Ruurd Jaarsma

Professor Ruurd Jaarsma serves as Clinical and Academic Director of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery for the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, practicing at Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders Private Hospital. He holds full membership in Flinders University's College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, and Medical Device Research Institute within the College of Science and Engineering, bridging clinical practice and academic research since relocating from the Netherlands in 2004.

His educational credentials include:

• MD from University of Groningen, Netherlands (1994)
• Orthopaedic Surgeon certification from Dutch College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2003)
• PhD from University of Nijmegen, Netherlands (2004)
• FRACS (Orth) from Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2009)
• FA(Orth)A from Australian Orthopaedic Association (2012)

Research centers on orthopaedic trauma, paediatric orthopaedics, and biomechanical engineering of implants, with specialized focus on rotational malalignment after long bone nailing. His work directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through trauma care innovation and surgical education. Current investigations integrate machine learning with fracture diagnostics to improve clinical decision-making.

Recent publications demonstrate strong AI integration in orthopaedic trauma, featuring machine learning algorithms for scaphoid fracture probability estimation, deep learning classification of tibial plateau fractures, and open-source neural networks for distal radius fracture detection. Concurrent clinical trials address compartment syndrome diagnosis while biomechanical studies examine acetabular fracture outcomes, reflecting his dual focus on computational innovation and clinical validation.

His scientific recognition includes:

• 2006 Burns Alpers Award for excellence in teaching from Flinders University

As Director of Orthopaedic Training, he supervises Australian Orthopaedic Association accredited fellowships with registered interests in orthopaedic surgery, biomechanical engineering, and musculoskeletal medicine. His supervisory framework emphasizes translational research connecting biomechanical principles with surgical practice. External engagement includes active participation in SA State Trauma Committees, driving statewide improvements in trauma systems and surgical protocols.

Professor Jaarsma maintains clinical-academic synergy through Flinders Medical Centre's orthopaedic department, where he leads trauma service development while directing research initiatives in the Medical Device Research Institute. His current projects focus on AI-driven fracture assessment tools and biomechanical optimization of implant systems, with ongoing collaborations across the Machine Learning Consortium and international orthopaedic networks.