Medacta operates at the intersection between advanced technology and human skill and has been shaping orthopaedic innovation for over two decades. How do your solutions in the field of orthopaedic surgery help to augment mankind?
Before discussing innovation itself, I think it is important to start with a principle that has always guided us: Education is what turns innovation into practice. It is more than a statement — it is the idea behind everything we do, from advancing orthopaedic surgery to supporting human development through education and social initiatives. At Medacta, where innovation is fundamental, we begin by listening to surgeons and understanding what they need to deliver the best possible care, while also helping healthcare systems become more efficient. That is why education remains essential: It gives surgeons the confidence to adopt new solutions safely and ensures innovation translates into real benefits for patients – helping them regain mobility, independence and quality of life. In this way, Medacta can contribute to “augmenting mankind”.
Can you tell us a little about the origins of your company?
Our father founded Medacta in 1999 after undergoing two hip replacements. His story left us with a simple lesson: The patient's experience comes first. Today, as a Member of the Board of Directors, I work with my two brothers – Francesco as CEO and Alessandro as Chief Supply Chain Officer – and with my father, Alberto, President of the Board and of the Foundation. Every day, we carry that principle forward and ensure that it guides our people at all times. To improve patient outcomes, we believe in one thing above all else: Every patient is unique. Anatomy and biomechanics differ from person to person, so treatments should be tailored accordingly. By combining state-of-the-art surgical techniques, implants, dedicated instruments and enabling technologies, we help surgeons make more personalised decisions and achieve better outcomes. Equally important is the fact that innovation alone is never enough: Every new technique or technology comes with a learning curve, and patients should never be the ones paying that price.
Can you elaborate on Medacta's strategic approach combining patient-specific solutions with medical education platforms for surgeons, and explain the concept behind the Medacta Orthopaedic Research and Education (M.O.R.E.) Institute?
When we introduced our Anterior Minimally Invasive Surgery (AMIS) approach to hip replacement, we realised that innovation only creates value when surgeons can adopt it confidently and consistently. That is why we founded the M.O.R.E. Institute in 2004. Over time, the M.O.R.E. Institute has become one of Medacta's defining strengths ‒ a global education network where surgeons learn from surgeons through Reference Centres, Learning Centres and peer-to-peer exchange. More than 650 experienced surgeons contribute to this community, with around 4,500 people having taken part in educational activities in 2025 alone.
Would you agree with the statement that education is the most powerful form of human augmentation?
If “augmentation” means enabling people to achieve more, then education is the most powerful expression of this. This principle extends far beyond the medical and surgical field. In this specific context, however, technology can certainly expand human capabilities but knowledge is what unlocks its full potential.
Where and how does technology genuinely enhance surgical precision? Is there also a risk that an increasing reliance on technology could erode core surgical skills over time?
Every patient is unique, and technology makes a real difference when it enables truly personalised care. It helps surgeons to better assess each patient's anatomy, plan procedures more accurately and improve surgical execution through enabling technologies such as augmented reality and robotics. Technology also plays an increasingly predictive role: By combining large-scale clinical data with AI, we can continue learning from every case and further refine clinical decision-making. New technologies often raise concerns about replacing human skills. In orthopaedics, they can augment surgical capabilities but will never replace the expertise, responsibility and decision-making that remain at the heart of every procedure. Technology delivers value only in the hands of a well-trained surgeon with strong clinical judgment and technical expertise.
Your solutions are often described as "patient specific". What does this mean in practice and does it alter the way that surgeons traditionally operate?
Patient-specific means recognising that no two patients are the same. At Medacta, this vision translates into solutions that support surgeons in tailoring each procedure to the individual patient, from planning to execution, combining advanced technologies with clinical expertise. This does not change the surgeon's role – it enhances it. The surgeon remains responsible for every clinical decision but has more patient-specific information and tools to deliver the most appropriate care. The same principle of personalised, appropriate care extends today far beyond the medical field. Whether in healthcare, education or social initiatives, recognising each individual and their unique circumstances is the first step toward helping them realise their full potential — whatever form that potential may take.
Advanced orthopaedic solutions can be resource intensive. How do you view the risk that augmentation becomes a privilege rather than a universal benefit?
This is exactly why sustainable innovation is one of the core values of our #beMedacta culture. For us, augmentation should never be a privilege. Innovation only creates value if it improves patient outcomes while making the best use of the resources available to healthcare systems. That means designing solutions that are effective, practical and easy to integrate into everyday clinical practice. We always aim to simplify workflows, make the most of existing resources and remove unnecessary complexity, so innovation can be adopted more widely. Our goal is not simply to make innovation available but also more widely accessible so that more surgeons can benefit from it and, ultimately, more patients.
In 2011, you founded the Medacta for Life Foundation – starting with a nursery for Medacta families. Today, it spans education (MySchool Ticino), social welfare in the local area (My Giving) and global medical missions (My Mission). What motivated you to launch the Foundation and how do you see it developing in the future?
The Foundation was born from a very personal experience and is rooted in the needs of families. In 2011, Medacta was growing rapidly, and I was fully focused on building the company. At the same time, meeting my husband and becoming a mother made me even more aware of the importance of supporting families and creating the right conditions for people to balance professional and personal lives — especially women. This was the origin of our first initiative: A corporate nursery designed to support Medacta families and the local community. But the Foundation also reflects values that have always been part of my family − the belief that success comes with a responsibility to contribute to society and to support those who face greater challenges, through care and meaningful ways to give back. Looking ahead, we want the Foundation to continue focusing on areas where we can make a tangible difference, especially for children, young people and families, while fostering collaboration with public institutions, other organisations and communities to create a lasting, systemic impact.
Through the work of your Foundation, you are also actively expanding access to care. What have the insights you have gained from these activities taught you about global disparities in health?
Experience has taught me that access to care starts well before medical treatment. Prevention, education and strong support networks often play a decisive role in improving people's lives and future opportunities. Health inequalities are not only linked to healthcare systems but also to the broader social environment surrounding individuals and families. For us, reducing inequality means creating the conditions for access to prevention and care to be as broad and inclusive as possible. Philanthropy has an important role to play, not by replacing existing systems, but by helping to create better opportunities and focusing attention on areas where needs are greatest. No single organisation can address all these challenges alone. Meaningful changes and lasting impact require collaboration between foundations, public institutions, healthcare professionals, educators and local communities. Philanthropy can act as a catalyst by connecting these stakeholders, fostering innovation and supporting preventive, long-term solutions. This collaborative approach offers the strongest foundation for creating sustainable change and therefore reducing disparities.
In your view, does a long-term, family-driven perspective change how Medacta approaches innovation and social responsibility?
A long-term, family-driven perspective naturally shapes the way we think and the way both Medacta and the Foundation operate. Many of the choices we make today are rooted in the vision and values that our family established from the beginning, and that we have continued to nurture and evolve over time. This perspective gives us a strong sense of responsibility: to preserve what has been built, while continuing to innovate, grow and create value for future generations. I would say that at Medacta, innovation has always been guided by purpose — starting with the patient and the desire to improve quality of life, rather than being an end in itself. Equally, our commitment to social responsibility is an integral part of our culture, extending beyond the organisation to families, communities and the wider environment. This long-term perspective allows us to look beyond short-term results and focus on creating lasting value. Ultimately, it is this family legacy — passed down from my father and my mother to my brothers and me — that inspires us to pursue excellence and to measure success not only by economic performance but also by the positive impact we may create. For us, true success means contributing to a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Looking ahead 10–15 years, what are your hopes for your company, the Foundation and other initiatives, and what is your vision for your family legacy?
In just over 25 years, Medacta has consistently grown at a pace consistently faster than the market. And yet, despite this remarkable journey, we still hold only 3% market share in our core segments. This is not a constraint — it is a powerful opportunity. It tells us that our journey is far from over and that we have at least another 10-15 years ahead of us to continue outgrowing the market, deliberately shaping the future of Medacta rather than simply responding to it. The Foundation has also experienced a remarkable evolution. From its early beginnings, it has grown to a team of nearly 80 people. Our educational campus has expanded from an initial area of 200 square metres that was dedicated to the nursery to more than 2,000 square metres today, welcoming over 200 pupils at My School Ticino. Each year, we support around 40 associations, while an increasing number of international missions in underserved countries receive financial contributions and donations of orthopaedic products. This growth, in both cases, is built on exceptionally strong cultural foundations. Preserving and strengthening this culture as the organisation scales is one of the most important challenges we face. It is a challenge that calls for vision, discipline and a structured approach, both for the company and the Foundation. In the end, it is only by remaining deeply anchored to our values that we can continue to innovate, grow and create lasting impact. Protecting what made us strong from the very beginning is not just a responsibility; it is the key to building the future we aspire to.