Overview
In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games 2026, join us for the International Sports Surgery and Medicine Conference online or at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the UK’s only multi-disciplinary Royal College. Over the course of three dynamic days, global leaders in sports surgery, sport and exercise medicine, and rehabilitation will come together to deliver practical insights aimed at advancing athlete care, accelerating recovery and optimising performance.
Ample time is allocated throughout the three-day programme for networking with leading professionals who are shaping the future of sports surgery and sports exercise and medicine.
Days one and two focus on customised Sports Surgery and Rehabilitation techniques and innovations for the athlete, emphasising a multidisciplinary team approach
Day three is dedicated to Sports Medicine, focusing on practical updates and key insights relevant across all disciplines to enhance athlete recovery, reduce injury risk and support the effective management of the modern athlete, including biologics.
See the full three-day programme below.
Watch the video below with Conference Director, Professor Gordon Mackay, to find out more.
Register your interest
Stay updated and be the first to know when conference bookings open.
Register your interestLearning outcomes
By attending this conference you can expect to learn:
Who is this conference for?
The conference is designed for a multidisciplinary audience involved in the care, performance, and recovery of athletes at all levels.
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Particularly those specialising in sports injuries, arthroscopy and joint preservation.
Sport and exercise medicine physicians
- Experts in non-surgical management of athletic injuries and performance optimisation.
- Physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists
- Focused on post-operative care, injury prevention and return-to-play strategies.
- Athletic trainers and sports therapists
- Working directly with athletes in professional, amateur or youth sports settings.
- Performance coaches
- Interested in injury prevention, load management and rehabilitation protocols.
- Healthcare managers and policy makers
- Overseeing sports medicine services, surgical innovation or health system integration.
- Professional sports organisations
- Including medical teams from clubs, national teams and Commonwealth Games committees.
Meet the committee
Professor Gordon Mackay
Professor Gordon Mackay is an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist internationally recognised for pioneering ligament repair and reconstruction. He is the inventor of the Internal Brace technique, a globally adopted gold standard that has transformed ACL surgery and supported natural healing in appropriate cases. He is President and Founder of the Internal Brace International Study Group.
Dr Emma Lunan
Dr Emma Lunan is a consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and Deputy Chief Medical Advisor for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. She has worked extensively within elite sport, serving as medical officer for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Birmingham and various youth Olympic events. She works across multiple sports and is a contract sports doctor at the Scottish Institute of Sport, previously team doctor for the Scottish Women’s National Football Team.
Dr John Maclean
Dr John Maclean has been a Sport and Exercise Medicine physician and GP for over 40 years, working across multiple sports including football as CMO and National Men’s team doctor for the Scottish FA and for the sportscotland Institute of Sport. He has been part of the medical team at five Commonwealth Games, two Olympic Games and numerous European and World sporting events, and was CMO for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. He is part of the medical services team for the 2026 Games and holds roles with Commonwealth Sports Anti-Doping and Medical Commission, UEFA, the ICC, FIFA, UKAD and Sportpromote.
Mr William Wilson
Mr William Wilson is a consultant orthopaedic knee surgeon with a specialist interest in sports injuries, dual qualified in trauma and orthopaedics and sport and exercise medicine. He treats patients from those with arthritic knee pain to international level athletes and has been team doctor for the Irish Football Association, acting as head of medical at the UEFA European Championship Finals. His PhD in biomedical engineering focused on functional outcomes of ACL surgery, with widely published research on ACL reconstruction, ACL repair and the Internal Brace technique.
What happens on the day?
View the programme below.
08.30 - 17.00
Welcome and Introduction
- Professor Gordon Mackay, Conference Director, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist, President – InternalBrace International Study Group
- Peter Harcourt, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Medical Advisor, Chair to the Anti-Doping and Medical Commission and the Executive Board
Session 1: Achilles tendon pathology in running
- Surgical innovations in achilles tendon repair – Dr Jim McWilliam
- Multi ligament repair and augmentation of the ankle - Dr Cesar De Cesar Netto
- Rehabilitation and return-to-play: Changing protocols – Dr Robert Anderson
- Emerging Understanding of Achilles Tendon Pathology – Professor Neal Millar
- Athlete Case Study – John Jackson, Olympic Bobsleigh Champion
Session 2: Ankle instability in sport
- Surgical management of lateral ankle ligament injuries – Dr Bonnie Chien
- Syndesmotic injuries: Diagnosis and management with InternalBrace and TightRope – Dr Norman Waldrop III
- Internal bracing in high-demand environments, including findings from latest research – Dr Kevin Martin
- Athlete case study: Claire Maxwell - Rehabilitation and return to sport after ankle instability – Dr Adam Stokes
Session 3: Customised surgery and overuse injuries in golf
- Customised midfoot surgery – Dr Eric Giza
- Customised ligament reconstruction and internal bracing for spine and pelvis – Dr Marcus Regauer
- Rehabilitation for high-performance golfers – Mr Stuart Barton
- Athlete case study – Mr Paul Lawrie
Session 4: Swimming – Shoulder pathology and joint laxity
- Surgical stabilisation of shoulder instability in swimmers – Mr Andrew Brooksbank
- Management of AC joint instability – Dr Wiemi Douoguih
- Preventing shoulder injuries: Training and screening – Jon Twynam
- Athlete case study – Ross Murdoch and Kathleen Dawson
Session 5: Joint Resurfacing in Elite Athletes
- Minimising surgical trauma in hip replacement – Dr Kristian Kley
- Hip resurfacing: Indications and outcomes in athletes – Professor Dominic Meek
- Athlete case study - Bob MacIntyre
Evening Programme
- Networking and light refreshment at 18.00 at the College
- Cinema Screening at The Glasgow Film Theatre: 'Make it to Munich' at 19.30 at Glasgow Film Theatre
08.30 - 17.30
Keynote lecture: Legacy and innovation in surgery
- The Role of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in global surgical advancement - Professor Hany Eteiba
- A tribute to Sir William MacEwen – pioneer of the osteotome, Erskine knee brace, and surgical antisepsis - Professor Adrian Wilson
Session 1: Alignment, stability and injury management in judo
- Thumb dislocations: Innovative Surgical and Rehabilitation Approaches – Mr Kim Chan
- Injury prevention strategies in judo – A Physiotherapist’s perspective – Professor Kate Webster
- Case study: Sam Ingram – Blind judo athlete and ACL Recovery
Session 2: Elbow UCL injury in basketball – Surgical frontiers and functional return
- Surgical Innovation in UCL Reconstruction and internal bracing – Dr Alan Hirahara
- Rehabilitation and reducing risk of re-rupture – Dr Jeff Dugas (Virtual)
- Panel discussion and Q&A
Session 3: Management of ACL injuries for the female athlete
- Introduction and scope of the problem – Professor Kate Webster
- The role of the InternalBrace in ACL repair and reconstruction – Dr Patrick Smith
- Lower limb alignment and ACL rupture risk – Dr Kristian Kley
- Case study: Gracie Holmes
- Anterolateral ligament augmentation – Options to reduce ACL re-rupture – Mr William Wilson
- ACL reconstruction with the InternalBrace - Dr Patrick Smith
- The quadriceps tendon as a graft: Current evidence, indications and outcomes - Dr Justin Martin
- ACL injury prevention strategies in female sport – Dr Edoardo Monaco / Dr Alessandro Carrozzo
- Key principles after ACL surgery and return to sport – Professor Kate Webster
- Re-injury risk and long-term OA risk in female athletes – Dr Walter Lowe
- The canine ACL experience – Lessons from veterinary science – Professor Dr Antonio Pozzi, Sean Murphy
- Expert panel Q&A – Mr Kevin Farmer / Mr Mark Blyth / Gracie Holmes
Session 4: Track and field – Integrating podiatric and biological methods to accelerate recovery
- Podiatric considerations in running – Stability and insoles – Mandy Abbott
- Stem cells and beyond – Dr Konrad Slynarski
- Nutritional support in healing – Dr Rob Harrison
- Panel Q&A
- Closing statement - Dr Tom DeBerardino and Dr Asheesh Bedi
Optional evening programme
Post-Conference reception from 17.30 at the College
08.30 - 16.30
Session 1: Emergency response and athlete and long-term brain health
- Case study: Ethan Walker - Professor Gordon Mackay
- Pitch-side resuscitation: What every sports medic needs to know – Dr Jonny Gordon
- Structured guidance for immediate athlete stabilisation – Dr Kevin Thomson
- Understanding repetitive head trauma in sport – Dr Willie Stuart
- Concussion protocols: What’s changing and why? - Jonny Gordon
- The View of the sportswriter – Tom English
- Discussion: Cultural change and the duty of care
Session 2: Multi-ligament knee Injury – From chaos to coordination
- Staged surgery with graft vs primary repair in multi-ligament knee dislocation – Prof Karl-Heinz Frosch
- The role of internal bracing in complex knee injury – Dr Tom DeBerardino
- Rehabilitation shift: From immobilisation to functional load – Professor Kate Webster
- Panel discussion: Surgical strategy, outcome and recovery pathways – Dr A Masey
Session 4: Complementary interventions and the future of recovery
- A cautionary tale – Van Perse – Professor Bill Ribbans
- Ortho-biologics in muscle and ligament healing – Dr Konrad Slynarski
- Advances in chondral cartilage repair - Graeme Hopper
- Platelet-rich plasma and cell-based therapies – Dr Jim McWilliam
- Nutritional supplementation and wound healing – Dr Rob Harrison
- Monitoring and supporting the injured athlete’s mental health – Dr Carrie McCrea
- Panel session Q&A – Moderators: A Murray / Dr Markus Regauer / Dr Emma Lunan
Session 5: Looking forward – Technology, heritage and health for all
- The Role of AI Innovation in Injury Surveillance, Orthotics and Improving Outcomes – Professor David Lowe
- Real time data through smart clothing to improve training and performance - Jodie Sinclair
- The Value of Exercise for All – From Golf to Bowling – Andrew Murray
- Closing Tribute – Prof Stewart Hillis Lecture: Sport, Medicine and Surgery – Scotland’s Global Legacy - Andrew Massey
Screening: Make it to Munich
Join us for a special evening event featuring Make it to Munich, the inspiring true story of Ethan Walker, who embarks on an extraordinary journey to cycle from Scotland to Germany with filmmaker Martyn Robertson and surgeon Prof Gordon Mackay for Scotland’s opening match against Germany in Euro 2024. This is just nine months after Ethan suffers a life altering accident.
The screening will offer the opportunity for a Q&A session with those closely involved in the making of this extraordinary documentary.
The story connects directly to the topics explored throughout the conference, reinforcing key discussions on overcoming challenges, striving for excellence, and the pursuit of innovation in sports.
Why attend?
• Connect and reflect: share this unique experience with fellow delegates.
• Exclusive access: Reserved for registered conference participants only.
Venue: Glasgow Film Theatre
Date and time: Monday 20 July 2026, 19.30
Pre-screening: Join us for pre-screening networking and refreshments at the College from 18.00
Post-Conference Reception:
Join us at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow for a special reception. Celebrate the rich history of the city and College with access to rarely seen heritage collections, all while networking with fellow attendees.
Attending the conference
This event is both in-person and online. That means you get the chance to join us either at the College in Glasgow or your own home.
Coming to the College: For those joining us in Glasgow, you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, as well as lunch prepared by our award-winning chefs.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is conveniently located in Glasgow City Centre, within easy reach of major train stations, motorways and airports. Hotel and parking discounts can be accessed after booking.
Find out more about the best way to get to us.
Attending online: If you’re joining us remotely, details of how to dial in and any other information you need will be provided to you just before the date of the conference.
If you’ve not received your joining instructions by the date of the conference, please reach out to the event coordinator. Their details can be found on this page.
Claiming your CPD
This conference offers 6 CPD per day, A collective total of 18 CPD credits can be claimed if all three days are attended. This can be claimed via your College account. CPD points will be available after the conference as well as recordings of any sessions you missed. You can download your digital CPD certificate from your College account.
If you have any questions about claiming your CPD points, our Education team are happy to help.
Why attend? An update from the Organising Committee
"Join us in Glasgow, where world-class sport meets cutting-edge science, to shape the future of athlete health and performance. Experience the energy of the Commonwealth Games and connect with the people redefining sports medicine on a global stage."
Dr Emma Lunan
"With a varied programme of presentations from an expert, worldwide faculty, there is something for all of us who work with sportsmen and women and is an excellent curtain raiser for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games."
Dr John Maclean
"The diverse but purposefully focused scientific content provides learning opportunities for a wide range of clinicians to hear from international leaders in the field and to meet with them to discuss established techniques and recent innovations."
Mr William Wilson
Gallery
A look back at our previous conferences at the College.
Frequently asked questions
Over the course of three dynamic days, global leaders in sports surgery, sport and exercise medicine, and rehabilitation will come together to deliver practical insights aimed at advancing athlete care, accelerating recovery and optimising performance.
Register your interest now and be the first to know when tickets and prices become available in early 2026.
This three-day conference takes place on 20–22 July 2026 at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow or online. You are welcome to attend one, two or all three days of the conference.
The conference is designed for a multidisciplinary audience involved in the care, performance and recovery of athletes at all levels. This includes orthopaedic surgeons, sports and exercise medicine physicians, general practitioners, physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists, athletic trainers and sports therapists, performance coaches, professional sports organisations, and healthcare managers and policy makers.
There are many topics that will be covered in the conference such as ankle instability in sport, surgical and conservative ACL management for the female athlete, head trauma, concussion and long-term brain health. To see the full list of topics covered, please see the programme.
Yes, this conference provides 6 CPD per day. This means that you can collect up to 18 CPD by attending all three days.
You can register your interest for the conference by visiting the form at the bottom of the page. This will mean you are the first to know when bookings open for this exciting event.
Yes, international delegates can attend the Glasgow conference by joining us in person or online. If you’re joining us remotely, details of how to dial in and any other information you need will be provided to you just before the date of the conference.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the coordinator. Their details can be found below.
