Why did you join AAOS?
I joined the AAOS because it is a great organization and I believe in our mission to help our profession provide the highest quality of musculoskeletal care. It is a group of the best leaders in our field and its advocacy efforts are key in the current health care environment.
Do you currently volunteer with a committee? If yes, which ones?
Yes. I serve at the Secretary of the BOS and as such, also serve on CORQ and on the BOD.
How do you define success?
Great question. I think you can define it in a variety of ways. Personally, success is having a loving family that is tight knit and supportive. Professionally, I feel that it is maximizing your talents to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people. On a granular level, for me, it is providing great individual care to my patients, educating Residents, Fellows and other attendings on a variety of topics so they can provide better care for their patients and doing research so that I can continue to hone my craft and be better at the above.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My parents are by far my biggest inspiration. I am blessed to have a very supportive family. I am the son of Cuban immigrants who fled Cuba following Castro’s revolution. Their undying dedication and love for their family and their indefatigable work ethic have always driven me to be a better version of myself. Without their sacrifice, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my success.
What do you love most about AAOS?
I love the camaraderie. It’s a fun organization made up of very committed and hardworking people. I don’t think that most Orthopaedic Surgeons are aware of how the AAOS helps us daily to treat our patients better and to advocate for our issues on many levels.
What advice would you give to new members of AAOS?
Get involved and get involved early. Serve on committees. It’s the best way to meet people in the organization and understand how it works.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
Ha! Well, I have a lot of hobbies – none of which I am particularly good at. I love to fly fish, bike, ski, and golf.