Breaking Barriers in Medical Education: OLC’s Mobile Lab Evolution from 2023 to 2024
In an era when medical knowledge is said to double every 73 days, the OLC has quite literally mobilized to keep pace. The OLC Mobile Lab, a 1,100-square-foot surgical training facility on wheels, has been turning heads at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Annual Meetings in 2023 and 2024.
2023 OLC Mobile Lab:
At Washington DC in 2023, the lab was a hive of activity on the AOSSM show floor. It hosted up to four daily demonstrations by industry partners, each a showcase of new devices and procedures. In a display of technical virtuosity, one demo was broadcast simultaneously to three locations: outside the lab, to a theatre on the show floor, and to an 8-foot screen at the exhibitor’s booth.
AOSSM itself co-opted the lab’s capabilities, streaming a live demo into the main session at the conference hotel. Post-demonstration, the space transformed into a hands-on workshop for ten participants, demonstrating a chameleon-like adaptability.
The 2023 event featured demonstrations from industry leaders such as CTM Biomedical, Vericel, Zimmer Biomet, Smith+Nephew, and Arthrex, showcasing a range of orthopaedic techniques and technologies.
2024 OLC Mobile Lab:
Fast forward to Denver in 2024, and the lab’s presence on the AOSSM show floor remained a constant, but its application showed new tricks. The program streamlined to two daily demos, each backed by a different Exhibitor Partner. This shift allowed for deeper dives into new techniques and technologies.
Also, following a private demo streamed to the show floor, with moderators explaining and answering questions form the very packed house. The lab accommodated 12 participants for this exclusive hands-on experience. The lab’s versatility was further tested when it morphed into a private R&D space – a confidential environment for innovation, separate from the public eye on the final day of the show.
For 2024, and the Mobile Lab had undergone some remarkable improvements:
- Advanced 4K streaming now allows simultaneous broadcast to three different venues globally
- Implemented 360-degree camera systems for immersive remote viewing
What sets the OLC Mobile Lab apart isn’t just its mobility or technology. It’s the lab’s chameleon-like ability to serve evolving needs – and of course the OLC’s extremely experienced lab management and AV team. It serves multiple roles: a high-tech training ground for surgeons and a roving showroom for device companies to showcase their latest innovations. Simultaneously, it functions as a versatile educational platform for conference organizers and a secure test bed for R&D teams to conduct real-world trials in a controlled environment.
The OLC Mobile Lab isn’t just a classroom on wheels. It embodies a new approach to surgical education – one that’s agile, accessible, and “ready to roll” wherever knowledge needs to be imparted. Literally.
As the lab continues its journey from conference to conference in 2025, and our next appearance at AOSSM 2025 in Nashville July 10-11, it carries more than just equipment. It bears the potential to reshape how we think about spreading surgical expertise in a world where medical knowledge refuses to stand still.
For more information about the OLC Mobile Lab, visit www.olcevents.com or contact info@olcevents.com.
About the OLC:
The OLC Education & Conference Center, established in 1994, leads in surgical education and training. Having educated over 55,000 surgeons, the OLC continues to innovate in medical education delivery, with the Mobile Lab exemplifying its commitment to accessible, cutting-edge training.