Lessons in Orthopaedic Leadership: An AOA Podcast The American Orthopaedic Association

Guest host Jonathan Braman, MD, FAOA interviews C. McCollister Evarts, MD, FAOA to discuss how to thrive in orthopaedic positions, the traits great orthopaedic leaders have in common, and the importance of diversity in our profession. Dr. Evarts shares his leadership development path  and the reasons behind his strong devotion towards the American Orthopedic Association. 
Dr. Evarts’ longevity in the profession and his myriad of leadership roles give him a unique perspective to share with all orthopaedic surgeons. He has served as Chair of two Orthopaedic Departments and CEO and Dean to two academic health centers. Dr. Evarts served as AOA President in 1985. He has also served as President of the Hip Society, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and OMeGA Medical Grants Association. Dr. Evarts is a member of the Institute of Medicine and has been the recipient of many honors and awards—including the AOA’s Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award in 2006.

How can healthcare firms overcome interior barriers? Is value-based care a viable option in Orthopaedics? What changes are required for growth? Can the organization’s management structure effect the success of the firm?
Alexander W. Aleem, MD, FAOA, and Charles Goldfarb, MD, FAOA host a special AOA podcast with John Eklund, PhD, MBA, DPhil, Assistant Professor at USC Marshall School of Business. Eklund discusses the importance of organizational structure and implementing efficient management practices into your everyday business. His experience as a management consultant gives a unique perspective into the growth of healthcare organizations and contributes to his expertise for adversity management. Dr. Eklund emphasizes that companies need to better allocate their resources and strategically eliminate the elements that do not provide the organization with value. 

Trends and Innovations in Orthopaedics: A CEO’s Perspective 
Hosts Charles A. Goldfarb, MD, FAOA and Alexander Aleem, MD sit down with Cheryl Blanchard, BS, MS, PhD, president and CEO of Anika Therapeutics, to discuss how the company is driving technological innovations to benefit patients, orthopaedic surgeons, payors, and health care organizations.
Dr. Blanchard discusses how new orthopaedic trends impact the development process and shape product offerings. She describes how the 2020 acquisitions of Arthrosurface and Parcus Medical have dramatically shortened Anika’s innovation cycles to deliver greater value to physicians, patients, and shareholders.  
The conversation touches on Dr. Blanchard’s career journey, merging her expertise in medicine, engineering, and business to becoming a leader of a multi-national orthopaedics corporation.  She provides perspectives on challenging yourself professionally, including experiencing new things and not being afraid to accept a challenge.
Dr. Blanchard assumed the role of Anika’s president and chief executive officer in April 2020. She has served as president and CEO of Microchips Biotech, held senior executive positions at Zimmer-Biotech, and provided strategic consulting services to medical device companies and private equity clients. Dr. Blanchard currently serves as director of Vigil Neuroscience and Daré Bioscience.  Dr. Blanchard received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and received her B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University.
Anika (NASDAQ: ANIK) is a global joint preservation company committed to delivering meaningful advancements in early intervention orthopedic care, including osteoarthritis pain management, regenerative solutions, soft tissue repair, and bone preserving joint technologies.

Guest host Alexander J. Ghanayem, MD, FAOA interviews Dane Salazar, MD, FAOA, about the benefits of advanced degrees for orthopaedic surgeons. 
Dr. Salazar is an accomplished shoulder and elbow surgeon at Loyola University in Chicago who recently completed his advanced degree. Salazar notes that surgeons enter the workforce with little formal exposure to business concepts. He reflects on how advanced studies help increase business acumen, sharpen leadership skills, and refine strategic thinking abilities. 
Dr. Ghanayem and Dr. Salazar discuss the optimum time to return to the classroom and a myriad of program options available to emerging leaders, mid-career managers, and advanced practitioners.  Degree and certificate options are explored, including the MBA, MJ, JD, MPH, and the AOA|USC APEX Leadership Certificate Program.  

How does signaling add value in the application process to both applicants and orthopaedic surgery residency programs?  What are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about participation in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Supplemental ERAS® application for the upcoming 2022-2023 residency recruitment cycle, which includes preference signaling?  And how did the AOA’s Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (CORD) arrive at the maximum number of 30 signal preferences?
Alexander W. Aleem, MD, FAOA, hosts a special AOA podcast with S. Trent Guthrie, MD, FAOA, Residency Program Director for Henry Ford Hospital, and Tessa Balach, MD, FAOA, Associate Professor at The University of Chicago Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine.  Dr. Balach, Chair of the CORD/Academics Committee and Dr. Guthrie, leader of the AOA/CORD signaling work group, discuss the advantages of signaling,  the importance of academic advisors in decision-making, and practical tips for students in navigating the process. 

On today’s episode of Lessons in Orthopedic Leadership, our hosts Dr. Charles A. Goldfarb, MD, FAOA and Dr. Alexander Aleem, MD interview Dr. Steven Frick. 
Dr. Frick is the Division Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at Stanford University and is the Program Chair for the AOA's 135th Annual Leadership Meeting in Providence this June. Dr. Frick tells us all about the meaningful, cutting edge content that has been assembled and the opportunities to connect in-person after the pandemic prevented that for a couple of years.
The AOA Program Committee relied on membership to submit content ideas for symposia and forums, and this year’s meeting contains a focus on the need for more diversity in orthopaedics, a look at the future of orthopaedics for up and coming leaders, and how different organizations can work in tandem.
The first symposium will be about how to build a great orthopaedic department for the next decade, and we’ll hear the data on some challenges that face orthopaedic leaders who are building their departments.
 Secondly, there will be a very interesting symposium on how artificial intelligence can help us in our clinics.
The third symposium is about gender justice in academic medicine, with Charles Day, MD, MBA, FAOA,  Ann E. Van Heest, MD, FAOA, Kim Templeton, MD, FAOA, and Lisa Lattanza, MD, FAOA.
Symposium four will explore the importance of good science and the foundational necessity of excellent research.
Symposium five will be all about the role of the AOA and how different organizations should relate and encourage leadership in the world of orthopedics.
Symposium six will dissect the topic of leadership and education during and after Covid 19. Dr. Frick reminds us on the episode that a leader’s role is to adapt and move forward; the pandemic has changed things and it’s important to define how to lead and teach in this new normal.
 In addition to those topics, come join us to hear from external talent that will lead us to tackle our leadership challenges in new and better ways.
Register for the meeting:
https://www.aoassn.org/2022-annual-leadership-meeting/
Read more on Dr. Frick:
www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/doctor/steven-l-frick