Augustus A. White III, MD, PhD, FAAOS - AAOS Member of the Month

Augustus A. White III, MD, PhD, FAAOS
Ellen and Melvin Gordon Distinguished Professor of Medical Education
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
Member Since: 1970

With Mother Superior (third from the left) and a group of nuns at Saint Francis Leprosarium in Qui Hoa, Vietnam (1966-1967).

With my quintessential career mentor, Professor Wayne O. Southwick, Yale University, School of Medicine, 1978.

In an operating room, in Beth Israel Deaconess Harvard Medical School, 1979.

Defensive end Brown University Varsity Football 1954-1956.

In characteristic Swedish academic disputation attire, Stockholm, Sweden 1969.

As an Emeritus Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
Primarily the ongoing educational contributions, programs and activities that the Academy has offered. And also the opportunity for staying in touch with colleagues and professional.

If you were mentoring a new member, what important advice would you give them as they progress in their career?
Do what you can to embrace the concept of our common humanity.

Be empathetic. Treat all people with respect, and that includes people above you, people below you, people 360 degrees around you, all your fellow humans, and yourself.

What aspect of retirement surprised you the most?
How much work there was to do and how incentivized I was to try to do it. Therefore I have been a lot more busy than I thought. Very grateful for my career that allowed me to do everything I wanted.

What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Enjoying interactions with my friends, colleagues, family and other fellow humans!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I don’t really know who knows this or doesn’t know this but I enthusiastically like and enjoy people (my fellow humans).