What does the future hold for physicians?

Mary Ann Porucznik

Orthopaedists from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., April 28–May 1, 2010, for the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC). It was an opportunity for many to meet with their congressional representatives and press for action on issues such as the Medicare physician payment formula, the Access to America’s Orthopaedic Services (AAOS) Act, and the Health Information Technology (HITECH) Act.

All aboard the quality train!

John J. Callaghan, MD

As many of you know, I’ve identified “quality” as the focus of my AAOS presidency. I understand that every member of the AAOS believes that he or she delivers quality care to his or her patients. At the end of the day, however, I think most of us realize there is always room for improvement. The perception that quality problems exist is widespread.

Special notice: No e-commerce July 1–12

Jim Ogle

Password-protected sections of AAOS Web site will be inaccessible If you’ve been reading AAOS Now recently, you know that the AAOS will be upgrading its association management system in July to further improve the Academy’s secure credit card processing environment. During the conversion period, from July 1–12, all password-protected sections of the AAOS Web site that involve e-commerce or database updates will be inaccessible.

The BOS—working for you!

John D. Kelly IV, MD

By John D. Kelly IV, MD You probably know who The Boss is, but are you aware of the BOS? The Board of Specialty Societies (BOS) was conceived as a means of facilitating communication, collegiality, and unity among the 22 musculoskeletal specialty societies, as well as fostering communication on between the societies and the AAOS leadership.

Reach out to patients with COAP

Michael F. Schafer, MD

By Michael F. Schafer, MD The AAOS can help you in your public education endeavors Have you been asked to give a talk on arthritis, bone health, or sports injuries in your community and are already pressed for time? Stress no more—the AAOS has created 15 orthopaedic PowerPoint presentations, along with scripts, to help you in your public education initiatives.

In Memoriam

Saul M. Bernstein, MD April 19, 2010 Van Nuys, Calif. Carl C. MacCartee Jr., MD March 24, 2010 Washington, D.C. Si F. Moorehead Jr., MD May 17, 2009 Collierville, Tenn. Armand J. Scully, MD Las Vegas, Nev. Thomas W. Talkington Jr., MD April 25, 2010 Jackson, Miss. Joseph H. Zeleny, MD Saint Cloud, Minn.

Leave it under the surface—no one will ever know!!!

S. Terry Canale, MD

Rapid chondrolysis has been shown to occur in the shoulder following pump infusion of 0.5 percent bupivacaine; recent research by Constance R. Chu, MD, and others has substantiated this fact. As a result, pain pumps have fallen out of favor and have been taken off the market, and lawsuits have been instituted. This issue of AAOS Now takes a closer look at this situation, including an interview with Dr. Chu (“Raising a red flag on intra-articular injections”).

AAOS gives back to New Orleans

Jennie McKee

Community service projects help beautify, rebuild homes A group of AAOS staff members stayed in New Orleans to give back to the community after the 2010 AAOS Annual Meeting came to a successful close. In conjunction with two non-profit organizations—Beacon of Hope and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity—staff members helped clean up and landscape one neighborhood and participated in building another home.

Medicine: Almost as challenging as music

Peter Pollack

Orthopaedic surgeon finds fulfillment in returning to his musical roots A physician who from an early age wanted to enter the medical field might not raise any eyebrows, but at least one renowned orthopaedist never even considered a career in medicine until he was in college, at a time when he was already working hard to become a professional musician. “I never really thought about medicine, to be honest with you,” says Alvin H. Crawford, MD, FACS, winner of the 2007 AAOS Diversity Award.

Making orthopaedics more diverse

Jennie McKee

AAOS reaches out to SNMA and LMSA members The AAOS joined forces with orthopaedic residency programs in Chicago this spring to help bring more diversity to orthopaedics. AAOS Diversity Advisory Board members and representatives from local orthopaedic residency programs attended the Student National Medical Association’s (SNMA) 2010 Annual Medical Education Conference in Chicago to recruit pre-medical and medical students to orthopaedics.

AAOS donates $50,000 to Haitian relief efforts

Four organizations will share funds In recognition of the tireless commitment made by hundreds of AAOS members in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti earlier this year, the Board of Directors of the AAOS authorized donations totaling $50,000 to four organizations that deliver orthopaedic-related patient care and relief.

Pat on the back...

Members of the 2009–2010 AAOS Now Advisory Task Force: Alan S. Hilibrand, MD; Peter L. Meehan, MD; Dirk H. Alander, MD; Andrew M. Wong, MD; Marc M. DeHart, MD; and Annette Procknow. 2010–2011 Washington Health Policy Fellows: Carolyn Hettrich, MD, MPH; and Richard C. Mather III, MD. The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons’ (ABJS) 2010–2011 officers: John H. Healey, MD, FACS, president; Mary I. O’Connor, MD, first vice-president; Edward G.

AAOS adopts “green” practices

Erin L. Ransford; Joel Datz

Academy staff promote sustainability, social responsibility Eliminating paper agenda books, increasing recycling, reducing electricity through the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, conducting field tests for the Orthopaedic In-Training Exam (OITE) electronically—these are just a few of the steps the AAOS has taken to help conserve natural resources and reduce the Academy’s impact on the environment.