Device Nation Podcast

The State Fair is in full swing, AAHKS is right around the corner, and Device Nation is serving up a best-in-show double header! Grab a smoked turkey leg, funnel cake and a sweet tater fries s’mores slop bucket as Ryan “RVP” Van Puffelen of DePuy Synthes opens the room.  Ryan is a Warsaw, Indiana native and a 25-year ortho veteran. He shares how a “fortuitous mistake” of a co-op launched his career, why the KOL is making room for the DOL (Digital Opinion Leader), and why authenticity beats a sales pitch every time on LinkedIn. He also explains how the ASC gives surgeons control over their finances, their staff, and their lives. And yes, we talk about his famous straight-line lawn-mowing post!Then we welcome Dr. Leonard Buller, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at the IU School of Medicine and adult recon surgeon with IU Health in Fishers, Indiana!He was last year’s AAHKS program chair, and lives by two words: patient first!  From massaging a heart in Jackson Memorial’s Trauma Bay 81 to learning arthroplasty history at Chit Ranawat’s feet at HSS, Dr. Buller’s journey is one you won’t want to miss....notably, a tour of research that challenges a lot of conventional wisdom!In this episode:Why the KOL-to-DOL shift is an untapped opportunity for industry“Commenting for reach” and making relational deposits before withdrawalsThe ASC as a path to surgeon control and lifestylePJI: why symptom duration matters, and why patient expectations may matter moreResorbable beads, and what his group found about drainage and HOHis biofilm study on prefabricated antibiotic cement spacers vs. CoCr and polyPatella after two-stage: button or no button? Tracking may matter mostIntraosseous vanc: “the hottest idea in arthroplasty”Obesity and greater PROM improvement after TKA, and whether it’s time to rethink the BMI 40 cutoffHow patient personality and health literacy shape satisfactionCPAK, coronal plane alignment, and where personalized alignment is headedTraditional navigation: old school or great value?The challenge of funding a fellowship in 2026Advice for young Surgeons, first-time Industry Consultants, and RepsJoin us live at AAHKS! Third Annual Surgeon/Rep Town Hall Friday, November 6 | 6:30–8:30 AM | Grapevine 1, Gaylord TexanSurgeons, Reps, and Industry collaborating on one word: CHANGE. Ryan and Dr. Buller are both on the panel. You don’t have to sign up, just show up. Special thanks to our sponsor, OsteoRemedies. Explore their full lineup of infection prevention and management solutions, including BioBrush debridement tools, XP no-rinse surgical irrigation, and the soon-to-launch PolyPlus Hip with SnapFit retention. Visit Booth 933 at AAHKS or osteoremedies.com.Mentioned in this episode:Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder (Dr. Buller’s book pick)AAHKS 2026 Annual Meeting, November 5–8, Grapevine, TexasConnect with our guests:Ryan Van Puffelen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvanpuffelen/Dr. Leonard Buller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-buller-b51317179/Support the Show with Venmo: @devicenation

Turning Disasters Into Comebacks with Greg Pomasl of LINKWhat does a brown 1975 Camaro, a falling headliner, and a broken driver’s side door have to do with revision arthroplasty? More than you’d think! 😄On this episode of Brown Bag, Device Nation sits down with Greg Pomasl, US President of Sales for LINK, and his story is one you’ll want to hear.Greg started out as a teacher and strength coach at Indiana University. He talked his way into his first orthopedic job, ran a distributorship, and has spent nearly 10 years helping turn LINK’s US business into the company’s largest single market. Along the way, he’s carried the bag for everything from a finger case to limb salvage.In this episode, you’ll hear:How a 75-year-old, family-owned German company earned its reputation for being there on the surgeon’s worst dayThe OptiStem, Greg’s “wow” product for distal femoral replacement in multiply revised femursHow LINK’s custom implant process works, from the Surgeon portal to German manufacturing, including typical timelinesWhy Surgeons may be surprised to learn LINK carries primaries: the SymphoKnee , PorEx coating, and a new triple-tapered stemStatic vs. dynamic spacers, the fusion nail, and the famous “hinge-in-a-box” for one-and-a-half stage infection casesWhy LINK stays distributor-friendly, and what Greg looks for in the people he hiresGreg’s advice for reps heading into 2027: become the expert in the toughest casesWhy he still believes in suit, tie, templating, and a written Plan A and Plan BWhether you’re a Rep, a Distributor, or a Surgeon looking for your next solution, this conversation is a reminder that a disaster X-ray is the first draft, not the final verdict.Connect with LINK: Email: [email protected] Web: link-ortho.com Visit Booth 1137 at AAHKS 

The reverse total shoulder is on OR schedules every day now, but someone had to do the first one in the United States. In 2003, in  OR Room 36 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC, that someone was Dr. Carl Basamania!What an honor sharing the inspiring story of Dr. Basamania, tracing a career that runs from Rochester, New York, through the U.S. Army, and into some of orthopedics’ most important innovations!In this episode:What put him on the path to medicine Military service and lessons from Fort BraggHis time with Delta ForceTraining with Dr. RockwoodThe story behind the first U.S. reverse shoulderRobotics in the ShoulderAdvice for Surgeon KOL'sClavicle fractures....Plate, pin, or leave it alone?"The only guarantee in surgery is a scar and a bill".....and SO MUCH MORE!!Again, Device Nation salutes Dr. Basamania for his service to our country and to our industry!Join us at AAHKS: The 3rd Annual Surgeon/Rep Town Hall Breakfast is Friday, November 6, 6:30–8:30 AM, in Gaylord One, look forward to seeing you there!* updates at https://devicenation.com/

The case went sideways, the films look ugly, and somebody needs a Surgeon with an "I can fix that" mindset. For so many years, that Surgeon has been Dr. Richard Buch!Dr. Buch is the founder of the Dallas Limb Restoration Center in Carrollton, Texas, and with more than 13,500 joint procedures behind him, he's seen the outcomes many Surgeons hope they never see. He's the founder of DisasterPlasty, a conference built around the hardest cases in arthroplasty (and how to avoid disasters in the first place).In this episode, we dig into how this meeting came to be, his path from medical school in Chicago to fellowship in DC to building a referral practice in Texas. We talk through what limb salvage and tumor training bring to revision arthroplasty, and why the hardest skill in complex reconstruction might be knowing when to say, "I need help."Links:Dallas Limb Restoration Center: dallaslimbrestoration.comDisasterPlasty Conference: disasterplasty.orgAbout Device Nation:Device Nation is the podcast for orthopedic sales professionals and surgeons, featuring real conversations about the cases, companies, and people moving the industry. Follow along on LinkedIn!

Device Nation sits down for a most inspiring conversation with two leaders I so respect in our space! Independent Distributor Kris Jones "opens the room" for us as we talk about his life, his career as a scrub tech, why he likes to fix all things, the family medical device business, how to run a successful independent shop (should you even do it in the first place) and so much more!We finish with one of my c-suite heroes, Ashesh Shah, MBA! Ashesh Shah is President & CEO of Maxx Orthopedics, a global orthopedic implant company he co-founded in 2006. With operations in 75+ countries including the US, India, Germany, Brazil and China, Mr. Shah built the team that developed commercial value of Maxx’s IP, led M&A activities, secured growth funding, and grew the global distribution and supply chain organizations.We talk about the new PEEK knee, robotics, the Freedom Knee, gold knees and so much more....so many pearls of wisdom in this episode, you will want to take some notes!Follow Ashesh Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashesh-shah-382241/Connect with Farzin Khaghani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farzin-khaghani-b204b32/Follow Kris Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriswjones/Maxx Orthopedics: https://maxxortho.com/Meril Life Sciences: https://www.merillife.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24115515723&gbraid=0AAAAADFUKNCOPaHN70YgOnI7kL5dAVxai&gclid=CjwKCAjw_KjVBhAHEiwAnC0N9GsrL7UyYHFHWuGU7G9Hdj5HcGajtTP2IKYUlhYX95l6j9T28H92uhoCjjoQAvD_BwEPeek: https://maxxortho.com/maxx-orthopedics-in-partnership-with-invibio-biomaterial-solutions-secures-us-ide-approval-for-peek-optima-total-knee-arthroplasty-study/

What an inspiring conversation with an entrepreneurial icon in our industry, Dr. Stephen Gunther!From an assistant professor at UCSF to founder of Shoulder Innovations, a company that rang the bell on the NYSE in 2025, a 20-year build of a most inspiring story!!Dr. Gunther saw a gap in shoulder arthroplasty that nobody else was solving (implant loosening, one of the leading causes of failure in the space) and instead of writing a paper about it, he patented the fix.The inset glenoid. 15 patents. A company that went from one Surgeon's idea to $47M+ in revenue and a public offering.Device Nation finds no holes in ANY tray as we "Open the Room" with Independent Distributor Mike Nelligan!We talk LinkedIn, "where have the sales reps gone", 4-pillars consulting, even the therapeutic benefits gained from setting things on fire!What stuck with me about both of these conversations was the Dartmouth-old-school mindset running through the whole thread — foundational things that work, not chasing change for the sake of change, just execute what we all know works.....and do it every single day.That's a lesson for Surgeons, Reps and budding entrepreneurs alike!Dartmouth 3D Scholars: https://www.3d-scholars.org/Shoulder Innovations: https://shoulderinnovations.com/ Dr. Stephen Gunther: https://www.sentara.com/find-a-doctor-or-provider/Gunther-Stephen-73361 Mike Nelligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikenelligan/ 4 Pillars Consulting: https://www.fourpillarsconsultinggroup.com/ Energy Bus: https://a.co/d/09VzMyTe Can't Autom(AI)te Trust: https://a.co/d/0dRgFKEG Surgeon/Rep Townhall Meeting: https://devicenation.comJohn Cleese Sales Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2tiAkWsqz-IkeZHmA_UQ72YEgAG93v8zThank you for your Support!  https://account.venmo.com/u/DeviceNation

This week, Device Nation sits down with one of orthopaedic trauma's true legends, Dr. Thomas "Toney" Russell. Over four decades, Dr. Russell hasn't just practiced trauma surgery, he's built it. The Russell-Taylor nail. The Intertan. Periloc plates. Osstic bone glue. 30 + U.S. patents. A career that runs from the Elvis Presley Trauma Center to the C-suites of global med-tech companies.We cover it all: IM nailing, plates, screws, ex-fix, calcium phosphate and sulfate, OTA, BBQ, and yes, a little Elvis to shake things up!Fair warning: you WILL leave this episode inspired.About Dr. RussellDr. Thomas A. Russell is one of Orthopaedic Trauma's most consequential figures. Co-developer of the Russell-Taylor intramedullary nail. Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee. Former Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center. More than 30 U.S. patents spanning femoral nailing, bone screw systems, surgical navigation, and bio-ceramic augmentation. Executive and advisory roles with leading device companies across the U.S. and Europe.He has trained generations of surgeons, authored foundational surgical textbook chapters, and earned presidential lectureships and honors from professional societies around the world. From the OR to the boardroom, Dr. Russell has spent four decades doing one thing: solving problems that matter.What He BuiltTrigen / Russell-Taylor Nail — A foundational intramedullary nail. The name gave away today's guest before we even got to the intro.Intertan Nail — Part of the Smith & Nephew Trigen trauma portfolio, advancing integrated fixation for intertrochanteric fractures.Periloc Plates — Periarticular fixation that helped shape the modern plating landscape.BSM Augments — Bone substitute material for structural support where biology needs a hand.Osstic — "Bone glue." Next-generation bone substitute. Potentially the most disruptive thing on this list — and Dr. Russell will tell you why.Wisdom From This Episode"Look for the failures to see where the work needs to be done." — Dr. Toney RussellA great idea on a napkin is just the beginning. Are you prepared to commit ten years to it?Unexpected inspiration: Ilizarov wires traced back to a bicycle shop.Non-Newtonian fluids — a concept that sounds like a physics class and ends up changing how you think about graft material.Hip fracture care in the UK: still defaulting to a 4-hole 135° plate. Kevin's verdict: ship him home.Innovation is uncomfortable. Even the innovators resist change, Dr. Russell confirms it.Also In This EpisodeThe 54-tray SPD story — and what it really tells you about preparation in a rapidly evolving industry.Arthrex's first post-Corin pure-play recon meeting: Player 2 has entered the game.AAHKS preview: the third annual Rep-Surgeon town hall, the subject: change.Benjamin Franklin on delay: "You may delay, but time will not."Highlights from the Anterior Hip Foundation meeting in Nashville.Thank You to Our SponsorsThis episode wouldn't have happened without them!!!Enovis Surgical · Redefine Surgical · Sylke

What a privilege, introducing Device Nation to Aaron Lepper, BONESUPPORT US VP of Sales!CERAMENT G is a product we believe you should consider for YOUR bag, as it's the first and only injectable antibiotic-eluting bone graft indicated for use in the management of bone infection.-Remodels into host bone in 6-12 months (1)-Injectable and flowable-Gentamicin elution above MIC that's reliable and consistent (2)-High local concentration of gentamicin, without high serum gentamicin levels (2)Checks off a lot of boxes, check it out!Contact Aaron Lepper here: [email protected] more here: https://www.bonesupport.com/en-us/products/cerament-g/What's in YOUR bag?1. Ferguson et al. ‘Radiographic and Histological Analysis of a Synthetic Bone Graft Substitute Eluting Gentamicin in the Treatment of ChronicOsteomyelitis’. J. Bone Joint Infect. 2019; 4(2): 76-84.2. Stravinskas et al. Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin eluted from a regenerating bone graft substitute - In vitro and clinical release studies. BoneJoint Res. 2016 ;5 :427-35

What does it look like when healthcare finance, strategy, and vision all collide in one extraordinary facility?Device Nation is privileged to bring you the story of Indiana Orthopedic Institute's CFO, Jennifer Fry, CPA!From a childhood shaped by veterinary medicine to the C-suite of one of America's most impressive ambulatory surgery centers, Jennifer's path through healthcare is anything but ordinary.She's held the room at Franciscan Alliance, St. Vincent Health, Athens Medical Group, and J&J Fry Consulting. She's navigated acquisitions, joint ventures, physician practice management, and interim strategy roles at a major not-for-profit health system.Now, as CFO of the newly built Indiana Orthopedic Institute in Noblesville, Indiana, she's helping lead what we believe will be a blueprint for the future of specialty ASC care.In this episode:🏗️ The story behind IOI's build, how this world-class facility came to life🏥 A virtual tour of the space (you'll want to see this in person)💻 The tech stack driving efficiency from Ospitek, to Athena's HOP EMR to AI scribe solutions👥 How to build a team with a high "PH level", passion and happiness you can actually feel when you walk in📊 The KPIs every ASC operator needs to be watching💰 Revenue streams beyond the index procedure , the story on DME in a joint specialty setting🔩 What a great implant partnership actually looks like — and what reps should be doing right now to be ready for a world full of IOIs🚪 Patient acquisition, patient experience, and turning patients into your best marketing🔮 The future of specialty ASCs, sunshine ahead, or clouds on the horizon?....and so much more! In just 3 years, IOI has grown from 1 Surgeon to 17, and was just recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the Indianapolis area!Be ready to take notes if you're a Surgeon considering getting off the hospital bandwagon, a Rep trying to stay relevant, or a Healthcare Operator looking for a model worth studying!📍 Indiana Orthopedic Institute: https://www.indianaortho.com/📲 Follow Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fry-cpa-25391964/"Re-Operate" with Therapeutic Technologies: https://therapeutic-tech.com/

Dr. Craig Della Valle shares his thoughts on the past, the present, and the future with Device Nation!Respice, Aspice, ProspiceDr. Della Valle is one of the country's leading Orthopedic Surgeons, and serves as the Aaron G. Rosenberg Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of the Section of Adult Reconstruction at Rush University Medical Center.Ministrare per scientiam We talk about hips, knees, robotic unis, infection, how to write the abstract that gets published, metal versus ceramic heads, cones, hip resurfacing (one of my favorite subjects), and so much more!So admire his  "different think", his leadership at AAHKS, CCJR, sharing his prolific research around the world.   Whether you're a "Latin Lover" or not, I promise you will walk away inspired!On a personal note, change is coming in our space...and fast!  What's the answer for us in industry?Mutando mutamur 1/3 1/3 1/3.....Ready to tackle that 1/3 that counters what we're doing now?"By changing, We are changed" Dr. Della Valle: https://dellavalleortho.com/