Ambulatory Patient Care for the Berlin MEDDAC. Dr. Minter also provided direct medical support for a covert (recently declassified) Special Operations Unit in Berlin, the Physical Security Support Element. In addition, he provided emergency medical training and support for the USMLM (United States Military Liaison Mission) which was co-located in West Berlin and in former East German Potsdam.

Following his active duty service he became an Orthopedic surgeon, currently working in Alpharetta, Georgia. His interest in Save A Warrior was borne out of a strong desire to offer more to veterans than what surgery could accomplish. Simply put, he wanted to be a part of a team with the chief object of healing the wounded heart.

His family has a long lineage of service in both the military and first responder categories. He has been married to his wife for over 33 years and has three children in which he is intensely proud.

Clinic Link: https://sportsmedicine.northside.com/providers/orthopedic-sports-surgery/jon-e-minter

Your Best Life: Perfectionism—The Bane of Happiness  https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11999-015-4279-9.pdf

Save a Warrior Foundation: https://saveawarrior.org/board-of-directors/dr-jon-minter/

Donate here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/GNlTXA?vid=1k12n4

JOEI Bioburden Paper: https://journaloei.scholasticahq.com/article/133635-retained-bioburden-does-not-pose-contamination-risk-after-a-full-sterile-processing-cycle

In this episode you will learn:

1. Why super glue triggers contact dermatitis
2. The benefits of silk fibroin for wounds
3. Why my Mom hates staples
4. What Ortho can learn from Plastics regarding marketing
5. What happened to Michael Jackson's nose
6. Why the subject of Buttock augmentation is EVEN on the show!

...and so much more!

This is a special episode, as it's so informative on so many different topics.  Make sure to listen to the end, as I share my personal experience with this product in MY bag!

Contact them today at: [email protected]

Learn more here: https://www.sylke.com/

RUSH paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40349859/

Arthroplasty Today: https://www.arthroplastytoday.org/article/S2352-3441(25)00055-X/fulltext

Modern Aesthetics: https://modernaesthetics.com/news/meet-sylke-the-first-wound-dressing-made-of-pure-hypoallergenic-silk-fibroin

Aesthetic Surgery Journal: https://academic.oup.com/asjopenforum/article/doi/10.1093/asjof/ojad071/7238111?login=false

Device Nation sits down for a conversation with a true living legend in the reconstruction space, Robert Cohen.  A must listen if you are passionate about all things metal, plastic, and digital!

Mr. Cohen currently holds the position of President of Stryker’s Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Technologies, and has worked in the medical device industry for over thirty-five years. Mr Cohen has focused on innovation that can improve patient outcomes and has managed R&D, manufacturing, regulatory, clinical research, quality and marketing functions. 

Robert has more than 35 years of experience in the medical device industry, spearheading orthopaedic innovations including advanced joint replacement and spinal implants and robotics. His extensive expertise helps to ensure the organization continues to expand Stryker’s capability in digital, robotics and enabling technologies.

Prior to his current role, Robert served in technical leadership roles for Implex Corp, Zimmer, Mako Surgical, and as Chief Technology Officer for Stryker’s Joint Replacement division. Robert has over 25 patents and speaks globally at medical education conferences. He also serves on numerous boards and is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Robert received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and masters’ degrees in both engineering management and mechanical engineering (specialization in biomechanics) from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Device Nation cracks open a few trays with a real Sultan Of Sterile Processing, Hank Balch, and guess what....Zero holes!!!

We talk about the amazing journey that led him to his current role as Founder and President of "Beyond Clean" and so much more.

I promise you will walk away inspired!!

Hank began his career in instrument reprocessing as a frontline technician in 2009, and has served as an Instrument Database Specialist, Department Manager, and System Director for various SPD departments across the country. His passion is seeing frontline Sterile Processing professionals equipped to #FightDirty, every instrument, every time. 

Follow Beyond Clean: https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com

Order his book: https://a.co/d/4LFOIMZ

* This is a most special episode as I introduce the Device Nation audience to my amazing wife Teri!!  We share our thoughts on our most recent trip to San Diego in an EV.  What a journey!!

Dr. Cynthia Emory, board certified orthopaedic oncologist, treats soft tissue sarcomas, bone sarcomas, metastatic bone disease, lymphoma and myeloma of the bone.  She is a professor and the chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She also serves on the graduate faculty at Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

“I enjoy the challenging cases in orthopaedic oncology. No two tumors are the same: different locations, different tumor types, different patients. I enjoy being able to help adults and children through a very difficult time in their lives and continue to see them years later.”

Recent announcement!  The investiture of Dr. Cynthia Emory as the inaugural L. Andrew Koman, MD Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. This prestigious endowed position celebrates Dr. Emory’s exceptional contributions to orthopaedic research, education, and patient care since joining the faculty in 2010.

The professorship also honors the extraordinary legacy of Device Nation guest Dr. Andy Koman, whose innovations and mentorship have shaped orthopaedics for over 40 years.

Dr. Emory is the principal investigator for a registry to evaluate outcomes in patients who receive a novel implant to stabilize impending pathologic fractures of the bone from metastatic disease. The research led to FDA approval of this device with expanded applications over subsequent years to include patients with pathologic bone fracture from osteoporosis.  Saw this personally in an oncology case recently, such a cool technology!

She is passionate about mentoring, leadership and professional development. She is the past chair of the Women in Medicine and Science Committee at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the past president of the North Carolina Orthopaedic Association. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association. She also completed the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program, a national program for women in academic medicine with senior leadership positions.

Clinic Page: https://profiles.wakehealth.edu/display/person/clemory                Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-emory-md-mba-46b31678/
Jada Love: https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/high-point/high-point-teen-undergoes-special-surgery-with-determination-a-smile/

Fundamental to EVERY National Sales Meeting is casting vision, getting everyone inspired and excited for the upcoming year!  Device Nation has sought out and solicited the thoughts of Reps, Surgeons and Industry Leaders to do just that, asking all this question: 

"2025....What's on Your Mind?"

Their answers will hopefully empower, equip, and inspire you to steamroll quota in 2025, as I truly believe this will be an awesome year for Device Nation listeners!!

"Tis' the Season" to head up to Ontario for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde!

We talk about socialized medicine, enabling tech, Kevin O'Leary of Shark Tank, hockey (of course), VR training, even Hummer EV's!!  

"Surround yourself with good people, and good things will happen"

Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde is an Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction surgeon in Toronto, Ontario, and has a keen interest in minimally invasive Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement and Robotically Assisted Total Knee Replacement.  He is the current Fellowship Director for the Humber Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Program at Humber Hospital (University of Toronto).

His orthopedic surgical residency training was completed at the University of Ottawa, after which he was accepted for Hip and Knee Reconstruction Fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York. He was the recipient of the Phillip D. Wilson Award for his research while in New York (the only Canadian to ever win the award).

After returning to Canada, he completed a second Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Trauma Reconstruction at Sunnybrook Hospital, under the tutelages of Dr. Kreder and Dr. Stephen. Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde then further completed another Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Lower Limb Extremity Reconstruction under the guidance of Dr. Backstein, before moving his practice to Humber Hospital.

Early in his clinical practice, Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde completed his Master’s in Health Administration at the University of Toronto, and has a special interest in optimizing hospital resources and patient care pathways.


Rodriquez Hip & Knee: https://rhksurgery.com/about/ 
Pathway Surgical: https://pathwaysurgery.com/sebastian-rodriguez-elizalde/
Kevin O'Leary: https://www.facebook.com/kevinolearytv/videos/i-couldve-had-my-hip-replacement-surgery-anywhere-but-when-i-met-joe-gorman-from/500008162667094/

Device Nation sits down for a conversation with an absolute legend in our space, Dr. J. Parvisi, world-renowned orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and educator! Newly-minted Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Acibadem University in Istanbul, Dr. Parvizi brings his expertise in hip joint preservation, periprosthetic joint infection, and venous thromboembolism to his new role. A track record of over 10,000 surgical procedures,  over 1,000 hip joint preservation surgeries. Dr. Parvizi has earned worldwide recognition for his pioneering work in the management of periprosthetic joint infection and venous thromboembolism.

"Calculated Risks", what are they and what can help us make the right ones?

Parvisi Surgical Innovations: https://www.parvizisurgical.com
Website: https://drjavadparvizi.com
World Expert Meeting: https://wem-a.org/Default.aspx
International Joint Center: https://www.instagram.com/acibadem.international/p/C3e-OtwIckO/#:~:text=acibadem.international-,International%20Joint%20Center%20(IJC),treatment%20plans%20for%20each%20patient.