We are honoured to announce that Prof. Thomas Wirth from Stuttgart/Germany will deliver the prestigious 2025 EPOS presidential guest lecture: Children‘s Orthopaedics – a story of fascination and frustration.

Prof. Thomas Wirth, MD, PhD, has been the Director of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Olgahospital, Klinikum Stuttgart – one of Germany’s largest paediatric hospitals – for over 20 years. He is also Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Philipps University of Marburg.

His international experience includes working at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, Australia (12 months, 1991-1992) and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK (6 months, 1998-1999). He served as President of the German Association of Paediatric Orthopaedics from 2008 to 2014 and was Councillor of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC) from 2016 to 2022. Currently, he is leading the Section of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU).

Prof. Wirth is an esteemed member of several international organisations, including EPOS, POSNA (Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America)and the International Paediatric Orthopaedic Think Tank (IPOTT). His contributions to EPOS have been significant – he served as Treasurer from 2012 to 2016, entered the EPOS Presidential Line in April 2017 and held the position of EPOS President from April 2019 to April 2020, continuing as Interim President until April 2021.

With a deep research interest in the basic science of the growth plate, paediatric hip disorders, paediatric trauma and paediatric arthroscopy,he has also focused extensively on the treatment of children with skeletal dysplasias, osteogenesis imperfecta, spinal disorders and benign and malignant bone tumours. He has authored around 100 articles and written over 25 book chapters in these fields.

As he approaches his retirement from clinical practice on 31 March 2025, this lecture will be an opportunity to reflect on his remarkable career and contributions to paediatric orthopaedics.

Join us for this special session as we celebrate Prof. Wirth’s legacy and insights!