Anastasios Papadonikolakis is an orthopedic surgeon and associate professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery. He is also affiliated with Atrium Health Baptist Hospital. His work focuses on the intersection of surgical innovation, technology, and clinical decision making, including 3D surgical planning, simulation, and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Papadonikolakis is the cofounder of VR Surgical, a company developing next-generation surgical simulation platforms. He has published and lectured internationally on orthopedic innovation and education, including work on the correction of forearm deformities using open source software and 3D printed cutting guides. He is also the author of Precision Without Wisdom: Innovation, Technology, and the Future of Surgery, which examines the evolving role of technology in medicine while emphasizing the importance of preserving clinical judgment in an increasingly data-driven world.
Professional updates are available on LinkedIn.
In the operating room, precision has never been greater. Modern surgery now relies on navigation systems, artificial intelligence, robotic assistance, digital planning platforms, and predictive analytics capable of modeling outcomes before the first incision is made. For the first time in medical history, technology allows surgeons to simulate procedures, optimize implant positioning, and reduce technical variability to levels once unimaginable.
Yet many surgeons recognize an uncomfortable paradox emerging beneath this progress: …
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Artificial intelligence in surgery: Balancing precision with clinical wisdom
