Hey there, it's Tiger Buford, your "go-to" retained recruiter in orthopedics who understands startups. I talk with ortho company leaders every day and compiled this comprehensive list of trends that I see, but I may have missed some. Let me know.
Buckle up because 2025 is shaping up to be a wild ride in our industry. We're looking at a deal-making gold rush with strategic acquisitions set to skyrocket, while the private equity takeovers are cooling off. The Big Orthos, rolling in cash but starved for growth, are eyeing up the smaller, beaten-down public companies for mergers, thanks to a more lenient antitrust climate. Meanwhile, the Little Orthos are finding the moat around healthcare access getting deeper, with the Big 7 tightening their grip. Surgeons? They're making less while working more, and more are turning into employees. But it's not all doom and gloom; IPOs are back on the menu, and with AI, ASCs, and a shift from traditional trade shows to podcasts, we're seeing some real innovation. And let's not forget, the FDA's eye is on cybersecurity and easing up on some regulations, which could shake things up. So, what's the takeaway? This year, it's all about doing more with ...
