Kosc. Leadership Academy Cadets Get Orthopedic Industry Overview
December 27, 2023 at 8:41 p.m.
Kosciusko Leadership Academy (KLA) cadets got an overview of the orthopedic industry in Kosciusko County at Warsaw City Hall on Nov. 28.
With over 30 device industry companies and a combined annual revenue of over $19 billion, Kosciusko County has earned the title of “Orthopedic Capital of the World®,” according to a provided news release.
Bob Hastings, director at Hastings & Associates LLC and retired director of research at DePuy Synthes, presented a history of orthopedics in Warsaw, which dates to 1895 when Revra Depuy started DePuy Manufacturing, followed by his first patent in 1901. Shortly after in 1927, J.O. Zimmer began Zimmer Manufacturing after working for DePuy. By the 1950s, DePuy had reached $3.2 million in annual sales and Zimmer $2 million. In 1977, Biomet was founded. By 1906 400,000 people would come to the Winona Assembly annually. In the ‘90s Warsaw had over 60% of the orthopedic market, now it is about 30-40%. Today, Kosciusko County is still the orthopedic capital of the world.
Bob Vitoux, OrthoWorx CEO, presented on the implications of being the orthopedic capital. OrthoWorx was founded in 2009 following a study by BioCrossroads, because “someone should wake up every morning and think about how to keep us relevant.” OrthoWorx focuses on convening community and industry leaders, talent development, talent attraction and innovation, to advance the industry for generations to come. Some initiatives by OrthoWorx have been: focus on STEM education in schools, manufacturing training, DiscoverME (middle school students visiting six manufacturers and three career technology centers to see manufacturing as a career option) and AcceLINX (a health business accelerator where consultants engage with start-ups). In partnership with Purdue University’s IN-MaC division, industry leaders, and the three Kosciusko Career Centers, OrthoWorx will help launch three Ortho Academies to train young people who want to start a career in orthopedics immediately following high school graduation.
The next KLA session will cover agribusiness in Kosciusko County and will be held at Maple Leaf Farms World Headquarters on Tuesday.
Kosciusko Leadership Academy (KLA) cadets got an overview of the orthopedic industry in Kosciusko County at Warsaw City Hall on Nov. 28.
With over 30 device industry companies and a combined annual revenue of over $19 billion, Kosciusko County has earned the title of “Orthopedic Capital of the World®,” according to a provided news release.
Bob Hastings, director at Hastings & Associates LLC and retired director of research at DePuy Synthes, presented a history of orthopedics in Warsaw, which dates to 1895 when Revra Depuy started DePuy Manufacturing, followed by his first patent in 1901. Shortly after in 1927, J.O. Zimmer began Zimmer Manufacturing after working for DePuy. By the 1950s, DePuy had reached $3.2 million in annual sales and Zimmer $2 million. In 1977, Biomet was founded. By 1906 400,000 people would come to the Winona Assembly annually. In the ‘90s Warsaw had over 60% of the orthopedic market, now it is about 30-40%. Today, Kosciusko County is still the orthopedic capital of the world.
Bob Vitoux, OrthoWorx CEO, presented on the implications of being the orthopedic capital. OrthoWorx was founded in 2009 following a study by BioCrossroads, because “someone should wake up every morning and think about how to keep us relevant.” OrthoWorx focuses on convening community and industry leaders, talent development, talent attraction and innovation, to advance the industry for generations to come. Some initiatives by OrthoWorx have been: focus on STEM education in schools, manufacturing training, DiscoverME (middle school students visiting six manufacturers and three career technology centers to see manufacturing as a career option) and AcceLINX (a health business accelerator where consultants engage with start-ups). In partnership with Purdue University’s IN-MaC division, industry leaders, and the three Kosciusko Career Centers, OrthoWorx will help launch three Ortho Academies to train young people who want to start a career in orthopedics immediately following high school graduation.
The next KLA session will cover agribusiness in Kosciusko County and will be held at Maple Leaf Farms World Headquarters on Tuesday.