An Assessment of Culture in Orthopaedic Surgery

Ann E. Van Heest, MD; Kristy L. Weber, MD

Culture in the workplace is the personality and character of our profession, reflecting the values, attitudes, and beliefs of orthopaedic surgeons. Recent high-profile cases have highlighted discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment, and harassment occurring in multiple professions, businesses, and organizations. The culture within the surgical community is particularly susceptible to harassment and discrimination, given the marked gender and racial disparities within the community.

AAOS Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policy and Procedures

AAOS prohibits harassment or discrimination in any form by any person(s) attending or otherwise participating in AAOS-sponsored events, meetings, or social gatherings.

AAOS Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism: Sexual Harassment

An AAOS Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism is an official AAOS statement dealing with an ethical issue, which offers aspirational advice on how an orthopaedic surgeon can best deal with a particular situation or circumstance. Developed through a consensus process by the AAOS Committee on Ethics and Outside Interests, an Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism is not a product of a systematic review.

AAOS Doubles Down Against Discrimination and Harassment

Jennifer M. Weiss, MD

On the pages surrounding this column, you will find the Academy’s new Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policy and Procedures and the updated AAOS Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism: Sexual Harassment. They are two very powerful documents, to say the least.

Encouraging Professionalism in the Workplace Through Education

Kerri Fitzgerald

Increasing demands and changes in the healthcare system can both positively and negatively impact professional behavior. In light of the #MeToo movement, the focus on workplace behavior has intensified. As a follow-up to a session presented at the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference in June, a symposium at the AAOS Fall Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, titled “Professional Behavior 2.