#AAOE2026: 3 Minutes With Kelly Hamburg
At this year’s AAOE Annual Conference, taking place April 20-22 in Louisville, Kentucky, Kelly Hamburg, Director - Multispecialty Musculoskeletal Services at Sauk Prairie Healthcare, will challenge how you think about the partnership between a managing physician and their administrator. We asked her a few quick questions to preview her session—and the answers were too good not to share.
Session: Two Seats, One Mission: Aligning Physicians and Executives
1. What’s one myth or outdated practice you’re going to bust in your session—and why does it matter now more than ever?
That physicians and executives naturally speak the same language. They don’t—and assuming they do sets teams up for tension instead of trust. In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes healthcare world, real alignment isn’t optional—it’s foundational.
2. What’s a mistake you see practices make over and over again—and what could they do instead?
They treat the dyad relationship like a box to check, not a leadership model to develop.
Instead, build the relationship intentionally—define roles, co-create goals, and model transparency. That’s how you unlock performance.
3. What’s one idea from your session that attendees can implement the next day—and what kind of results could it unlock?
Create a shared “weekly rhythm” with your dyad partner: 15 minutes to align priorities and flag friction points. That alone can cut down on miscommunications and dramatically boost clarity and cohesion.
4. If you could sit next to a first-time attendee during your session, what would you whisper in their ear to help them get the most out of it?
“This isn’t about theory. It’s a cheat code for getting unstuck and leading together—on the same page.” And maybe, “Take a photo of slide 12. You’ll want to start using it next week.”
5. What’s something you wish you had known earlier in your career that you’ll be sharing with attendees?
That vulnerability and trust are the accelerators of alignment—not the risks. Leaning into that has changed how I lead, partner, and build culture.
6. Why should someone who’s still on the fence about attending the conference not miss your session?
Because if you’re leading without true alignment between your clinical and administrative leaders, you’re leaving performance, engagement, and outcomes on the table.
7. What’s one trend in healthcare—or in orthopedics specifically—that’s influencing your session topic right now?
The growing complexity of care delivery makes collaboration between dyads more urgent. Shared leadership isn’t a luxury—it’s a competitive advantage.
In this challenging environment with its heavy demands, having the right tools and insights isn’t optional—it’s essential. Our speakers will give you both. But only if you’re in the room. Review the complete session lineup: Full Session Schedule
Seats are filling fast—don’t miss your chance to learn from dozens of experts at #AAOE2026. Did you know that over 60% of the speakers are AAOE members? They “get it” when it comes to smart orthopedic/MSK practice management!
Register Now: https://bit.ly/speaker-insights – Winter value pricing, saving you $250 over the in-person rate, ends Thursday, January 15th!
