Hosted by Paradigm, this session brings together leaders at the forefront of surgical innovation to explore how today’s most advanced approaches are improving mobility, independence, and total cost of care.
The Power of Orthopedic Innovation
The session, “Breakthrough Approaches Transforming Orthopedic Recovery,” takes place Wednesday, November 12, from 1:15–2:15 pm CT in Session Room 3.
Orthopedics touches nearly every aspect of workers’ compensation, from common musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries to the most complex catastrophic cases. This discussion goes beyond surgical techniques—it’s about the real-world impact of orthopedic innovation. Attendees will explore how advances in care are improving functional recovery, enabling injured workers to return to their lives faster, and helping payers achieve better outcomes and financial results.
In short, this is where science meets the business of recovery.
Meet the Experts Driving the Future of Orthopedic Recovery
This panel lineup is stacked with some of the top names in modern orthopedics—leaders who have each changed how the field approaches healing, recovery, and restoration of function.
James Stannard, MD
Hansjörg Wyss Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri; Medical Director, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute
Dr. Stannard is a nationally recognized leader in orthopedic trauma and joint preservation, known for his work on complex knee injuries, osteoarthritis, and biological joint restoration. His expertise has helped bridge advanced surgical techniques with long-term functional outcomes—exactly the connection claims professionals need to understand the true cost-to-recovery equation.
Bryan J. Loeffler, MD
Chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute; Orthopedic Specialists, OrthoCarolina; Adjunct Associate Professor, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Dr. Loeffler’s groundbreaking work in targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), nerve reconstruction, and upper-extremity limb salvage is helping injured workers regain strength, dexterity, and quality of life. His research is shaping how advanced nerve and prosthetic technologies deliver better outcomes for both individuals and the system as a whole.
Jason W. Stoneback, MD
Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs; Chief of Orthopedic Trauma; Director, Limb Restoration Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dr. Stoneback leads one of the country’s few multidisciplinary Limb Restoration Programs, pioneering surgical techniques in osseointegration—prosthetics directly anchored to bone for improved balance, function, and body awareness. His work represents the cutting edge of catastrophic injury recovery, offering new hope and independence to patients who once faced lifelong disability.
Moderator: Michael Choo, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAAEM
Chief Medical Officer, Workers’ Compensation, Paradigm
Dr. Choo leads Paradigm’s clinical operations, outcomes research, and physician partnerships, with more than 35 years of experience as a clinician, academician, and healthcare executive. Before joining Paradigm, he served as President and CEO of a regional health system, chief of heart emergency center, and President & founder of an emergency medicine group. He earned his BA and MD through Boston University’s accelerated honors program and holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam Graduate School of Business. A longtime educator, Dr. Choo has trained residents in emergency and internal medicine and serves as a senior oral board examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine. His leadership blends medical expertise with strategic insight—helping bridge innovation and outcomes across the workers’ compensation continuum.
What the Session Covers
This engaging, forward-looking discussion will spotlight the latest orthopedic breakthroughs transforming recovery and rehabilitation for injured workers. Orthopedic injuries—including MSK conditions, limb loss, spinal fractures, and multiple trauma—represent a large share of workers’ compensation claims and bring significant functional challenges.
Through real-world insight and case-based discussion, the panel will highlight how medical innovation is improving function, accelerating return to work, and reducing total cost of care—critical outcomes for patients, employers, and payers alike.
Key topics include:
- Joint preservation innovations: Advanced biologic and reconstructive methods designed to maintain native joint function, reduce post-traumatic degeneration, and delay the need for joint replacement
- Acute nerve management strategies: Microsurgical techniques such as targeted muscle and sensory reinnervation (TMR/TSR) and nerve transfers that restore sensation and improve prosthetic function
- Osseointegration: Bone-anchored prosthetic attachment techniques that enhance stability, balance, and mobility for amputees
“These are some of the most respected voices in modern orthopedics,” said Dr. Michael Choo. “Their work directly impacts functional recovery, patient independence, and long-term outcomes—the very measures that define success in workers’ compensation.”
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how surgical and clinical innovation can directly translate to stronger functional outcomes—and why that matters across every level of care and cost.
Lunch & Learn: The Benefits of Bundled Claim Management in Workers’ Comp
This elevated lunch session, “What is a Bundle, y’all?,” takes place Tuesday, November 11, from 12:15–1:15 pm CT at 1 Hotel Nashville across the street from the Convention Center.
This discussion will focus on a groundbreaking new approach to workers’ compensation claim management. Key topics include:
- The fragmented systems that exist today
- What we can learn from commercial healthcare
- What is a “bundle” for workers’ compensation?
- The benefits of bundled claim management
Attendees will hear from three Paradigm thought leaders who are driving innovation to reshape recovery outcomes and discovery how this new value-based, outcomes-focused approach can deliver much needed predictability, accountability, and better guaranteed outcomes to the industry.
Be sure to secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/MSKLunchLearn
Supporting Women Leaders in Workers’ Comp
Paradigm’s leadership also extends to industry advancement through sponsorship of the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation (AWWC). This year’s pre-conference event—“ALL IN FOR Building Bridges”—will take place on Monday, November 10, at 1 pm CT, bringing together voices from across the industry to discuss inclusion, leadership, and the future of collaboration in workers’ comp.
Elizabeth Ulloa Lowry, Senior Vice President of Risk Solutions at Paradigm, will join as a panelist, adding her perspective on innovation, connection, and leadership.
“Expect powerful conversations, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to shaping a more inclusive future,” said Lowry. “We’re proud to help build the bridges that move our industry forward.”
Stop by Booth #1323
Attendees can visit Paradigm at Booth #1323 throughout the conference to connect with the team, explore Paradigm’s solutions for complex and catastrophic cases, and take home a customized giveaway created right in the booth.
Why It Matters
From catastrophic trauma to common MSK injuries, orthopedics touches nearly every aspect of workers’ compensation care. Paradigm’s leadership at National Comp 2025 reinforces its commitment to innovation that delivers measurable outcomes—improved function, lower cost, and faster return to work.
This session is more than a medical update—it’s a look at where science, compassion, and business intersect to create meaningful results for injured workers and workers’ compensation payers.
About Paradigm
Paradigm is a specialty care management organization, focused on improving the lives of people with complex injuries and diagnoses. For nearly 35 years, the company has been a pioneer in value-based care, generating the very best outcomes for patients, payers, and providers in the workers’ compensation and healthcare markets. Paradigm impacts complex, high-cost care and spend categories through risk-based clinical solutions and case management, specialty networks, home health, shared decision support, and payment integrity programs. The company consistently delivers proven cost savings, while improving outcomes across the continuum of care. For more information, please visit www.paradigmcorp.com.
