AOSSM/AANA Specialty Day 2020-Innovations Lecture_ The Basis of Innovation

Innovations Lecture_ The Basis of Innovation_ Depth, Breadth and Tenacity

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the inaugural ANA Innovations Lecture, the speaker explores creativity's foundation—depth, breadth, and tenacity—through the lens of the paradigm shift from open to arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Inspired by Thomas Kuhn’s concept, this shift was championed in the 1980s by young, often marginalized surgeons facing strong opposition from established leaders. Early challenges included inadequate instruments and skepticism from industry and peers. Progress required inventing new tools, developing terminology, disseminating knowledge via new journals and societies, and proving the biomechanical superiority of arthroscopic methods. The speaker emphasizes craft as a combination of deep expertise (specialization) for optimal patient outcomes and broad experience (generalization) for innovative problem-solving and paradigm shifts. Drawing from authors like Malcolm Gladwell and David Epstein, the lecture stresses lateral thinking across domains as key to disruptive innovation. Ultimately, tenacity—the grit to persist despite resistance—is the driving force behind successful paradigm shifts in surgical techniques, highlighting hope for future breakthroughs led by determined, broad-thinking pioneers.

Keywords

ANA Innovations Lecture

arthroscopic shoulder surgery

paradigm shift

Thomas Kuhn

creativity in surgery

tenacity in innovation