#AAOE26: 3 Minutes with Andrea Vitalich and Matthew Slater
At this year’s AAOE Annual Conference, taking place April 20-22 in Louisville, Kentucky, Andrea Vitalich, MBA, Executive Director of Care Center Operations for Proliance Surgeons, and Matthew Slater, LVN, HMA, DHA, Administrative Director, Orthopaedic Surgery for the UC San Diego Health System, will challenge how you think about culture and leadership. We asked them a few quick questions to preview their session—and the answers were too good not to share.
Session: Building a Culture That Helps Your Practice Thrive
Q1: What’s one myth you’ll be busting in your session?
That “culture” is just HR fluff. It’s actually your biggest strategic advantage or your costliest liability.
Q2: What’s a mistake you see all the time—and what should practices do instead?
Culture efforts often focus only on new hires. We’ll show why ongoing engagement—especially across generations—is what really drives results.
Q3: What’s one idea attendees can use right away?
Regularly do a pulse survey with all staff asking just two questions: “Do you feel valued?” and “Do you have what you need to succeed?” Then act on it.
Q4: What would you whisper to a first-time attendee during your session?
“This panel is practical—we’ve all done this, failed at parts, and found what works. You’ll leave with a real plan.”
Q5: What do you wish you’d known earlier in your career?
That culture isn’t about slogans—it’s about habits, feedback loops, and leadership behaviors.
Q6: Why should someone on the fence attend?
Recruiting and retention are harder than ever. Culture is your best defense—and offense.
Q7: What trend is shaping this session?
Workforce expectations have shifted post-COVID. Practices must compete on culture—not just compensation.
In a challenging environment with heavy demands on staff and difficulties in recruiting and retaining quality staff, having the right tools and insights isn’t optional—it’s essential. Leanne will give you both. But only if you’re in the room.
Seats are filling fast—don’t miss your chance to learn from Leanne and dozens of other experts at AAOE 2026. 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 ends Thursday, January 15th!