Claudette Lajam, MD, is the New Advocacy Resources Committee Chairman

Julia Williams

The Board of Councilors (BOC) Advocacy Resources Committee (ARC) is responsible for recruitment, retention, and education of Congressional Ambassadors, or key contacts.These key contacts are a part of the AAOS office of government relations’ grassroots/grass-tops team and are critical to robust, effective advocacy. Claudette Lajam, MD, an adult reconstructive surgeon at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, was named chairman of ARC during the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

New President David A. Halsey, MD, Speaks of an Academy That Will Adapt to Challenges

Terry Stanton

In delivering his address as incoming AAOS president at the 2018 Annual Meeting on March 8, David A. Halsey, MD, invoked a biomechanical principle—Wolff’s law—to describe how under his leadership he envisions an Academy that continues to respond to the various disruptive changes affecting the practice of orthopaedic medicine. The principle that a bone will adapt to the loads under which it is placed embodies the notion that “form follows function,” Dr. Halsey said.

New AUC on DDH Offers Guidance for Pediatricians and Orthopaedists

Terry Stanton

At the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the AAOS Board of Directors approved the release of Appropriate Use Criteria covering Management of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) in Infants Up to 6 Months of Age. Based on the Academy’s previously issued Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on DDH, this new AUC is noteworthy because it provides a customized version for orthopaedic surgeons as well as generalists/pediatricians.

AAOS Tackles Controversies Surrounding the Use of Biologics in Orthopaedic Surgery

Clinical use of biologics to treat orthopaedic problems has greatly outpaced the evidence. This rise is primarily due to widespread use of “minimally manipulated” autologous therapies that are either blood products or have been interpreted as falling within the Public Health Service Act Section 361 pathway, which does not require premarket approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

William J. Maloney, MD, Looks Back on Eventful Year

Terry Stanton

In delivering his final address as Academy president at the 2018 Annual Meeting, William J. Maloney, MD, described his year of service as “a very busy time.” He noted that his presidential year began with the arrival of new executive leadership—Thomas E. Arend Jr, CAE, chief executive officer, and Dino Damalas, MBA, chief operating officer.

Kristy L. Weber, MD, Begins Term as First Vice-President

Terry Stanton

Although it was only by coincidence of the calendar that Kristy L. Weber, MD, addressed an Annual Meeting audience as the 2018 first vice-president on International Women’s Day, the timing only underscored the historic aspect of the moment. Toward the conclusion of her address in which she outlined a commitment to “unify and work collectively as orthopaedic surgeons in order to have the most effective voice in quality and advocacy issues,” Dr.

Short-term Pessimism, Long-term Optimism

Peter Pollack

Democracies are facing crossroads right now, noted political commentator David Gergen, who took the stage as presidential guest speaker at the Your Academy 2018 event during the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting. “Where are we going? It is an important question for the country. A number of democracies have improved their governance in recent years, but others have gone the other way.” Mr. Gergen explained that traditionally, democracies have fallen to coups led by military leaders.

Best of Orthopaedic Community Bolster the 2018 AAOS Board of Directors

At the conclusion of the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the AAOS Board of Directors had eight members transition into new roles. The 2018 Board of Directors will build on the previous Board’s momentum, enabling the organization to evolve and keep pace with the ever-changing healthcare environment. David A. Halsey, MD, became the president of the AAOS Board of Directors.

Congratulations to the 2018 Poster Award Winners

More than 1,000 posters were accepted for display at the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The overall best poster was announced onsite by Marc R. Safran, MD, chair of the Central Program Committee, during the Poster and Scientific Exhibit Award Ceremony and Breakfast event on March 9. Poster P0724 was recognized as the best poster overall. The following is a list of winning posters and their authors.

Congratulations to the 2018 Senior Achievement Award and Achievement Award Winners

Volunteer involvement is at the heart of all AAOS activities. The Academy’s meetings, courses, educational materials, clinical practice guidelines, and advocacy efforts are just a few of the many activities that depend on volunteer participation. Not only are volunteers vital to the AAOS, they also play a significant role in local, state, and national orthopaedic societies; specialty societies; and the broader medical community.

Academy Announces Orthopaedic Video Theater Award Winners

The AAOS Orthopaedic Video Theater (OVT) is a collection of nearly 700 surgical technique videos across a variety of orthopaedic specialties. Each year, renowned experts and innovators from around the globe share their surgical techniques and approaches via OVT video submissions, which are available for viewing at the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting. At the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, 11 video programs were honored as OVT 2018 Award Winners and six received honorable mentions.

Share Your Knowledge at the AAOS 2019 Annual Meeting

The AAOS Central Program Committee is issuing a call for abstracts on a wide variety of orthopaedic-related topics. AAOS members, residents, and all orthopaedic professionals are invited to submit abstracts for the AAOS 2019 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, to be held March 12–16. Nowhere else will your discoveries reach such a wide-ranging orthopaedic audience.

AAOS Thanks Sponsors

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons gratefully acknowledges the following companies, organizations, and individuals for their financial support of AAOS programs and projects throughout 2017 and at the 2018 Annual Meeting.

Volunteering Is a Privilege and Our Duty

David A. Halsey, MD

As orthopaedic surgeons, we have made a near-lifelong commitment to use our intellect and physical abilities to care for patients suffering from a wide variety of ailments and injuries. The results of our work are evident in the patients we serve, but our passion and devotion can—and should—extend well past the walls of our practices. One of the best and most rewarding ways to take advantage of our gifts and maximize our impact is to volunteer.

A Tribute to Stuart Hirsch, MD

S. Terry Canale, MD; Kay C. Daugherty, BS

Former AAOS Now Editorial Board member Stuart Hirsch, MD, passed away peacefully in his Florida home on March 7, 2018, with his wife Lisa by his side. After receiving his MD degree from the University of Virginia and completing his orthopaedic residency at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Brooklyn, Stuart served in the U.S. Air Force and completed a fellowship at the AO Group in Switzerland. He later joined his brother, Paul, in practice in Bridgewater, N.J.

ABOS Unveils New MOC Path

Terry Stanton

In January 2019, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) will launch a new Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part III option to demonstrate evidence of cognitive expertise. The action is a positive development for those who don’t relish the prospect of taking a computer-based or oral examination every 10 years to recertify.

The Importance of Mentorship: Inspiration and Support

Christen M. Russo, MD

Ten years ago, I did not know the name Ruth Jackson or the society named after her. I was also unfamiliar with Jacquelin Perry and The Perry Initiative. Somehow, I found my way to orthopaedic surgery without a female mentor, albeit through a circuitous route. I spent my years of training, both residency and fellowship, working with fewer than 10 female orthopaedists—seven residents and two faculty members. I made it, though, so what’s the big deal?

In Memoriam

Feb. 1, 2018 Louisville, Ky. Paul D. Choi, MD Jan. 26, 2018 Los Angeles Edwin C. Fulton, MD May 24, 2017 Glen Burnie, Md. Stuart Hirsch, MD March 7, 2018 Port Saint Lucia, Fla. Norton H. Lithwick, MD May 1, 2017 Thornhill, Ontario, Canada Harry E. Livingston, MD Dec. 15, 2017 Tulsa, Okla. Frederick O. Mackel, MD Feb. 8, 2017 Huntertown, Ind. Marvin K. Margo, MD Feb. 10, 2018 Oklahoma City, Okla. Milton J.