EPOS Podcast

The mission of EPOS is to enhance the quality of care for children with orthopaedic conditions. Conducting scientific research plays an important part in this mission: to drive innovation, to find better and new ways to treat patients, and ultimately to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. In this special episode, host Darius Rad is joined by the members of the EPOS Scientific Committee to speak about the importance of scientific research and how to get a research project off the ground: from the initial motivation and idea all the way to getting a research project funded.

The Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics, or JCO for short, is the open access scientific journal owned and produced by EPOS. With over 300,000 downloads in 2025 alone, the JCO has become a hugely important educational tool for paediatric orthopaedic surgeons around the world.
EPOS Podcast host Darius Rad has invited the JCO's Chief Editors Shlomo Weintraub and Fritz Hefti, as well as the journal's Liaison Councillor Marta Salom, to give you a rare look behind the scenes of the JCO, from how it got started, all the way to the impact it has today. They discuss, among other things, the use of AI in publishing, APC waivers and support for developing countries.
They also dig into two papers from the latest issue: a systematic review revealing that 1 in 7 children who experience orthopaedic trauma go on to develop PTSD, and a 10-year follow-up study on how femoral leg lengthening affects long-term muscle strength.
Link to the JCO: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/CHO

In 2026, EPOS celebrates its 45th anniversary. To mark this special occasion, host Darius Rad has invited past presidents Pierre Lascombes and Hakan Ömeroğlu to take a look back at how EPOS got started all those years ago, how it has developed into the thriving society it is today, and how they see the future of EPOS. Together, they discuss the origins of EPOS, the evolution of its educational programme and BAT courses for upcoming paediatric orthopaedic surgeons, and the role EPOS plays in nurturing friendship and community among paediatric orthopaedic surgeons across Europe and beyond.

As we welcome the new year, paediatric orthopaedic professionals around Europe and beyond are gearing up for one of the most anticipated events in their field: the EPOS Annual Meeting in 2026.
In this episode of the EPOS podcast, host Darius Rad, local hosts David Farrington and Javier Downey, and Chair of the EPOS Reading Committee Ilkka Helenius share what participants can expect from this year's meeting, including its scientific program, networking opportunities, and the cultural richness of the host city Seville.

🎙️ Welcome to this new EPOS podcast episode! 🎧

As the 43rd EPOS Annual Meeting begins in the beautiful city of Toulouse, France 🇫🇷, we shine a spotlight on the EPOS Scientific Committee! 🏥🔬

Joining us for this insightful discussion are:
✨ Christian Wong (Denmark) – Immediate Past Chair of the Scientific Committee
✨ Cesar Fontecha (Spain) – New Chair
✨ Dan Perry (UK) & Flossie Carpenter (UK)

We dive into the committee’s journey – its past, the evolution into today’s robust, research-driven structure, and the exciting future of EPOS collaborative studies. 🚀📊
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the science, vision, and teamwork behind EPOS! 🎤🔍