Learning in the 21st century … it’s a whole new ballgame!

Daniel J. Berry, MD New technology has always been an important part of orthopaedic surgery. Improvements in procedures with biologic approaches, new materials, techniques, devices, and instruments are geared to generating better outcomes for our patients. During the last decade, new technologies also have had a huge impact outside the operating room.

Pat on the back...

2011–2012 North American Spine Society (NASS) officers: Michael H. Heggeness, MD, president; Charles A. Mick, MD, first vice president; William C. Watters III, MD, second vice president; Heidi Prather, DO, secretary; Christopher M. Bono, MD, treasurer; and Greg Przybylski, MD, immediate past president. 2011–2012 NASS board members: Charles A. Reitman, MD, research compilation and analysis; Chris Standaert, MD, health policy council co-chair; Christopher P.

Readers share concerns, kudos

MedPAC’s “fix” doesn’t fix anything Our office overhead is approaching 55 percent. If inflation and new mandates from all levels of government continue, even flat reimbursement for 10 years is a joke—let alone 19 percent cuts. Instead of orthopaedic care in America, we’ll be left with only the easiest cases being handled in the most profitable fashion.

Treasurer’s Report—December 2011

Frederick M. Azar, MD

The bylaws of the AAOS direct the Finance Committee to “manage, supervise and control the financial affairs” of the organization. As your treasurer, I serve as chair of the Finance Committee; John J. Callaghan, MD, immediate past president, and John R. Tongue, MD, first vice-president, are members of the committee, with Andrew N. Pollak, MD, treasurer-elect, as an ex-officio member. Other participants in Finance Committee meetings include Daniel J. Berry, MD, AAOS president; Joshua J.

A link to the East

Peter Pollack

AAOS welcomes Japan as 2012 Guest Nation Japan—the Land of the Rising Sun—has a long and rich history dating back thousands of years. Most scholars date the emergence of a uniquely Japanese culture noted for its art, poetry, and prose to the Heian period (794–1185). For much of the last century, Japan has been an economic powerhouse, and the country currently boasts the world’s fourth largest economy (based on gross domestic product) and the tenth largest population.

In Memoriam

Norman C. Bos, MD Sept. 3, 2011 Hutchinson, Kans. Kenneth W. Ellis, MD Dec. 4, 2009 Kearney, Neb. Paul G. Hafner, MD Sept. 15, 2011 Longview, Wash. Robert R. Lawrence, MD Aug. 18, 2011 Lancaster, Calif. Blaine Alan Markee, MD Oct. 8, 2011 Tampa, Fla. Anoo P. Patel, MD Jan. 29, 2011 De Pere, Wis. Elwyn A. Saunders, MD May 17, 2010 Evans, Ga. Richard D. Talbott, MD Feb. 22, 2010 Denver, Colo.

AEEF to fund poster audios at 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting

Bonnie Emberton

First funding project brings poster authors to smart phones A grant from the AAOS Education Enhancement Fund (AEEF), established in December 2010 to support innovative education projects, will fund audio enhancement of the poster presentations at the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting. The project is the first to be supported by the AEEF.

Make OrthoInfo part of your patient education program

Stuart J. Fischer, MD

Website reinforces physician-patient relationship Patients often search the Internet for information about a medical problem, even before they see a doctor. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 60 percent of all adults search for health information online. They want easy-to-understand, readily available information. But simply typing a topic into a search engine doesn’t guarantee accurate or helpful results.

Wounded in Action makes its way around the country

Michael F. Schafer, MD

Wartime experiences affect not only military personnel and their loved ones, but also the physicians and medical teams that treat them. Organized as a tribute to injured troops and their families, civilians, and the orthopaedic surgeons who care for them, Wounded in Action: An Art Exhibition of Orthopaedic Advancements includes artwork created by orthopaedic surgeons and other artists.