Surgeons Get Graded: Your Report Card Is Online

The ProPublica “Surgeon Scorecard” has been available online since July 15. If any AAOS members haven’t yet checked out this tool, it might be a good idea to look yourself up. The scorecard details complication rates for individual surgeons who perform any of eight different procedures, five of which are orthopaedic (hip and knee replacement, cervical spine fusion, and anterior and posterior column lumbar fusion).

The Value of Mentorship in Increasing Diversity in Orthopaedics

Jennifer Wozniczka, MD

Although orthopaedic surgery is a popular, competitive field for medical students, it lags behind other surgical specialties attracting women. Nearly half of all medical students are female, but just 12 percent of orthopaedic residents are female, compared to nearly 35 percent of general surgery residents. One way to improve diversity in orthopaedics is to mentor female medical students. The apprenticeship model used in surgical training is the historical root for mentoring.

In Memoriam

John Monte Clark, MD April 13, 2015 Seattle Jerry L. Cochran, MD July 10, 2014 Midland, Texas William C. Collins, MD Feb. 25, 2013 Atlanta J. Randall Davis, MD July 23, 2015 Pacific Palisades, Calif. William F. Garvin, MD May 18, 2015 Lincoln, Neb. Malcolm A. Meyn Jr, MD Nov. 17, 2014 Cincinnati Clarence E. Walls, MD March 12, 2015 Holland, Mich.

Support the 2016 AAOS Playground Build

Alan S. Hilibrand, MD

With another AAOS Annual Meeting come plans for another safe and accessible playground build in the host city. The 2016 AAOS Playground Build will take place Tuesday, March 1, in Orlando, Fla.

Harnessing the Wind

Jennie McKee

“Sailing is exhilarating and calming at the same time,” said orthopaedic surgeon William Strassberg, MD. “I have always enjoyed the magic of harnessing the wind and being silently powered. “In training and my early years of practice,” he added, “sailing was a great getaway, because of the peace and quiet. But it also let me explore my adventurous side.” Originally from New York City, Dr.

Leadership: A Personal Journey

Jared L. Harwood, MD; Jeremy M. Burnham, MD

What is leadership? Although a dictionary might say that leadership is “the act of leading a group of people or an organization,” such a definition is severely lacking. The daily bombardment of essays and workshops on the topic makes it seem more of a commodity than the stuff of greatness. Everyone seems all too eager to share their version of leadership, for just three payments of $19.99 each.

Call for Papers and Posters

Combined Orthopaedic Associations 2016 COMOC Congress Every 6 years, members of seven English-speaking orthopaedic associations (the AAOS, American Orthopaedic Association, Australian Orthopaedic Association, British Orthopaedic Association, Canadian Orthopaedic Association, New Zealand Orthopaedic Association, and South African Orthopaedic Association) convene for scientific and social programming. Meetings rotate among nations, with participating associations serving as hosts.

Pat on the Back...

Samuel Bruce Adams Jr, MD, recipient of the 2015 American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) J. Leonard Goldner Award. Judith F. Baumhauer, MD, MPH, recipient of the 2015 AOFAS Roger A. Mann Award. Alvin H. Crawford, MD, recipient of an Honorary Professor degree from the University of Ioannina, Greece. Lew C. Schon, MD, and Dorian Y. Reid, MD, recipients of the 2015 Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation Fellowship Challenge award.

Setting AAOS Now Straight

I have to be honest that I was distressed to hear that S. Terry Canale, MD, was retiring from AAOS Now as editor-in-chief. I used Terry’s homespun humor and wisdom not only in the field of orthopaedic surgery, but also in Sunday School lessons, sermons, and even once in a funeral eulogy.