Published 3/13/2025
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Leah Lawrence
Outgoing AAOS President Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FAAOS, wrapped up his term leading AAOS by expressing his gratitude.
“I have always felt lucky to be an orthopaedic surgeon, able to help many people in a time of need and generate long-lasting bonds with patients, colleagues, students, and residents who have since become colleagues,” Dr. Tornetta said during his address at Your Academy on Wednesday morning, his final time addressing the membership as 2024Ð2025 AAOS president.
Dr. Tornetta, who is director of orthopaedic trauma at Boston Medical Center and professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University, shared that he felt grateful for the privilege of working with AAOS’ devoted Board of Directors (BoD) and staff on behalf of members and their patients. “What’s good for patients is good for us,” he said, “and that has never been more true than it is now.”
Important achievements
The BoD and council chairs spent this past year working to make improvements and arm members with the tools they need to navigate changing and unpredictable times. These efforts include activating the new Strategic Plan and focusing more attention on the energetic younger members who are the future of the field.
“Our advocacy efforts are ubiquitous in Washington,” Dr. Tornetta added. “We are aggressively pursuing new legislation to claw back unacceptable Medicare cuts recently passed, and we are always involved in in any proposal for alternative payments plans based on our strong reputation in Washington as patient advocates.”
Another area of focus for the BoD has been evolving the organization’s governance structure. “Last year, I told you all that we would be recommending major changes,” Dr. Tornetta said. “To that end, we will all vote on a streamlined set of bylaws after this meeting that have been created with the help of two different [AAOS] boards, amended and supported overwhelmingly by the [Board of Specialty Societies] and [Board of Councilors] representatives.”
The goal of these changes, he said, is for AAOS to evolve with the times and become a higher-functioning organization that can respond to a rapidly changing environment. The proposed changes are available to view online at aaos.org/governancechange, including Frequently Asked Questions and other information for members to consider. “These changes are not only required,” he said, “but long overdue.”
Practicing gratitude
During his tenure, Dr. Tornetta interacted with thousands of members, most of whom were at meetings to discuss high-quality patient care. The discussions also touched on not only how to have a satisfying practice but also the challenges orthopaedic surgeons face. Dr. Tornetta shared that members expressed frustration about the uncertainties of the changing healthcare landscape, often feeling a lack of control. He acknowledged that he has felt those pressures as well but tries to combat them by viewing the world more broadly. He discussed how practicing gratitude can improve job satisfaction and increase empathy.
“We hold a relatively revered position in our communities and, despite some mild negative changes, are extremely well compensated for our efforts,” Dr. Tornetta said. “It’s easy to forget these things and focus on the threats to our practices and our autonomy, but day to day, we still have the best job in the world.”
Dr. Tornetta challenged audience members to imagine being born with the same intelligence and talents—but in a different country, in different circumstances, or with fewer opportunities or options.
“Would you be successful? Would you be well educated? Would you be struggling? Could you have been led down a bad path?” Dr. Tornetta asked. “Don’t get me wrong—like you, I feel like I’ve earned everything that I have, but at the same time, it is quite clear to me that many who could be exactly like me, like us, will never have that chance because they didn’t have the same start in life.”
The greatest attribute a person can have is compassion, Dr. Tornetta stressed. He thanked the countless surgeons he has met who have consistently demonstrated compassion for others, through actions such as going to meetings to improve how they practice or taking care of the less fortunate.
Grateful for support
Finally, as he wrapped up a busy year full of activity, Dr. Tornetta thanked his predecessor Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS, president of AAOS from 2023 to 2024, for his advice and support, as well as the leaders who will follow—incoming President Ned Amendola, MD, FAAOS; First Vice President Wilford K. Gibson, MD, FAAOS; and Second Vice President Michael L. Parks, MD, FAAOS—for their camaraderie throughout the year. He also thanked several board members with whom he has served for multiple years.
“Lastly, I am grateful to all AAOS members for having faith in your Board and for representing your profession’s standards and mission every day,” Dr. Tornetta said.
He closed by again emphasizing how proud he is to be an orthopaedic surgeon and a physician. “There is no more rewarding job that I can imagine,” Dr. Tornetta said, “and I expect you all feel the same way.”
Leah Lawrence is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.