BOTS: Boston Orthopedic Technology Summit | May 15-16, 2026 | Cambridge, MA
Boston Orthopedic Technology Summit: About Us
Theodore A. Blaine, MD, MBA
Theodore A. Blaine, (MD, MBA), is an accomplished orthopedic surgeon, academician, and healthcare leader, having served as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the two largest healthcare systems in Connecticut – Yale New Haven Health System (2011-2017) and Hartford Healthcare (2018-2019). Currently, he is Vice Chair of Academics and Research (CT) and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Hospital for Special Surgery, the #1 rated orthopedic hospital in the world.
He is also the founder and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty, as well as a surgeon designer and Board member at Catalyst Orthoscience. A graduate of Princeton University (AB), The University of Connecticut (MD), and the MIT Sloan School of Business Administration (MBA), he also holds graduate degrees from Brown University and Yale University. In 2024, he co-founded OpDoc, a seed stage company committed to building AI-powered products in healthcare, aligning with the latest trends in orthopedic innovation. With a passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, and building high-performing teams, he is dedicated to addressing the most challenging problems in musculoskeletal care, often sharing insights at events like the Boston Orthopedic Technology Summit.
Hafiz Feezer Kassam, MD
Hafiz F. Kassam, (MD), is a double board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex shoulder and elbow reconstruction. Currently serving as the Director of the Shoulder Reconstruction Division at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Southern California, Dr. Kassam’s high-volume surgical practice is entirely dedicated to complex shoulder and elbow replacements, soft tissue reconstruction, and has a particular interest in revision surgery. A prolific clinician-scientist, he has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and was recently honored with the Charles S. Neer Award, one of the highest academic achievements in the field of shoulder and elbow surgery, which reflects his commitment to orthopedic innovation.
Beyond his surgical practice, Dr. Kassam is a leader in medical education. He is the Founder & Director of OC Shoulder, an intimate medical education conference that gathers leading experts from around the country to discuss advancements in musculoskeletal care and shoulder treatment. He is also the Co-Director for Critical Concepts in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, a 3-day bio-skills course held annually in Las Vegas, that teaches the latest hands-on techniques to surgeons from around the world.
In addition to his clinical roles, he serves as a Ringside Physician for USA Boxing and is a member of the highly selective American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) society. Dr. Kassam is also intimately involved in health policy research and healthcare advocacy, serving as the Chair of the ASES advocacy committee. He consistently meets with lawmakers and congressional members to help shape healthcare delivery and advocate for both physician and patient protections, ensuring that advancements discussed at events like the Boston Orthopedic Technology Summit are effectively implemented.
Salma Ben-Salem, MSc, PhD
Salma Ben-Salem (Msc, PhD) is currently serving as Managing Director of the Technology Innovation Studio: TINS, a physical space in Kendall Square that unites a diverse group of professionals—including business leaders, scientists, researchers, serial entrepreneurs, angel and VC investors, industry experts, corporate innovation teams, and policy experts—to explore and implement innovative tools, methods, and models for accelerating innovation. TINS benefits from its location at the Cambridge Innovation Center, recognized as the world's largest connected innovation campus, with locations across the US, Europe, and Asia. Salma empowers founders by designing highly curated programs and strategic consulting initiatives tailored to the lifecycle of deep-tech startups. Driven by a passion for community building, she facilitates meaningful engagement within the Kendall Square ecosystem, connecting emerging ventures with world-class experts. In addition to her leadership at TINS, she serves as the interim CEO of ClearTB, a startup dedicated to developing novel therapeutics for Tuberculosis.
Her previous experience includes working for early-stage biotech companies as a principal scientist, where she developed diagnostic assays for predicting prostate cancer progression. Salma completed her postdoctoral research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, supporting oncology drug discovery initiatives across various modalities and therapeutic areas, and has over 35 publications in esteemed peer-reviewed journals including Nature Genetics, Nature, Cancer Research, and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Salma began her career as a medical geneticist at United Arab Emirates University, where she studied genetic defects associated with inherited disorders. She holds a B.S in Biological Sciences and obtained her MS and Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax in Tunisia.