AAOS Names New Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Public Board Member

Following the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting, the new AAOS first vice president, second vice president, treasurer, and public board member assumed their roles for the 2025-2026 term.

First vice president
Virginia orthopaedic surgeon Wilford K. Gibson, MD, FAAOS, was named first vice president of the AAOS Board of Directors (BoD). Dr. Gibson’s service to AAOS spans more than a decade with numerous leadership roles, including chair of the Board of Councilors and chair of the AAOS Advocacy Council. A passionate advocate for advancing orthopaedic care and patient outcomes, he also served on the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC) for nearly a decade.

Dr. Gibson’s journey as a leader in orthopaedic care began during his military service. He was deployed aboard the USS Nassau for operations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Since transitioning to civilian practice, Dr. Gibson has been a partner at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, where he focuses on patient-specific hip and knee replacements, robotics, and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Second vice president
New York orthopaedic surgeon Michael L. Parks, MD, FAAOS, was named second vice president of the AAOS BoD. Dr. Parks has made a significant and lasting impact as a physician, advocate, and mentor. Among his many AAOS volunteer positions, Dr. Parks served as treasurer and BoD member-at-large. His leadership was recognized with the AAOS Diversity Award in 2019 and Achievement Award in 2012.

A specialist in the surgical treatment of arthritis in adults, Dr. Parks is highly regarded for his expertise in reconstructive procedures for the hip and knee. His clinical research focuses on joint replacement surgery and emphasizes reducing health disparities and addressing socio-economic factors affecting healthcare outcomes. Following an orthopaedic residency at Duke University Medical Center, he continued his training at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York with a fellowship on the Hip and Knee Service, where he remains in practice today.

Treasurer
Massachusetts orthopaedic surgeon Mininder S. Kocher, MD, MPH, FAAOS, was named treasurer of AAOS. An internationally recognized expert in pediatrics, sports medicine, and clinical epidemiology, Dr. Kocher has been a leader within AAOS, serving on both the BoD and the Board of Specialty Societies. Beyond AAOS, Dr. Kocher has helped shape the future of orthopaedics through his involvement on the board of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.

Dr. Kocher specializes in pediatric sports medicine and fracture care, serving as team physician for numerous high schools and colleges. He has been recognized with numerous research awards, including the Orthopaedic Research Education Foundation Clinical Research Award. Dr. Kocher serves as chief of the Division of Sports Medicine and O’Donnell Family Endowed Chair at Boston Children’s Hospital, and professor of orthopaedic surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Public board member
Delaware healthcare executive Timothy J. Constantine was named public board member of the AAOS BoD. Mr. Constantine brings extensive experience in the healthcare, financial services, and nonprofit industries. He retired from Highmark Inc. in 2023 after serving several executive roles, most recently as chairperson of the board of United Concordia Companies, Inc., Highmark’s dental subsidiary.

Before joining United Concordia, Mr. Constantine held leadership roles at Highmark Health Plan and Highmark Delaware, where he served as executive vice president of commercial markets and president, respectively. He also spent more than a decade with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, including serving as its president and CEO from 2006 to 2011.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Constantine is deeply committed to community service. He serves on the board for Highmark BCBSD Inc., United Way of Delaware, and the Ministry of Caring. He also is a certified mentor with SCORE Delaware (Service Corps of Retired Executives), providing guidance to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

OrthoPAC is affiliated with and connected to the 501(c)(6) Association. OrthoPAC is not connected to or affiliated with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which is a 501(c)(3) organization.