AAOS has many volunteers who contribute to the Academy’s examination development process. Through their experience and expertise, they offer their time to help build the future of our examination product offerings. Each quarter, we will celebrate these efforts with a featured volunteer in the AAOS Item Writer Spotlight.
Brandon J. Yuan, MD serves as the Chair of the Trauma Evaluation Committee. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Yuan about volunteering with the Academy and the great contributions he has made.
Thank you, Dr. Yuan!
Tell us a little bit about your background as an orthopaedic surgeon.
I attended medical school and completed my residency at the Mayo Clinic
in Rochester, Minnesota. After that, I did a fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle before returning to Mayo as a staff member, where I have been ever since.
How many years have you been an AAOS volunteer?
Approximately four years; I started around the time of the pandemic.
How did you first find out about volunteer opportunities?
I have colleagues who were involved in various volunteer roles with AAOS, such as ICL review, the annual meeting, and committees. They encouraged me to get involved and volunteer for the Academy.
On the motivation side, the landscape of resident education has changed significantly in the last 15 years. Residents used to primarily study by reading journal articles and primary literature. Now, with so many online learning resources available, AAOS is well-positioned to oversee these educational initiatives. I’m happy to contribute my time to support this effort.
As someone with experience in item writing, what’s one key piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out?
Most of us remember exam questions that were confusing or unclear. When writing, think of yourself as the examinee—ask yourself: What is the key knowledge point I want people to take away from this question? If I were being tested, how would I want this question to be framed? Keeping that perspective helps create effective and meaningful questions.
What is one of the most interesting cases you’ve ever worked on as a trauma surgeon?
I enjoy cases that are unique and make me think. Trauma surgery is less about mastering specific procedures and more about developing a set of principles and problem-solving skills. I especially appreciate discussing cases with my colleagues to get different perspectives on solutions.
One case that stands out involved a patient in his 60s who had a tibia fracture as a young man. It healed non-operatively but ended up 100% translated. Years later, he sustained another tibia injury, which was made more complicated by his previous fracture. To address this, we 3D-printed a model of his tibia to pre-bend a plate outside of surgery, then implanted it during the procedure. I love the challenge of solving unique problems like this.
What is your favorite thing about working with patients?
It’s always rewarding when patients do well and express their appreciation. Seeing them return to their normal lives is one of the best parts of the job.
On the other hand, some patients come in with preconceived notions or skepticism. I enjoy trying to change their perspective and, hopefully, get them to smile by the end of the visit.
What do you like best about working in Minnesota?
I really like the people here. Minnesotans tend to be family- and community-oriented, and there’s a strong culture of hard work and genuine connections. It’s a different environment from places with year-round warm weather and endless activities. The people here are genuine, hard-working people.
Outside of medicine, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time at swim meets. I have three daughters who are involved in various sports, so much of my free time is dedicated to taking them to practices and watching their competitions.