GratitudeDear Colleagues,

Since the Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, my role as AOFAS president has kept me busy. It has been

an exciting seven weeks. While one side of me says I have only been in office for seven weeks, the other says I only have 45 weeks left.

I am pleased to report that the AOFAS and the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) are financially healthy and membership continues to grow. The AOFAS offices and staff have successfully moved to the new AAOS Headquarters Building in Rosemont, Illinois. If you are in the Chicago area, consider dropping by to see the new offices and visit the staff. It is worth the trip.

For years, I have taken for granted that the AOFAS is a successful organization.

I have naively sensed that I, along with my fellow members, intermittently contribute to the AOFAS and that the sum of these contributions keeps our organization evolving for the better. As an AOFAS official, I gained an appreciation for the consistent and meaningful contributions of the AOFAS Board of

Directors (BOD), committees, and staff that serve the membership’s best interests.

Prior to accepting the role as your AOFAS president, I knew that in addition to the BOD, committees, and staff working hard, a great many organizational operations and much of the decision making are shouldered by the AOFAS president and executive director through continuous communication on a weekly,

and often daily, basis. What I did not know is to what extent our members, committees, and Board members work for the AOFAS membership. The past seven weeks have been an eye-opening experience for me. The contributions of your fellow members are consistently extraordinary. Let me share with you just a few examples and trust me when I say that there are far too many examples to cite here.

Membership CommitteeThe Membership Committee, now chaired by Rebecca Cerrato, MD, with Lois Bierman, Director of Membership & Marketing, as staff liaison, has led the AOFAS to a total membership of 2,200 members, including more than 530 international members. Focused on new retention and recruitment initiatives underway for 2016, membership growth will continue to be impressive. In my humble opinion, the value of an AOFAS membership cannot be overstated.

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Mark E. Easley, MD

In this issue …President’s Perspective ...................................... 1,4-5,7Annual Meeting Revisited ................................... 1,8-13AOFAS Board 2015-16 ................................................. 22015 Thank You .......................................................... 2,6Specialty Day 2016 Preview......................................... 3Surgical Complications Course Preview ...................... 6 Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement ............... 62014-15 Committee Recognition ...........................14-15Educational Opportunities ......................................... 16PIVoTED Application Submitted ..................................17 New Resources for Educating Patients ......................17Annual Meeting 2016 Abstract Submission............... 18CME: Print Your Certificate ........................................ 18Consumer Reports, AOFAS Collaborate .................... 19Choosing Wisely: Take the Survey ............................. 19Upcoming Opportunities, Deadlines.......................... 20Position Statement: Cosmetic Surgery ..................... 20International Society: Argentina ................................ 21Fellowship Match Applications Open ........................ 21OFAR Receives $50,000 Grant .................................. 21Target 2019: Help Foundation Reach Its Goal ............ 22Resident Review Course 2015................................... 22Fellowship Programs Accept the Challenge .............. 23Call for Research Grants ...................................... 23, 25Vietnam Outreach 2015 ............................................. 24Resident Scholars 2015 ............................................. 25Traveling Fellows 2015 ............................................... 26Foundation Board 2015-16 ......................................... 26Coding Corner ........................................................... 27Complete Foot Recordings Now Available ................ 27Membership Matters ................................................. 28

IN~STRIDEVolume 29, Issue 3 ~ Summer 2015

continued on page 4

R E C O N S T R U C T I O N • S P O R T S M E D I C I N E • T R A U M A • T E C H N O L O G Y

AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015 AOFAS lights up Long BeachWelcoming more than 1,300 medical professionals, guests, and exhibitors to this year’s annual educational event created an air of excitement throughout this warm and picturesque southern California city. Navigating this seaside destination by foot was just what orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons ordered. Local hosts Ronald Smith, MD, chair, David Lee, MD, and

Michael Strauss, MD, were instrumental in providing assistance withvenue contacts, area maps, and recommendations for dining and activities.

A memorable week indeedMore than one-third of meeting attendees traveled from more than 27 countries outside the US, making AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015 another truly global experience.

continued on page 8

The Membership Committeehas led the AOFAS to a totalmembership of 2,200, including 530 international members.

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY2

IN~STRIDE Volume 29, Issue 3 Summer 2015 © 2015 AOFAS

9400 W. Higgins Road, Suite 220 Rosemont, IL 60018-4975phone 800-235-4855 and 847-698-4654fax 847-692-3315email aofasinfo@aofas.orgwww.aofas.org • www.footcaremd.org

William McGarvey, MD, EditorJennifer Hicks, MS, Managing Editor

AOFAS 2014-15 Board of Directors

Mark Easley, MD, President

Jeffrey Johnson, MD, President-Elect

Thomas Lee, MD, Vice President

William McGarvey, MD, Secretary

J. Chris Coetzee, MD, Treasurer

Bruce Sangeorzan, MD, Immediate Past President

Steven Haddad, MD, Past President

Christopher Chiodo, MD, Member-at-Large

Scott Ellis, MD, Member-at-Large

Mark Glazebrook, MD, MSc, PhD, Member-at-Large

Brian Toolan, MD, Member-at-Large

AOFAS Staff

Lousanne “Zan” Lofgren, CAE – Executive DirectorLois Bierman, MS – Director of Membership & MarketingJennifer Hicks, MS – Director of Public EducationJoy Keller, MS, MSLIS – Director of ResearchElaine Leighton, MPH – Director of EducationNeil Hansen, CPA, MBA – AccountantDianne Gilsenan – Finance ManagerKaty McGehee – Digital ManagerKaren Stenmark – Meeting Planning Services ManagerDebra Whalen – Exhibits/Corporate Support Services ManagerChristine Johnson – Membership Services AdministratorShera Palmer Cook – FAI Managing EditorChinelo Agwuncha – Program Coordinator, Fellowship MatchAnn Farrell – Programs Coordinator, Marketing and OutreachJames Walwark – IT Coordinator

At the Society’s 2015 Annual Business Meeting on July 17 in Long Beach, California, Mark Easley, MD, was installed as president and Jeffrey Johnson, MD, was elected to the office of president-elect. Both will serve one-year terms. Thomas Lee, MD, was elected vice president for a one-year term, and William McGarvey, MD, was elected secretary for a two-year term.

Scott Ellis, MD, and Mark Glazebrook, MD, MSc, PhD, were elected as members-at-large for two-year terms. Continuing service on the Board are Bruce Sangeorzan, MD, immediate past president; Steven Haddad, MD, past president; J. Chris Coetzee, MD, treasurer; Christopher Chiodo, MD, member-at-large; and Brian Toolan, MD, member-at-large.

AOFAS Board of Directors 2015-16

William McGarvey, MD Secretary

Mark Easley, MDPresident

Jeffrey Johnson, MDPresident-Elect

Christopher Chiodo, MDMember-at-Large

Scott Ellis, MDMember-at-Large

Brian Toolan, MDMember-at-Large

Mark Glazebrook, MD, MSc, PhD

Member-at-Large

Thomas Lee, MDVice President

J. Chris Coetzee, MDTreasurer

Steven Haddad, MDPast President

Bruce Sangeorzan, MDImmediate Past President

Addressing the membership on July 17 as outgoing president of the Society, Bruce Sangeorzan, MD, highlighted some of the organization’s activities and accomplishments over the past year. Since hosting the International Federation of Foot & Ankle Societies’ Triennial Meeting and AOFAS Annual Meeting 2014 in Chicago last fall, the Society went on to host its 2015 annual meeting in Long Beach, California, effectively organizing three major meetings in 10 months. In December 2014, the AOFAS staff moved into the new Orthopaedic Headquarters building in Rosemont, Illinois, and in March launched a new software system, a significant upgrade to our technology and the platform needed to develop and integrate new features for members. “Our focus on clinical outcomes research is growing as OFAR develops the infrastructure for members to measure the impact of care from a patient reported viewpoint,” said Dr. Sangeorzan. “Our contributions to the Choosing Wisely® campaign have put AOFAS on the map as interested in helping patients avoid unnecessary and potentially costly procedures. With the Society’s active social media presence,

Thank you for the honor of serving as AOFAS President

continued on page 6

Bruce Sangeorzan, MD

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 3

Specialty Day 2016Specialty Day, offered each year at the conclusion of the AAOS Annual Meeting, offers a full day of programming for AOFAS members and orthopaedic generalists on treatment for foot and ankle conditions and cutting-edge symposia presentations.

Specialty Day 2016 will be held from 7:00 am – 5:20 pm on Saturday, March 6, 2016, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The agenda includes two scientific paper sessions along with seven symposia. Symposia topics include bunions, complications,nonoperative vs. operative interventions of calcaneal fractures, Achilles tears and Jones fractures, controversies, and new technologies.

“The program will bring together leading experts to address clinical topics along with new technologies and procedures,” says Selene Parekh, MD, MBA, program chair. “We will have time for debate and discussion to look at these issues, and a new symposium entitled ‘What Else Can I Do with My MD?’ will showcase orthopaedic surgeons who have ventured into other fields such as administration, politics, and the business sector. We hope attendees will find the day to be both innovative and stimulating.”

The program will offer 9 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through accreditation from AOFAS.

Registration and HousingAAOS member housing is open now; non-member housing opens on October 28, 2015. For more information, visit AAOS at www.aaos.org/education/anmeet/Housing/housing.asp.

Meeting registration will open in September 2015.

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AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY4

CPT/RUC CommitteeI have often found useful coding advice through In~Stride’s Coding Corner, as I’m sure you have. Until now, I was unaware of the exceptional contributions of the CPT/RUC Committee that go well beyond simple coding advice. For years, Tye Ouzounian, MD, and Walter Pedowitz, MD, have worked fastidiously to learn the intricacies of CPT® and RUC practices and have mentored several younger members who may eventually assume their leadership roles. Gaining an understanding of the complex coding policies requires years. The AOFAS owes Drs. Ouzounian and Pedowitz a great deal of gratitude for their acquired expertise and commitment, particularly in their preparations for upcoming major revisions to the bunion code family, changes that will most certainly affect the majority of our members. In October, Dr. Pedowitz is charged with presenting these changes to the CPT Editorial Panel in Chicago. All of us need to respond to 10 important individual surveys that will follow this meeting; it is the least our membership can do to support the CPT/RUC Committee’s dedicated effort on our behalf. In January 2016, one of Dr. Ouzounian’s mentees and now the AOFAS RUC Advisor, Peter Mangone, MD, will present RVU recommendations to the Relative Value Update Committee in Washington, DC. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the CPT/RUC Committee, especially over the next six months, in which the restructuring of 10 new codes for hallux valgus is sure to have a major impact on the practices of all AOFAS members who perform forefoot surgery.

Health Policy CommitteeAlexandra Page, MD, and Michael Aronow, MD, of the Health Policy Committee have kept the AOFAS informed of CMS’ Complete Care Joint Replacement (CCJR) proposal to bundle payments for lower extremity total joint replacement, regulations that, if implemented, are sure to impact surgeons and hospitals alike. While the language is clear on total hip and total knee arthroplasty, it is vague on total ankle replacement. Dr. Page’s keen monitoring of broad orthopaedic policies

and proposals identified the subtle inclusion of total ankle arthroplasty in this proposed legislation. Through the combined efforts of Drs. Page and Aronow, and with AOFAS Executive Director Zan Lofgren’s support, the AOFAS has actively joined the AAOS and other affected subspecialty societies on this issue and AOFAS has submitted a letter to CMS on the CCJR proposal. Recognizing that total ankle replacement is distinct from hip and knee replacement, at the very least the Health Policy Committee is calling for CMS to carve out total ankle replacement from this initiative.

Education and AOFAS MeetingsMy early perspective of meetings organized by the AOFAS was that with some effort from AOFAS staff and presenters, AOFAS meetings offered the membership a well-organized, solid educational experience. After having recently traveled to Toronto with staff for a site visit in preparation for the 2016 Annual Meeting, I saw first-hand the tremendous effort, dedication, professionalism, and expertise exhibited by Elaine Leighton, Director of Education, Karen Stenmark, Meeting Planner, and Debra Whalen, Exhibits and Corporate Services Manager. Along with the support team, we are particularly fortunate to have this staff committed to making our meetings among the best in all of orthopaedic surgery.

The Education Committee, chaired by Bruce Cohen, MD, and supported by the entire AOFAS staff, in conjunction with the Program Committee is preparing for the 2016 Specialty Day and Annual Meeting. I am lucky to have Selene Parekh, MD, MBA, as my program chair. Dr. Parekh’s fresh approach to Specialty Day and the Annual Meeting is sure to provide the membership with two meaningful educational and entertaining experiences. The Education Committee is also in the process of organizing the November 2015 Surgical Complications of

the Foot and Ankle Course and the April 2016 Advanced Foot and Ankle Course. And after having participated in the most recent AOFAS Webinar, I can state with confidence that the AOFAS Webinar Series offers the most organized online webinar series with the highest quality foot and ankle content.

The Public Education Committee, chaired by Eric Bluman, MD, PhD, and supported by Jennifer Hicks, Director of Public Education, continues to bring more eyes to the AOFAS patient-education website, FootCareMD.org. The site counts more than 6.5 million total page views already this year. Boosted by the addition of content presented in Spanish, effective press releases, unique member interviews, and meaningful patient videos, the AOFAS social media presence is at an all-time high.

Meanwhile, AOFAS educational offerings for members are on the precipice of a new era. Lew Schon, MD, is spearheading the AOFAS’ major initiative for premier online educational resources. Phase I of the Physician Resource Center (PRC) is scheduled to launch before the end of the calendar year and will afford easy access to recorded proceedings and corresponding documents of the past several years of AOFAS meetings. Future phases will add unparalleled online CME opportunities for our membership and a vast library of video information. In my mind, the PRC will rapidly develop into the premier quick-reference video library for instruction on foot and ankle examination, procedures for health care providers, and instructional videos for physician education. Final phases will feature social media and chat rooms, making the PRC the leader in dynamic and interactive online foot and ankle resources.

AOFAS Computer Management SystemAOFAS staff has been steadfast through the challenges of updating the AOFAS’ computer management system. The new system will facilitate the coordination of numerous member and staff needs and will provide the platform for continuously broadening resources for educational and research endeavors. The PRC’s

We all need to respond toimportant surveys that will address the restructuring of10 codes for hallux valgus.

President’s Perspective continued from page 1

continued on page 5

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 5

direct interface with the management system promises to provide members a seamless and easily accessible premier educational experience.

Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation and its funded programsThe Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation), formerly known as the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Outreach & Education Fund (OEF), is under new leadership. In only a few weeks, newly appointed Foundation President Bryan Den Hartog, MD, has begun applying proven methods and promising initiatives to grow our fundraising efforts and build on our already successful Foundation-funded programs, including the Resident Scholarship Program, Traveling Fellowship Program, Research Grants Program, Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Outcomes Research (OFAR) Network, and the Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam.

Resident Scholarship and Traveling Fellowship ProgramsThe 2015 Resident Scholarship Program enjoyed record participation and, once again, the Traveling Fellows proved to be an outstanding group of young orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons who are sure to be future leaders. No doubt these two programs will again flourish in 2016. There is no better exposure to premier orthopaedic foot and ankle care and education for these young, motivated orthopaedic surgeons.

Research CommitteeL. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD, Research Committee chair, with the support of the Research Committee and Joy Keller, Director of Research, continues to maintain AOFAS research efforts at a high level of quality and integrity. With Foundation support, the Research Grants Program continues to reward talented AOFAS researchers with funding to initiate and complete their meaningful research endeavors. Kenneth Hunt, MD,

chair of the OFAR Managerial Board, continues to direct efforts to establish the premier registry for foot and ankle care, with infrastructure for optimal data collection, management, and regulatory compliance.

Foundation Fundraising and Research FundingFoundation funding remains consistent, but Dr. Den Hartog and Zan Lofgren have already effectively solicited membership donations and garnered industry support. I have confidence that Dr. Den Hartog’s dedication will facilitate The Foundation’s Campaign 50 goal to raise $3 million by the Society’s 50th anniversary in 2019. The AOFAS has been resourceful in pursuing additional funding opportunities. The collaborative effort of Dr. Latt (chair, Research Committee), Dr. Hunt (chair, OFAR Managerial Board), Sandra Klein, MD (chair, Evidence Based Medicine Committee), and staffer Joy Keller produced a 28- page grant proposal to

President’s Perspective continued from page 4

continued on page 7

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AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY6

CMS proposes to bundle TAR in Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement payment model

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have released plans to implement a five-year payment model on January 1, 2016, that would test bundled payments for a 90-day episode of care for lower extremity joint replacement in 75 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The scope of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) plan includes MS-DRGs 469 and 470, which encompass THA, TKA, and TAR. With a few exceptions, participation would be mandatory for all hospitals in the MSAs.

Based on a comparison of AOFAS members practicing in the 75 identified MSAs, this model payment test will involve more than 450 members. The AOFAS Health Policy Committee will submit comments to CMS to advocate that TAR be carved out of the CCJR payment model, and the committee will work in partnership with AAOS and AAHKS on this issue. The committee will also gather data on TAR and post-acute care costs as well as develop plans to educate members on how to reduce costs without compromising patient care.

For additional information: AAOS Now: www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/aug15/cover2.aspCMS: www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/ 2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-07-09.html

Sign Up Now for 2015 Surgical Complications CourseA popular course is returning later this year: Complications of the Foot and Ankle: Getting the Band Back Together. Slated for November 5 -7, 2015, at the Tampa Downtown Hilton in Tampa, Florida, the course will focus on the causes and prevention of complications associated with orthopaedic foot and ankle procedures.

“This course will again thrive on lectures addressing only the complications of both basic and advanced surgical procedures,” says Steven Haddad, MD, course chair. “What also makes this course unique is the low faculty-to-attendee ratio. The underlying theme is to teach the participant how to perceive when a complication will occur before it occurs, allowing successful resolution through a constructive, rather than destructive, process.”

The format includes case-based discussions along with didactic lectures. The program will begin Thursday afternoon, run all day Friday, and end at 1:00 pm Saturday. Course faculty members include Gregory Berlet, MD; J. Chris Coetzee, MD; Timothy

Daniels, MD; Christopher DiGiovanni, MD; Mark Easley, MD; James Holmes, MD; Jeffrey Johnson, MD; and William McGarvey, MD. Program topics will include hallux valgus deformities, lesser toe deformities, sesamoid problems, midfoot arthritis, trauma, Achilles tendon disorders, peroneal tendon disorders, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, cavovarus foot disorders, hindfoot arthrodesis, and total ankle arthroplasty.

“We will tackle the Holy Grail of the failed total ankle replacement, making you comfortable in addressing this expanding technology,” says Dr. Haddad. “By the conclusion of this three-day venture, you will own the world of foot and ankle complications through a structured, algorithmic approach.” For each session, faculty will identify

potential complications, how to avoid them, and how to best manage them should they occur.

Your turn: Submit your casesAttendees will be able to submit their own de-identified cases in advance for consideration for discussion during the course. Submission instructions will be sent to registered attendees close to the meeting date, and presenters will be notified in advance if accepted.

The hotel room block rate of $155 per night runs through October 15 or when the room block sells out. A direct hotel reservation link is available on the meeting website. For more information and to register, visit www.aofas.org/surgicalcx.

By Michael Aronow, MD, Chair, Health Policy Committee

traffic to FootCareMD.org has increased dramatically, and the site now includes 60 articles translated into Spanish.” Also of importance, he continued, was completion of FAI’s second journal-based scored and recorded MOC self-assessment exam, offering credit required by ABOS. And in a look forward to the specialty’s future, he urged members to contribute to The Foundation’s Campaign 50, designed to raise $3 million by the Society’s 50th anniversary in 2019. “It is the work of all of our members who volunteer and serve in so many ways that moves the AOFAS forward,” Dr. Sangeorzan said. “Thank you for the privilege and honor to serve as president.”

AOFAS

2015 Thank You continued from page 2

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 7

Looking for a way to earn MOC scored and recorded examination credit?

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n Earn up to 10 hours AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ per exam

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AOFAS Members: Login to www.aofas.org and select Members Only for access information, exam link, and link to current and archived issues of the journal.

AccreditationThe AOFAS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The AOFAS designates this internet activity enduring material CME activity for a maximum of 10 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Exam participants are required to submit a completed evaluation form at the end of the exam in order to receive CME credit.

www.aofas.org • aofasinfo@aofas.org • 800-235-4855 or 847-698-4654 (outside US)

President’s Perspective continued from page 5

the AAOS BOS Quality and Patient Safety Action Fund. I’m proud to announce that their efforts paid off and OFAR has been awarded a $50,000 BOS grant to help fund OFAR’s Phase 3 infrastructure development plans. Meanwhile, members of the OFAR Managerial Board collaborated with AOFAS member Christopher DiGiovanni, MD, the Massachusetts General Hospital, and AOFAS staff to submit a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant application for Comparative Patient Impact of Venous Thromboembolic Disease Prophylaxis Following Foot & Ankle Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial – PIVoTED, an investigation that will involve approximately 50 member sites. Industry support to the Foundation and OFAR is strong and with Dr. Den Hartog and Zan’s efforts promises to continue to expand.

Foot & Ankle International and SAGE PublishingSince the transition to new publisher SAGE, Foot & Ankle International (FAI),

under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief David Thordarson, MD, and the expertise of the FAI Editorial Board, continues to improve its impact factor (1.506 and climbing) and ranking among orthopaedic journals (36/72 and climbing). The robust submission rate to FAI will most likely prompt AOFAS to launch an online open access journal in the coming months. I have been particularly impressed with the efforts of Patrick Ebeling, MD, who nearly single-handedly successfully created an ABOS-approved FAI CME feature, another outstanding resource for the membership.

AOFAS Executive Directorship And last but not least, Zan Lofgren, the AOFAS Executive Director: What can I say? With diplomatic grace, Zan provides for the AOFAS staff, members, and elected officials. She possesses the unique talent of steering the AOFAS in the right direction while giving the Board and me the sense that we are sailing this ship. For each of the initiatives noted above, from education to research to

membership, Zan consistently leads all of us to do what is best for the AOFAS. As you can appreciate, the AOFAS will have a difficult time finding a suitable replacement when Zan steps down later in this academic year.

I write this presidential address with gratitude and awe. I am fortunate to be AOFAS president at this time of the Society’s prosperity, and blessed to have unparalleled support in this endeavor. While I am now the one tasked by the AOFAS membership to coordinate policy direction with Zan and her staff, make final decisions, and sign documents, I am comforted by the overwhelming volunteer effort of our AOFAS membership. If you have not done so, I encourage you to apply for an AOFAS committee position when the call goes out next spring. Sincere gratitude goes out to those of you that have or are currently serving; thank you for making my job easy.

Respectfully,Mark E. Easley, MD

AOFAS

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY8

This year’s meeting will be long-remembered not only for its quality programming and intercontinental audience, but also for the unusual circumstances which led to rearrangement of some sessions. The week opened with the Pre-meeting Course: An Update on Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle. Course Chair Jeremy McCormick, MD, and an expert faculty presented three symposia and a Presidential Debate on fusion versus replacement. Near the end of the last session, however, an underground electrical fire caused a widespread power grid outage, which postponed the last presentations and discussions for the day.

Wednesday evening’s Research Forum continued anyway with flipcharts and generator lighting to support the very accommodating faculty and the 50 or so attendees, all of whom enjoyed the more informal exchange. The Welcome Reception was held that night in the Exhibit Hall as scheduled – one of the largest AOFAS exhibitions to date – but with cold food and beverages, and “ambiance” lighting. The good news is that the room was filled with the usual congenial exchange between industry and attendees that continued through the next several days, giving attendees exposure to nearly 75 companies whose products offered a glimpse of the technologies of the future.

On Thursday morning, the city requested that the meeting power down for a safety check, which then led to a program delay of several hours. AOFAS arranged to truck in its own generators for the remainder of the week, and the missed programming was made up on Friday afternoon. The patience and understanding of everyone participating in the meeting was greatly appreciated. “Every effort was made to ensure that each speaker was given time to present his or her work, especially since so many presenters traveled overseas to attend the meeting,” said Program Chair Justin Greisberg, MD. “It was great to hear the science, engage in vibrant discussions with the audience, and have time to network with colleagues from all over the world.” The scientific program included 77 paper presentations in 15 paper sessions, seven symposia, invited lectures, and more than 200 ePosters.

Research took center stageResearch is one of the AOFAS’ major areas of focus, and the Annual Meeting included original scientific papers, a Research Forum, and invited guest speakers who focused on research in their presentations.

The Research Forum addressed research networks and multi-center studies. Kurt Spindler, MD, served as the Guest Research Lecturer and presented “Tracking Clinical Outcomes in Routine Practice.” Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, Deputy Science Officer from the Patient-

Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), delivered the Presidential Invited Lecture. Her talk, entitled “The PCORI Research Agenda: Engaging Specialists for Better Patient Outcomes,” encouraged attendees to engage in patient-centered research initiatives and to apply to become PCORI grant reviewers. “The AOFAS has the privilege of working with the world’s leaders in foot and ankle care and research,” said Bruce Sangeorzan, MD, AOFAS president. “One goal for this year’s program was to bring together those experts to discuss the newest findings and evidence to improve our patient outcomes.”

Always something new

New events held during the week included two Ask an Expert sessions, where faculty and audiences discussed together how to handle difficult cases. These interactive sessions were well received by all participants. Also new was the two-room breakout for this year’s Young Orthopaedic Surgeons Forum. Designed to meet the unique needs of residents and young physicians, the Forum was organized by the AOFAS Young Physicians Committee into two rooms rather than the traditional one, and each room addressed topics of interest for each group.

AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015 continued from page 1

At left, Bruce Sangeorzan, MD, 2014-15 AOFAS President, debating Steven Haddad, MD, 2013-14 President

Kurt Spindler, MD

Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS

Ask an Expert: Both photos above

Research Forum

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 9

At this year’s meeting, attendees and exhibitors took advantage of an additional learning opportunity at the new AOFAS Today resource center. Located in the main lobby of the Convention Center, AOFAS Today presented a complete overview of all the Society is doing now and is developing for the future in the areas of research, physician education, public education, humanitarian service, and membership. An array of take-home materials was available along with knowledgeable staff to talk about the many resources available through the AOFAS. The Society’s funding arm, the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation), was represented in the same area to enable donors to see their generous donations acknowledged and to take in the full scope of how every dollar is being put to good use.

Welcoming tomorrow’s leadersIn addition to educational programming, the meeting served as an opportunity for the 2015 Resident Scholars to interact with AOFAS members to achieve an in-depth perspective on foot and ankle surgery. This program highlights the Society’s outreach efforts to engage today’s young orthopaedic surgeons at the beginning of their training and careers.

Resident Scholars mingled with accomplished members at a Scholar-Mentor Dinner and attended the Young Orthopaedic Surgeons Forum and reception, where Board members and fellowship directors were available to provide great insights into the path ahead. At the meeting’s conclusion, Scholars expressed gratitude for Society members’ warm welcome. Read the full story on page 25. This year’s Traveling Fellowship Award winners began their foot and ankle education at the meeting’s educational sessions but leapt into a different experience after Saturday’s sessions ended. At the end of the meeting, Traveling Fellows departed for Los Angeles, Stanford, California, and Boise, Idaho, to observe in the practices and operating rooms of some of the Society’s top thought leaders. More information is available on page 26.

Award recognitionThe following presentations received awards at this year’s meeting:

2015 Roger A. Mann Award WinnerProspective, Randomized, Multi-Centered Clinical Trial Assessing Efficacy of a Synthetic Cartilage Implant to First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis in Advanced Hallux Rigidus

Presenting Author: Judith Baumhauer, MD, MPHAdditional Authors:Dishan Singh, FRCS; Mark Glazebrook, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCSC; Chris Blundell, BMedSci (Hons), MB ChB, MD, FRCS (Tr&Orth); Guy Wansbrough, MBBS, FRCS (Tr and Orth), BEng; Gwyneth Devries, MD, FRCSC; Ian L.D. Le, MD; Dominic Nielsen, MD; Elizabeth Petersen, MD; Anthony Sakellariou,

FRCS (Tr&Orth); Matthew Solan, MD; Alastair Younger, MD, FRCSC; Timothy Daniels, MD, FRCSC; M.O.T.I.O.N Study Investigators from UK and Canada

2015 J. Leonard Goldner Award Winner Inflammatory Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Synovial Fluid after Intra-Articular Ankle Fracture

Presenting Author: Samuel Adams, Jr., MDAdditional Authors:Lori Setton, PhD; Richard Bell, BS; Mark Easley, MD; Janet Huebner, MS; Thomas Stabler, MS; Virginia Kraus, MD, PhD; Elizabeth Leimer, BS; Steven Olson, MD; Dana Nettles, PhD

2015 IFFAS Award for Excellence Winner

Radiographic Severity of Arthritis Predicts Functional Outcome in Total Ankle Replacement

Presenting Author: Simon Chambers, FRCS (Tr&Orth)Additional Authors:Jayasree Ramaskandhan, MSc, MPTh; Malik Siddique, FRCS (Tr&Orth)

continued on page 10

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY10

AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015 continued from page 9

Networking enhanced the experience

The best part of the unplanned power outage was that it created extra time

to visit the Exhibit Hall and network. Attendees and industry rose to the occasion and spent quality time catching up with old friends and making new ones in and around the Convention Center. Planned social events included the Welcome Reception and the Annual Gala Event, which took place in the nearby

Aquarium of the Pacific.Guests at the Gala enjoyed the facility at their leisure, including the dinner and dessert buffet stations, walking through the many sea life galleries, taking in one of the special showings in the 4-D Ocean Theater, and enjoying the night air and spectacular waterfront view from the outdoor lounge.

Guest speakers from around the world Hearing presentations from the best orthopaedic surgeons! President versus past president talk about TAR and arthrodesis Presentations, discussions, and debates on controversial issues Networking and seeing new products Wide variety of topics Keeping current The city, the great organization, and the high quality of presentations Great academic content, social functions, and industry interaction Visiting with old friends and colleagues Camaraderie Topics of interest including: TAA versus fusions, and biologics The total ankle sessions New educational information Symposia; research papers Learning more about the field of foot and ankle

Research Forum was most useful

continued on page 12

What did you enjoy most about this year’s meeting?Attendees share their thoughts:

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 11

AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015July 15-18, 2015 • Long Beach, California

Thank You!

$25,000 up to $39,999

$15,000 up to $24,999

$5,000 up to $14,999

$750 up to $4,999

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society understands the importance of commercial support and appreciates the following companies for their support at this year’s Annual Meeting.

Current as of 7/15/2015

C 13Y 100M 73K 2

K 52%C 21Y 100M 100K 16

Your foot & ankle company

12

AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015

13

Capturing the Experience

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE Daniel Lehman, MD, ChairReviewed applications and selected recipients for the Traveling Fellowship Awards and organized local hosts and travel to centers of foot and ankle education and research following the Annual Meeting; reviewed Resident Scholarship applications and selected 46 residents to attend the Annual Meeting through the Resident Scholarship Program; mentors were recruited for each Resident Scholar. The programs are funded by The Foundation.

CPT/RUC COMMITTEE Peter Mangone, MD, ChairRepresented the AOFAS at CPT and RUC meetings and worked with the AAOS Coding, Reimbursement and Coverage Committee; coding proposals and RVU recommendations were reviewed. Prepared articles for In~Stride and presented a webinar to educate members on coding.

EDUCATION COMMITTEEWilliam McGarvey, MD, ChairProvided oversight and direction for educational programs, courses and webinar series, and ensured that the AOFAS continues to be in compliance with guidelines of the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Provided oversight for the ACCME annual progress report and the re-accreditation application, which resulted in a six-year re-accreditation for AOFAS as a CME provider. Provided liaison with the AAOS on all foot and ankle educational programs. Developed Board-approved policies for endorsement of other organizations’ meetings.

EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE COMMITTEE Sandra Klein, MD, ChairFinalized a protocol for a clinical foot and ankle exam and developing an outreach strategy toward having the exam incorporated into EMRs for consistent documentation of a clinical exam. Developing plans for a primer to describe the exam methodology and help define exam maneuvers. The AOFAS is partnering with the Choosing Wisely campaign, and developed five recommendations for patients and clinicians, with supporting literature resources. Recommendations are available on the Choosing Wisely website and also AOFAS.org and FootCareMD.org.

FAI CME COMMITTEEPatrick Ebeling, ChairDeveloped questions and launched the first 100-question exam for scored and recorded CME for 2013 FAI articles in September 2014; developed questions on 2014 FAI articles and launched the second exam in April 2015.

FAI EDITORIAL BOARDDavid Thordarson, MD, Chair and FAI Editor-in-ChiefManaged the editorial process to improve peer review; managed the review of an escalating number of submitted manuscripts for the journal.

FAI MANAGERIAL BOARDJames Brodsky, MD, ChairProvided financial oversight for FAI and managed the Society’s relationship with the journal publisher.

FELLOWSHIP MATCH COMMITTEEJames Holmes, MD, ChairFinalized the curriculum of basic expectations for the foot and ankle fellowship program and implemented these as provisions of the Fellowship Match Program Agreement; provided oversight for administration of the AOFAS-sponsored Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Fellowship Match Program; and represented the AOFAS on the BOS Fellowship Match Committee.

FINANCE COMMITTEEJ. Chris Coetzee, MD, Chair and TreasurerManaged and supervised financial operations and policies; served in advisory capacity to the Board of Directors on financial affairs.

HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEESteven Neufeld, MD, ChairRepresented by committee members in the AMA House of Delegates and the ACS Board of Governors; continued to serve as a resource on health policy issues; partners with the AAOS and other organizations to increase AOFAS influence on health policy matters.

Thank you to all committee members for your time and commitment!

Volunteers Shine 2014-15

Continued on back

HUMANITARIAN SERVICES COMMITTEEAaron Guyer, MD, ChairOrganized and implemented the Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam in May-June 2015; and maintained liaison with HVO on other humanitarian service opportunities. Humanitarian services are supported by The Foundation.

INDUSTRY RELATIONS COMMITTEESteven Weinfeld, MD, ChairProvided oversight for organizational relationships with corporate supporters and exhibitors; visited supporters of The Foundation during the AAOS Annual Meeting to thank them for their support of The Foundation and provide an update on Foundation-funded initiatives.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEED. Joshua Mayich, MD, ChairPromoted benefits of membership to target audiences; reviewed membership applications and recommended qualified applicants in all membership categories; developed criteria and process for international foot and ankle societies to sponsor members of their organizations for AOFAS International Membership.

OFAR MANAGERIAL BOARDKenneth Hunt, MD, ChairExplored options and legal aspects of setting up a scalable infrastructure for future growth of patient-reported outcomes data collection with broad-based member participation; currently reviewing vendor proposals and exploring sustainable business model options. Working on design of a collaborative research grant proposal with the Massachusetts General Hospital to collect patient outcomes on VTED.

PHYSICIAN RESOURCE CENTER COMMITTEEJohnny Lau, MD, ChairDeveloped infrastructure plan for the online Physician Resource Center – the website’s new searchable collection of orthopaedic foot and ankle educational content, including abstracts, ePosters, handouts, and recordings of meetings and courses.

POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMITTEEPaul Juliano, MD, ChairImplementing programs to increase resident exposure to foot and ankle during training, including the Visiting Professor Program that sends senior AOFAS leaders to present at residency programs that are under resourced for foot and ankle training; organizing the Resident Review Course for October 2015. Committee members serve as mentors for Resident Scholars at the Annual Meeting. Update of the Resident Lecture Series continues. These initiatives are funded by The Foundation.

PROGRAM COMMITTEEJustin Greisberg, MD, ChairDeveloped program content for Specialty Day, Annual Meeting, and Pre-meeting Course; ranked abstracts and selected papers for podium presentations and ePosters; and selected best papers for the Mann Award, Goldner Award, and IFFAS Award.

PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEEEric Bluman, MD, PhD, ChairExpanded patient-education information on FootCareMD.org with writing and review of 70 new articles; provided oversight for translation of 60 articles into Spanish to expand patient education to this growing demographic. Communication messages were developed to raise the profile of the AOFAS and its members in public, orthopaedic and medical media through press channels and social media outreach. Social media messages on Twitter and Facebook are driving a significant increase in traffic to FootCareMD.org. The video “What is an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon” launched in September 2015 and is posted on the FootCareMD website; the patient video launched in June and is also on FootCareMD. The new initiative – MyVideo Spotlight™ – launched at Specialty Day as an opportunity for members to be filmed for a video for their own practice website. RESEARCH COMMITTEE L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD, ChairEvaluated grant applications and made recommendations for funding to the Board for 2015 research grant awards; reviewer feedback was sent to all authors of applications. Guidelines for grant writing are being developed to assist members in obtaining research grant funding; organized the Research Forum at the Annual Meeting. Developing guidelines for research collaboration with members. Working with the chairs of the OFAR Managerial Board and the Evidence Based Medicine Committee on the collaborative research grant proposal with the Massachusetts General Hospital.

YOUNG PHYSICIANS COMMITTEEScott Ellis, MD, ChairOrganized Young Physicians Forum at the Annual Meeting; worked with the Public Education Committee to develop new content for the Society’s patient-education microsite – FootCareMD.org and the new Physician Resource Center on AOFAS.org. Contributed images for the new Image Bank Project initiative by the committee. Presented foot and ankle review webinar in October 2014 to help viewers prepare for the OITE™ exam. OITE is a registered trademark of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons®.

2014-15 Committees

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE Daniel Lehman, MD, ChairReviewed applications and selected recipients for the Traveling Fellowship Awards and organized local hosts and travel to centers of foot and ankle education and research following the Annual Meeting; reviewed Resident Scholarship applications and selected 46 residents to attend the Annual Meeting through the Resident Scholarship Program; mentors were recruited for each Resident Scholar. The programs are funded by The Foundation.

CPT/RUC COMMITTEE Peter Mangone, MD, ChairRepresented the AOFAS at CPT and RUC meetings and worked with the AAOS Coding, Reimbursement and Coverage Committee; coding proposals and RVU recommendations were reviewed. Prepared articles for In~Stride and presented a webinar to educate members on coding.

EDUCATION COMMITTEEWilliam McGarvey, MD, ChairProvided oversight and direction for educational programs, courses and webinar series, and ensured that the AOFAS continues to be in compliance with guidelines of the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Provided oversight for the ACCME annual progress report and the re-accreditation application, which resulted in a six-year re-accreditation for AOFAS as a CME provider. Provided liaison with the AAOS on all foot and ankle educational programs. Developed Board-approved policies for endorsement of other organizations’ meetings.

EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE COMMITTEE Sandra Klein, MD, ChairFinalized a protocol for a clinical foot and ankle exam and developing an outreach strategy toward having the exam incorporated into EMRs for consistent documentation of a clinical exam. Developing plans for a primer to describe the exam methodology and help define exam maneuvers. The AOFAS is partnering with the Choosing Wisely campaign, and developed five recommendations for patients and clinicians, with supporting literature resources. Recommendations are available on the Choosing Wisely website and also AOFAS.org and FootCareMD.org.

FAI CME COMMITTEEPatrick Ebeling, ChairDeveloped questions and launched the first 100-question exam for scored and recorded CME for 2013 FAI articles in September 2014; developed questions on 2014 FAI articles and launched the second exam in April 2015.

FAI EDITORIAL BOARDDavid Thordarson, MD, Chair and FAI Editor-in-ChiefManaged the editorial process to improve peer review; managed the review of an escalating number of submitted manuscripts for the journal.

FAI MANAGERIAL BOARDJames Brodsky, MD, ChairProvided financial oversight for FAI and managed the Society’s relationship with the journal publisher.

FELLOWSHIP MATCH COMMITTEEJames Holmes, MD, ChairFinalized the curriculum of basic expectations for the foot and ankle fellowship program and implemented these as provisions of the Fellowship Match Program Agreement; provided oversight for administration of the AOFAS-sponsored Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Fellowship Match Program; and represented the AOFAS on the BOS Fellowship Match Committee.

FINANCE COMMITTEEJ. Chris Coetzee, MD, Chair and TreasurerManaged and supervised financial operations and policies; served in advisory capacity to the Board of Directors on financial affairs.

HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEESteven Neufeld, MD, ChairRepresented by committee members in the AMA House of Delegates and the ACS Board of Governors; continued to serve as a resource on health policy issues; partners with the AAOS and other organizations to increase AOFAS influence on health policy matters.

Thank you to all committee members for your time and commitment!

Volunteers Shine 2014-15

Continued on back

www.aofas.org • aofasinfo@aofas.org • 800-235-4855 or 847-698-4654 (outside US)

AOFAS® EDUCATION

ONLINE LEARNING

LIVE WEBINARS

Broadcasts: 8:00 – 9:30 pm Central TimeAOFAS members are automatically registered

Non-members may register at www.aofas.org/webinars

• September 15 SECOND TOE INSTABILITY

Moderator: G. Andrew Murphy, MD

• October 13 FOOT AND ANKLE REVIEW

Moderator: Scott Ellis, MD

• December 8 ARTHRITIS IN THE YOUNG PATIENT: ALTERNATIVES TO FUSION

Moderator: Charles Saltzman, MD

ONLINE RECORDINGS

Subscribe for one-year access.

• RESIDENT REVIEW COURSE (2013) www.aofas.org/residentreview

• COMPLETE FOOT CARE COURSE (2014) www.aofas.org/completefoot

COURSES AND MEETINGS

Current as of 8-18-15; subject to change

The AOFAS Webinar Series 2015 is funded by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation with support in part by grants from

Wright Medical Technology, Inc. and Arthrex, Inc.

Mark your calendar now for these upcoming programs

Watch for 2016 webinars to be announced www.aofas.org/webinars

AOFAS Members: Sign in to www.aofas.org at the top of the page before registering for courses and meetings to receive reduced member rates.

October 24, 2015 • Rosemont, IllinoisRESIDENT REVIEW COURSECourse Chairs: Anish Kadakia, MD; Clifford Jeng, MDwww.aofas.org/residentreview

November 5-7, 2015 • Tampa, FloridaSURGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE: PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHERCourse Chair: Steven Haddad, MDwww.aofas.org/surgicalcx

March 5, 2016 • Orlando, FloridaAOFAS SPECIALTY DAY 2016President: Mark Easley, MDProgram Chair: Selene Parekh, MD, MBAProgram: www.aofas.org/specialtydayRegistration: www.aaos.org April 28-30, 2016 • Cleveland, OhioADVANCED FOOT AND ANKLE COURSECourse Chair: W. Hodges Davis, MDwww.aofas.org/advancedfoot

July 20-23, 2016 • Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAOFAS ANNUAL MEETING 2016President: Mark Easley, MDProgram Chair: Selene Parekh, MD, MBAAbstract Submission Deadline: January 4, 2016www.aofas.org/annualmeeting

October 14-15, 2016 • St. Louis, MissouriCOMPLETE FOOT CARE COURSECourse Chair: Jeremy McCormick, MDwww.aofas.org/completefoot October 27-29, 2016 • Rosemont, IllinoisNEW HANDS-ON COURSE!Watch for more detailsOrthopaedic Learning CenterCourse Chair: Steven Haddad, MD

A M E R I C A N O R T H O PA E D I C F O O T & A N K L E S O C I E T Y

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 17

Under the direction of the AOFAS Public Education Committee, FootCareMD.org has added two educational resources that you can use in your practice.

In May, 60 condition and how-to articles were translated into Spanish and posted at a dedicated Spanish landing page on the site. These articles will be promoted via Spanish-language press releases to be distributed to the major Spanish-speaking media outlets throughout 2016.

In July, the latest video for patients was released. “Patient Perspectives: My Experience with Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Care” debuted at the Annual Meeting in Long Beach and now resides both on FootCareMD.org and YouTube. This video joins the 2014 release of “Who are Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Specialists?”

How you can use these resourcesAlthough FootCareMD.org content may not be copied and pasted into websites, AOFAS members may add links to the Spanish articles on their practice websites. Contact the AOFAS staff with questions on how to do this.

AOFAS members can also request to use the two patient-education videos on their practice sites. Contact the AOFAS office for details. Members must sign a no-fee licensing agreement before video files will be shared.

www.Arthrex.com© 2015, Arthrex Inc. All rights reserved.

AD1-00009-EN_A

PIP Dart for HammertoesAll-Inside TechniqueSolid Fusion of the PIPjoint with a radiolucent nonabsorbable implant

• Barbed design helps to hold compression

• Ridges help prevent rotation

• PEEK material - radiolucent and strong, but easily cut or drilled through

AOFAS member Christopher DiGiovanni, MD, and his team at Massachusetts General Hospital prepared a major research funding request application that was submitted in late July. Dr. DiGiovanni and his team were assisted by members of the OFAR Managerial Board and Research Committees, including Judith Baumhauer, MD, MPH; Kenneth Hunt, MD; Sandra Klein, MD; and L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD. AOFAS Director of Research Joy Keller also assisted in this research partnering initiative. The study, entitled Comparative Patient Impact of Venous Thromboembolic Disease Prophylaxis Following Foot & Ankle Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial - The PIVoTED Trial, will involve more than 130 AOFAS members at more than 50 research sites across the US and Canada.

If funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), AOFAS Members at PIVoTED sites will enroll more than 26,000 foot and ankle surgical patients in a blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing two pharmacopreventive treatments, Apixaban and Aspirin, against no active treatment for prevention of venous thromboembolic disease (VTED). The study will assess the development of undesirable side effects and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after foot and ankle surgery. PROMIS instruments, including those validated in OFAR Pilot Phase 1, will be among the PIVoTED PRO measures collected, with final decisions being determined by study governance teams.

PIVoTED will be led by a core Patient Partners Committee and six other governance committees comprised of patient-partners, clinical experts,

and key stakeholders from across the country, including AOFAS members and staff. AOFAS will also provide defined governance process and research administration support consultant services to the project.

PIVoTED results are expected to be published and adopted into a set of best practice guidelines that will have global impact. Study results will empower patients and providers to make evidence-based shared decisions about treatment options, risks, and benefits of treating or not treating, and appropriate medications if prophylactic treatment is indicated.

The PIVoTED team expects notification from PCORI by late October or early November 2015 and active study startup by mid-2016, if funds are awarded. Interested AOFAS member sites that submitted Letters of Intent earlier in 2015 will be kept apprised.

PIVoTED application submitted

New resources for educating patients

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY18

Submit Annual Meeting AbstractsThe AOFAS Program Committee invites you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 2016 AOFAS Annual Meeting to be held July 20-23, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract submissions will open Monday, October 5, 2015, and close Monday, January 4, 2016 at 11:59 pm Central Time. Abstracts must be submitted electronically at http://aagapps.com/aofas/ and completed prior to the deadline. Each presenter will need to set up an account within the system to submit the required documentation.

Submissions will be reviewed by the AOFAS Program Committee in a blinded fashion and notifications will be sent in mid-July. Abstracts will be considered in the following categories for scientific paper and ePoster presentations:

• Ankle• Ankle Arthritis• Arthroscopy

• Basic Sciences / Biologics• Bunion• Diabetes• Hindfoot• Lesser Toes• Midfoot / Forefoot• Sports• Trauma

There is a 500-word limit for each submission, and one figure or table may be included with the text. The submitting author will serve as the corresponding author for all notifications, and each author will be required to complete disclosure of conflicts of interest.

For information about AOFAS Annual Meeting 2016, visit www.aofas.org/education/annual-meeting.

CANADAAOFAS Annual Meeting 2016

Metro Toronto Convention CentreAOFAS President: Mark E. Easley, MDProgram Chair: Selene G. Parekh, MD, MBA

Abstract Submissions Deadline: January 4, 2016 (11:59 pm CT)

Toronto, Ontario • July 20-23

AOFAS Member Services here to help you …

• Membership Benefits • Elevation Process • Upcoming Opportunities • Sponsor a New Member

membership@aofas.org

CME credits for the 2015 Annual Meeting have been entered in attendee records, and certificates are available for self-printing from the AOFAS website.

To view and print your credits, simply scroll to the bottom of any AOFAS webpage and click on the “View CME Transcript” link. If you are not signed in, you will be prompted to do so before being directed to your credits page. Certificates are available beginning with CME earned in 2015. To request certificates from years prior to 2015, contact the AOFAS Executive Office at aofasinfo@aofas.org.

If you see only 1.0 credits for any meeting attended, it means that a CME Verification Form is not on file showing the total credits you are claiming for that event. You will need to download the appropriate form by navigating to www.aofas.org/education and looking for the “Claim CME Credit” on the right side of the page.

View and print your CME certificate

Connect with the AOFAS

www.facebook.com/aofas1

www.twitter.com/aofas

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 19

Choosing Wisely: Take the survey by October 15!If you have not yet taken the AOFAS Choosing Wisely® survey, the AOFAS Evidence Based Medicine Committee invites AOFAS members to do so before October 15. The Committee would like to hear members’ thoughts about the current Choosing Wisely points and ideas for potential topics to be considered if future Choosing Wisely lists are developed. Visit this site for the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/AOFAS_Choosing_Wisely.

For a refresher, the current AOFAS Choosing Wisely list can be found at www.aofas.org (Medical Community / Health Policy, under Position Statements).

Based on the recommendations in the AOFAS plantar fasciitis Choosing Wisely® point, Consumer Reports, with input from the AOFAS Evidence Based Medicine and Public Education Committees, has produced a consumer health article on plantar fasciitis. The article can also serve as a patient-education handout for AOFAS member use.

The article is currently highlighted on the FootCareMD.org homepage and appears with other consumer health reports and videos at the Consumer Reports Health/ Consumer Health Choices page. To print the plantar fasciitis handout for your patients, visit this link:www.aofas.org/footcaremd/Documents/ChoosingWiselyPlantarAOFAS_June2015.pdf.

Consumer Reports, AOFAS develop plantar fasciitis article for patients

Brought to you by

www.FootCareMD.org • FootCareMD@aofas.org

Look for new patient articles under the tab Información en Español

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY20

New AOFAS Position Statement on cosmetic foot and ankle surgery

Take note of the following key opportunities you won’t want to miss. Apply where appropriate and encourage your residents, fellows, and colleagues to take advantage of these opportunities.

View information, submit abstracts, and download application forms at www.aofas.org or contact the AOFAS Executive Office at aofasinfo@aofas.org or phone 800-235-4855 or 847-698-4654 (outside US).

October 15, 2015 – Take the Choosing Wisely Survey

If you have not already taken the Choosing Wisely® survey, the AOFAS Evidence Based Medicine Committee requests member input:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/AOFAS_Choosing_Wisely

December 1, 2015 – Applications Due

Traveling Fellowship ProgramThis program offers a special opportunity for early career AOFAS members (age 45 and under) to attend the AOFAS Annual Meeting and then travel to visit leaders in foot and ankle education and research.

www.aofas.org/foundation (Traveling Fellowship Awards)

Research Grants ProgramTo advance foot and ankle investigation, competitive opportunities include: Research Grants up to $20,000 each

that provide seed funding for promising research projects, and Pilot Project Grants up to $5,000 each intended to encourage new investigators, especially residents and fellows, to get involved in research.

www.aofas.org/researchgrants

Overseas Outreach Program to VietnamA rewarding experience awaits AOFAS surgeons who work side-by-side with Vietnamese orthopaedic surgeons, including teaching, seeing patients in the clinics, and performing surgery.

www.aofas.org/Foundation (Overseas Outreach Project)

Fellowship Match ProgramOrthopaedic residents are strongly encouraged to apply for 2017-18 foot and ankle fellowships by December 1 for the 2016 match. Programs may conduct interviews between December 1, 2015, and March 21, 2016.

www.aofas.org (Medical Community / Resident and Fellow Opportunities)

December 31, 2015 – 2015 Tax DeductionOrthopaedic Foot & Ankle FoundationSupport the organization that funds essential AOFAS programs in research, educational outreach, and humanitarian service. Contributions received by December 31, 2015, will be

acknowledged for the 2015 calendar year. Your contributions turn possibilities into reality.

www.aofas.org/Foundation

January 1, 2016 – Applications Due

New and Elevating MembersNow is the time to refer your colleagues to apply to join the AOFAS. Membership benefits include reduced fees and convenient access to dedicated foot and ankle education including the free AOFAS Webinar Series, subscriptions to the Foot & Ankle International peer-reviewed journal and the In~Stride newsletter, opportunities for awards and to serve on committees, sharing and networking activities, and more. Current members who completed training during 2015 are required to apply to elevate to the next appropriate membership level by January 1, 2016.

www.aofas.org/membership

January 4, 2016 — Abstracts Due

Abstract Submissions for Annual Meeting 2016The AOFAS will hold its Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada July 20-23, 2016. Abstracts for presentation will be accepted beginning early October. Submission guidelines will be available online when the submission site opens.

www.aofas.org/annualmeeting

Deadlines approach for AOFAS opportunities

In developing the new AOFAS Position Statement on Cosmetic Foot and Ankle Surgery, the AOFAS Evidence Based Medicine Committee evaluated the scientific literature on procedures that have received media coverage, including cosmetic liposuction for enlarged toes or ankles, asymptomatic hammertoe deformity, bunion deformity, and plantar silicone injection.

The position statement points out that foot shape is a poor predictor of function, there are risks inherent in operative procedures, and medical evidence is lacking on the safety and efficacy of cosmetic foot and ankle surgery in asymptomatic individuals. Liposuction, toe straightening or shortening, fat pad injections, and forefoot contouring expressly for the purpose of altering foot appearance

or for fitting into specialized footwear, if undertaken in the absence of symptoms or strictly for cosmetic reasons, lack scientific support in medical literature and expose patients to potential surgical risks.

The statement, approved by the AOFAS Board of Directors in May 2015, is available on the AOFAS website on the Health Policy page.

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 21

AOFAS is now accepting applications for the 2016 Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Fellowship Program Match for 2017-18 fellowship positions. Seventy-five positions are being offered by 47 fellowship programs.

The match is designed to be a transparent, unbiased process in which applicants are matched to foot and ankle fellowship programs on a competitive basis. Participating programs and applicants are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Fellowship Programs and Applicants, as outlined at www.aofas.org. The AOFAS administers the application receipt and distribution process and the San Francisco Matching Service (SF Match)

handles the rank lists and the match process itself.

Applicant participation in the match requires graduation from an allopathic or osteopathic medical school, and fellowship is dependent upon successful completion of an approved orthopaedic surgery residency program.

Applicants can submit applications to the AOFAS now through March 7, 2016. However, some fellowship programs may have earlier deadlines or interview dates. Submission of applications by December 1, 2015, is strongly recommended. The results of the 2016 match will be released to applicants and programs on Match Day, April 5, 2016. For application instructions and a list of participating fellowship programs, visit

www.aofas.org (Medical Community / Resident and Fellow Opportunities).

Fellows in programs that participate in the match and are already AOFAS Fellow Members or apply for membership are eligible for benefits from the AOFAS, including waiver of dues during the fellowship year, a 50 percent reduction in dues during the first year of practice, and being listed as having completed a Foot and Ankle Fellowship on the AOFAS website. In addition, AOFAS Resident Members who are accepted in the match will receive a grant for AOFAS dues during PGY5. This benefit for young members is funded by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation).

Fellowship Match Program: Applications now open

Argentinian Society of Foot and Ankle Medicine and Surgery

INTERNATIONAL FOOTNOTES

By Sergio Massetti, MD, Chair

The Argentinian Society of Foot and Ankle Medicine and Surgery (SAMECIPP) is a scientific organization comprised of orthopaedic surgeons who treat musculoskeletal medicine and clinical disorders related to the foot and ankle. The organization began as a study group with a few members in 1969. Over time there has been an increase in specialized care, and now the group has 150 members.

The SAMECIPP has contributed to medical education through specialized

courses and its international congress, held every two years with high-profile international guests. A specialty day program, presented during the annual Argentinian Orthopaedic and Traumatology Congress, is directed toward foot and ankle specialists and other orthopaedic surgeons.

The Society participates in FLAMECIPP, the Latin American Foot and Ankle Society. The SAMECIPP office is located in Buenos Aires and can be contacted via its secretary at

secretariasamecipp@yahoo.com.ar. The group also has a Facebook page under the acronym SAMECIPP.www.samecipp.org.ar

OFAR receives $50,000 BOS matching grantThe Society’s Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Outcomes Research (OFAR) Network has received a $50,000 matching grant from the AAOS Board of Specialty Societies’ (BOS) Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Action Fund. The funding will complement and enhance OFAR Phase 3 plans for continued development

of infrastructure and user-friendly data collection, and will enable a prospective comparative effectiveness research study focused on using patient-reported outcomes (PRO) as primary measures to compare treatments for ankle arthritis. Phase 3 of OFAR is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015. The BOS QPS

Action Fund “supports BOS member organizations with limited resources to play an important role in championing the interests of the orthopaedic profession and help organizations partner in identifying the safest and highest quality musculoskeletal care.”

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY22

Funding provided by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) helps to support the many research, educational, and humanitarian programs offered by the AOFAS that advance the orthopaedic foot and ankle specialty throughout the world. With only a small annual commitment, you can help The Foundation’s Campaign 50 reach its goal of $3 million by 2019, the 50th anniversary of the AOFAS.

It’s simple … do the math!The Foundation’s target dollar figure can be reached if each AOFAS member makes a pledge for at least $300, the equivalent of the reimbursement dollars from one hammertoe procedure, each year for five years. If every member – especially those in practice – steps up, the target will be easily met and possibly exceeded by the goal date.

Pay it forwardHave you been the recipient of a scholarship award or grant? Are you taking advantage of the free registration for the live webinar broadcasts? For all that the AOFAS offers with

support from The Foundation, if you have not yet made your 2015 donation or pledge, please consider making it

today. Every contribution counts and truly makes a difference. www.aofas.org/foundation

Target 2019 – Help The Foundation reach its goal

$300 x 5 x 2,000 = $3,000,000• Pledge $300 (or more) annually for 5 years;

• If at least 2,000 members make this commitment,• Campaign 50 goal of $3 million will be reached by 2019.

See your dollars at workAdvancing the Specialty through Research Growth• Research Grants• Pilot Seed Grants – New in 2015• Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Outcomes Research Network (OFAR)

Cultivating Knowledge with Educational Outreach• Webinars – Offered free to AOFAS members• Resident Scholarship Program – now open to PGY1 through PGY3• Visiting Professor Program• Traveling Fellowship Awards• Resident Review Courses

Transforming Lives through Humanitarian Service• Overseas Outreach Project Vietnam – approaching its 15th year• Health Volunteers Overseas

Resident Review Course coming in OctoberCalling all residents: There’s still time to register for the AOFAS Resident Review Course, a day of learning designed to help you prepare for your exams. The Saturday, October 24 course will be chaired by Anish Kadakia, MD, and Clifford Jeng, MD, in the new, state-of-the-art Orthopaedic Learning Center (OLC) in Rosemont, Illinois.

This comprehensive, one-day course is open to residents enrolled in orthopaedic residency programs. It is designed to expand knowledge of foot and ankle surgery and help residents prepare for the OITE™ Exam, which is

administered by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The course also offers a unique opportunity to talk with faculty involved in graduate medical education.

“The Resident Review Course will cover key topics and offer a full-day opportunity to prepare for exams,” says Dr. Kadakia. “The program will feature lectures, case-based faculty discussion, question-and-answer sessions, and a faculty meet-and-greet.”

Residents are encouraged to register now, as space fills quickly for this popular course. The fee includes

program materials, lunch and a closing reception with faculty. In addition to the chairs, faculty members will include George Holmes, MD; Todd Irwin, MD; Alan League, MD; Simon Lee, MD; Phinit Phisitkul, MD; Michael Pinzur, MD; Jeffrey Seybold, MD; Brian Toolan, MD; and Brian Weatherford, MD.

The Resident Review Course is funded in part by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation). Visit www.aofas.org/residentreview for more information and registration details.

23IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015

Campaign 50 was launched by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) in September 2014 during the IFFAS / AOFAS Meetings in Chicago. Its main objective: To secure $3 million in contributions to The Foundation by 2019, when the AOFAS will celebrate its 50th anniversary. With these funds, The Foundation will be able to provide the funding necessary for the AOFAS to expand current programs and develop new opportunities in research, education, and humanitarian service.

One of the challenges spawned by Campaign 50 was inspired by W. Hodges Davis, MD, Campaign 50 chair. Dr. Davis challenged 42 programs in the AOFAS-sponsored fellowship match to a competition to promote awareness of the five-year campaign, increase participation, and promote a friendly rivalry to encourage giving.

Two challengesThe Fellowship Challenge competition was broken out into two categories to welcome programs of all size: • Highest amount of donations from a

single fellowship program• Highest percentage of participants

within a fellowship program

With 153 donors participating, total donations from past and current fellows as of June 1, 2015, resulted in an impressive $107,000.

Bragging rightsCongratulations are extended to the following programs:

Highest Total Donations1. MedStar Union Memorial: $10,4252. Medical College of Wisconsin:

$9,0503. Advanced Orthopaedic: $9,000

Highest Percent Participation1. Las Vegas Orthopaedic F&A: 67%2. Stanford / Palo Alto: 60%3. Thomas Jefferson University

Hospital: 57%

Foundation President Bryan Den Hartog, MD, presented an award to the MedStar Union Memorial program – accepted by Lew Schon, MD – and the Las Vegas

Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle program – accepted by Dorian Reed, MD.

Thank you for your supportThank you to all fellowship program participants. A special thank you is also extended to program directors for inspiring your fellows to take the challenge.

Sixteen programs completed the challenge:Advanced OrthopaedicBaylor UniversityDuke UniversityHarvard Orthopaedic Foot & AnkleIdaho Orthopaedic Foot & AnkleLas Vegas Orthopaedic Foot & AnkleMedical College of WisconsinMedStar Union MemorialMercy Medical CenterOrthoCarolinaOrthopaedic Foot & Ankle CenterStanford / Palo AltoThomas Jefferson University HospitalUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of WashingtonWashington University – St. Louis

Fellowship programs step up to the challenge

Lew Schon, MD

Dorian Reed, MD

Do you have a research project idea? It’s time to start thinking about an AOFAS Research Grant or Pilot Project Grant application.

With funding from the Society’s Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation), the AOFAS awards one-year Research Grants of up to $20,000 for promising research projects and Pilot Project Grants of up to $5,000. Pilot Project Grants, new in 2015, are intended to encourage young or first-

time investigators, especially residents and fellows, to get involved in research.

Eligibility for grant funding is a membership benefit, and the principal investigator or co-investigator must be an AOFAS Active Member, Candidate Member or International Member. “Applications are reviewed and ranked

by the AOFAS Research Committee on a competitive basis using a blinded, NIH-style process,” says L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD, chair. “Funding recommendations are submitted to the AOFAS Board of Directors, which approves funding based on monies available, without

New research grant online application and review system in development

continued on page 25

Research Grant and Pilot Project Applications Deadline: December 1, 2015 Online application expected to open in early October

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY24

AOFAS team visits Hanoi, provinces to treat patientsAOFAS volunteers returned to Vietnam this year to provide corrective surgery for children and adults with lower extremity deformities and disabilities. For four weeks, the AOFAS members worked in hospitals and rehab centers in the northern provinces and the capital city of Hanoi, treating patients and working with local orthopaedic surgeons.

“The problems we saw were different from those we see in the United States in our daily practices,” said Peter Salamon, MD, Stockton, California. “There were many children with untreated congenital abnormalities and adults who suffered the lingering effect of polio, undertreated infections and untreated trauma. Access to medical care is at a premium, and when the word got out that the American specialists would be coming, the demand to see us was significant.”

This year’s volunteer group evaluated 247 patients in clinics and performed surgery on 76, all at no cost to the patients. Since the first AOFAS Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam in 2002, more than 1,200 patients have benefited from surgery performed without charge by AOFAS volunteers, and more than 2,800 patients have been seen in the clinics. Many patients are from impoverished areas and lack access to care. Others are unable to afford advanced medical services.

Tackling surgical challenges with limited resourcesPatients with untreated congenital deformities are common in the clinics and have a range of challenging conditions. AOFAS volunteers used basic orthopaedic principles to accomplish specific surgical goals because many of the implants, instruments, and imaging tests used in the United States for diagnosing and treating orthopedic foot and ankle problems are not available in Vietnam.

“We provided orthopaedic consultation and advice for some very complex lower extremity problems, and handled surgical cases that normally are not done in Vietnam,” said Thomas Hearty, MD, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “We taught Vietnamese orthopaedic surgeons how to address and treat complex lower extremity deformity and injury, and we learned a lot from our hosts.”

The AOFAS surgeons volunteered their time and paid for their own travel to Vietnam. In-country expenses were supported by the AOFAS Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) with charitable donations from individuals and industry. This was the 14th annual project sponsored by the AOFAS and its partner organization, Mobility Outreach International (MOI).

During the month-long project, which ended in mid-June, the volunteers worked at orthopaedic rehab centers in Hanoi, Hai Phong City, Vinh City and Ba Vi. They also worked with residents at Hanoi’s Viet Duc University Hospital. In addition to Drs. Hearty and Salamon,

AOFAS volunteers included Mario Adames, MD, Florianopolis, Brazil; D. Scott Biggerstaff, MD, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Angus McBryde, MD, Mobile, Alabama; Naren Gurbani, MD, Downey, California; L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD, Tucson, Arizona; Victor Macko, MD, Stockton, California; and Naomi Shields, MD, Wichita, Kansas.

Education is an important part of the outreach project, and the AOFAS

volunteers presented at the annual conference on Surgery of the Lower Extremity held on June 6 in Hanoi. Co-sponsored by the AOFAS, MOI, the Vietnam Ministry of Health, and Viet Duc University Hospital, the conference utilized simultaneous translation and was attended by 118 Vietnamese orthopaedic surgeons. The program included presentations by four Vietnamese surgeons. The AOFAS volunteers also presented at smaller seminars in the hospitals where they worked.

Patient helped by AOFAS volunteers

Victor Macko, MD (second from left) works with Vietnamese surgeons

Naren Gurbani, MD, (left) and Mario Adames, MD, evaluate a Vietnamese patient

D. Scott Biggerstaff, MD, poses with a patient

25IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015

A record number of orthopaedic residents joined AOFAS members at July’s Annual Meeting 2015 as part of this year’s Resident Scholarship Program. Forty-six US and Canadian PGY2 and PGY 3 residents attended educational sessions and events as well as activities tailored specifically for them.

The Resident Scholar mentorship program delivered one-on-one contact with AOFAS members who volunteered to provide guidance and insight into the profession. Scholars and mentors attended a Scholar-Mentor Dinner, which provided a great opportunity for the young physicians to meet and network in small groups with enthusiastic member volunteers.

Scholars also attended the Young Orthopaedic Surgeons Forum, where presentations given by members of the Young Physicians Committee focused on relevant topics such as how to apply for fellowship programs and how to prepare for board exams.

The Awards & Scholarships Committee, chaired by Daniel Lehman, MD, selected the Scholars based on a competitive application process and supporting letters from the Scholars’ program directors. Funding for the program was provided by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation with support in part by grants from

Stryker Foot & Ankle and Wright Medical Technology, Inc.

Applications for the 2016 Resident Scholarship Program are due March 1, 2016. The application is available at www.aofas.org, under

the Medical Community tab, on the Resident and Fellow Opportunities page. The program is open to all US and Canadian residents in good standing who are PGY1, PGY2 or PGY3 during the 2015-16 year.

Resident Scholars join foot and ankle community at Annual Meeting

identification of the names of investigators.”

Research Grant and Pilot Project Grant applications are due December 1, 2015. AOFAS is in the development stage with an online grant application and review system, so submission will differ from years past. The new system is expected to facilitate the process for applicants and reviewers alike and should be online in early October. A

link to the online application will be posted on the AOFAS Research Grants web page at www.aofas.org (Medical Community / Research Grants Program), and AOFAS will alert members via e-blast when the new system is open for applications.

Basic information required for the application will be similar to previous years. A prior year application form can be provided for your reference if

needed before the new online system is open. To obtain a copy, email AOFAS at aofasinfo@aofas.org.

The AOFAS Research Grants Program is funded by contributions from individuals and corporations to The Foundation. The 2015 Research Grants Program is funded in part by generous donations from Wright Medical Technology, Inc. and Zimmer. AOFAS

Quotes from 2015 Resident Scholars“The meeting offered exposure to the breadth of the field and was a great educational experience from a resident standpoint. I learned a great deal about anecdotal and evidence-based approaches to various foot and ankle pathologies.”—Stephen White, MD, PGY3

“Although I found the Annual Meeting very educational, the most impressive part to me was the collegiality. It was refreshing to see a large group of surgeons who seemed to work together by sharing experiences and

hardships to advance the care of their patients. I would very much like to be a part of an organization that helps improve patient care.”—Loren Jared Hudspeth, MD, PGY2

“I was very impressed with how welcoming the Society was to the residents, and how interested its members were in us. I enjoyed meeting a number of attendings from different institutions and practice settings.”—Elizabeth Cody, MD, PGY3

“The most valuable part of the entire experience was the Young Orthopaedic Surgeons Forum. The speakers were all very genuine and helpful. I received a lot of valuable advice with regard to the fellowship application and interview process, as well as insight into the life of a newly hired foot and ankle surgeon.”—Jake O’Neil, MD, PGY3

“This was the first time I had the opportunity to have such great interactions with staff surgeons. It was refreshing to see how many of the established foot and ankle surgeons wanted to help support and mold future foot and ankle surgeons. My experience at the meeting definitely solidified my decision to pursue a career as an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon.”—Sam Si-Hyeong Park, MD, PGY3

Resident Scholars 2015

Research Grant Application continued from page 23

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY26

Traveling Fellows and hosts share surgical knowledge and learningThis year’s Traveling Fellowship Program carried on a 10-year tradition of excellence in orthopaedic learning, travel opportunities, and transcontinental exchange. Five young orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons from China, India, Italy, New Zealand, and the US attended the AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015 and the Pre-meeting Course then went on to visit institutions in Los Angeles and Stanford, California, and Boise, Idaho. The competitive Traveling Fellowship Program granted these five surgeons the opportunity to observe in ORs, give presentations, tour hospitals and clinics, and learn new surgical techniques alongside accomplished host surgeons.

Unique opportunities to learnThe Traveling Fellowship Program offers a unique learning opportunity for early career AOFAS members. The goal of the program, which is funded by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) with a grant from DJO Global, is to promote professional relationships, exchange ideas, and encourage new thinking on research and clinical care topics. This is the 10th year of DJO’s support of the Traveling Fellowship Program.

The Fellows’ learning experience began with attendance at the meeting’s educational sessions and other events. The Fellows were presented at the Annual Meeting with their awards by Awards & Scholarships Committee Chair Daniel Lehman, MD.

The Fellows reported that their local hosts provided exceptional learning experiences and new perspectives. In Los Angeles, Fellows enjoyed OR and clinic visits at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with Glenn Pfeffer, MD; Timothy Charlton, MD; Thomas Harris, MD; and David Thordarson, MD. Stanford University’s Loretta Chou, MD, and Kenneth Hunt, MD, welcomed the

Fellows to their institution with a jam-packed schedule of OR observations, presentations and gatherings around nearby San Francisco.

The Fellows then flew to Boise, where Michael Coughlin, MD; C. Thomas Haytmanek, Jr., MD; and Christopher Hirose, MD, entertained in their homes in addition to welcoming them into their offices and surgeries at the Coughlin Clinic. Host physicians and their office staffs arranged for three invaluable visits to their institutions.

Post-trip feedback from the Fellows was altogether positive. AOFAS looks forward to continuing to uphold this standard of excellence in orthopaedic learning and exchange with next year’s Fellows.

The 2015 Traveling Fellows included Wesley Bevan, BhB, MBChB; Sampat Dumbre Patil, DNB, MBBS; Adam Groth, MD; Umile Longo, MD, PhD; and Yunfeng Yang, BMed. In addition, a 2014 Fellow, Weidong Song, MD, accompanied this year’s group to complete his award.

AOFAS Active, Candidate, and International Members under the age of 45 at the time of application are encouraged to apply for the 2016 Traveling Fellowship by December 1, 2015, for AOFAS Annual Meeting 2016 (July 20-23, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). The application may be found at www.aofas.org/Foundation (Traveling Fellowship Awards).

From left: 2015 Traveling Fellows Adam Groth, MD; Yunfeng Yang, BMed; Sampat Dumbre Patil, DNB,

MBBS; Umile Longo, MD, PhD; Wesley Bevan, BhB; and Weidong Song, MD (2014 Traveling Fellow).

In accord with the Bylaws of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation), the AOFAS Board of Directors elects the president of The Foundation and a member-at-large to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors, both for two-year terms. On July 14 in Long Beach, California, Bryan Den Hartog, MD, was elected to serve as Foundation president and Steven Neufeld, MD, was elected to a member-at-large position. As the newly-elected AOFAS secretary, William McGarvey, MD, will also serve as The Foundation secretary for two years.

Continuing Foundation Board members include Troy Watson, MD, immediate past president; J. Chris Coetzee, MD, treasurer; Mark Easley, MD; Jeffrey Johnson, MD; Thomas Lee, MD; Bruce Sangeorzan, MD; Mark Slovenkai, MD; and ex-officio member Steven Weinfeld, MD, chair of the AOFAS Industry Relations Committee.

The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) organization established by the AOFAS. Its mission is to raise funds to support the Society in key areas of research, educational outreach, and humanitarian service. For more information, visit www.aofas.org/Foundation.

Bryan Den Hartog, MD, President

Foundation Board of Directors 2015-16

IN~STRIDE • SUMMER 2015 27

Topic 1: ICD-10 is coming this fall Remember, ICD-10 is set to begin October 1, 2015. Recently, CMS indicated that for the first year, it would not reject claims so long as they are in the correct family of codes. However, it will be to your benefit to learn the ICD-10 system and develop methods within your own practices to minimize the disruption to your current practice efficiencies. I encourage all AOFAS members practicing in the US to review the excellent article in the 2015 spring issue (page 18) of In~Stride detailing the ICD-10 classification system and transition: www.aofas.org/publications/Pages/InStride-Newsletter.aspx.

To minimize any negative impact on your practice and revenue, the AAOS, in partnership with Karen Zupko & Associates, has developed ICD-10-CM: By the Numbers, a 10-module online series on how to correctly apply ICD-10 coding principles. Visit this page for details: www3.aaos.org/product/productpage.cfm?code=05408.

For more information specific to our specialty read the article “ICD 10: A Primer for the Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon,” by Tyler Gonzalez, MD, MBA, and Christopher Chiodo, MD, in the September 2015 issue of Foot & Ankle International.

Topic 2: Bunion code revisions The AOFAS, working through the AAOS, and the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) have been asked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to review the current family of bunion codes (CPT® codes 28289 through 28299). Over the last four to six months, the codes have been reviewed thoroughly by AOFAS CPT/RUC Committee representatives and representatives of the APMA. After careful and thoughtful collaboration, proposed CPT revisions were submitted to the AMA on July 8, 2015. This was the first step in a complex process, and it is too early in the process to detail the changes.

In October the AMA CPT Editorial Panel and CPT representatives from a full range of specialty societies will review our proposed submission. If these proposed changes are approved, the new set of bunion codes will then be submitted to the AMA RUC (Relative Value Update Committee) for “valuation,” and subsequent review and decision by CMS. This may result in changes in the relative values for these procedures.

Watch for important CPT/RUC surveys in late October.

In preparation for the AOFAS presentation at the January RUC meeting, the AOFAS and APMA will each send out email surveys in late October to gather data on the new family of CPT bunion codes. The data gathered from these email surveys of practitioners will be used to assign RVUs to CPT codes. There will be multiple surveys, specifically one for each code. Each survey will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

ACTION NEEDED BY AOFAS MEMBERS – THIS IS A PRIORITY• Complete the CPT/RUC survey for

each individual code

• Accurate code valuation depends on each member completing the surveys accurately and promptly.

Accurate data are critical to reflect the amount of work we provide for each CPT code and the resultant RVUs that will be assigned to each code. Payers will link the RVUs for each code to payment.

Thank you for your assistance in this important matter. Further updates will be provided as details become available.

CODING CORNERBy Peter Mangone, MD, for the AOFAS CPT/RUC Committee

Important Updates

Videos from the 2014 Complete Foot Care Course in Charlotte, North Carolina, are available via online subscription. Designed for physician assistants,

nurses, physical therapists, orthopaedic technicians, certified athletic trainers, orthotists, pedorthists, and others interested in nonoperative management of foot and ankle problems, the series includes six videos on key topics that were presented as breakout sessions during the 2014 course. Subscribers will have access to the six videos for one year from date of purchase.

Topics include:• Anatomy and Examination of the Foot• Athletic Taping and Bracing

• Foot Mechanics and Gait Analysis• Orthotics and Braces• Total Contact Casting• Wound Care

The series offers more than 160 minutes of learning across the six videos. Lectures and hands-on demonstrations make the series a great learning tool; view with your team to review key concepts and treatment approaches. For more details and a link to purchase a subscription, visit www.aofas.org/completefoot.

Complete Foot Care video series: Engage your team

AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT & ANKLE SOCIETY28

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

Make the most of your membershipA few reminders to help you stay fully connected to the AOFAS and its resources. There are many member advantages, so if there is something you need and do not find it on the AOFAS website, please ask! Direct questions and suggestions to membership@aofas.org.

FootCareMD.org – For you and your patientsAlthough you may not copy content and paste into your website pages, you can post the link to www.FootCareMD.org on your practice website to guide patients to additional information about conditions, treatments, how-to material, videos, AOFAS member directory, and more. FootCareMD.org also features 60 condition and how-to articles translated into Spanish. This site is always evolving.

Recertification – Need scored and recorded credits?Exams from the 2013 and 2014 volume years of FAI are available for $100 each. You may take the exams at your convenience using multiple devices. Each exam provides 10 AMA PRA Category 1™ credits. To get started, log in to www.aofas.org and click on the

Members Only link. You will then see a link to Access FAI CME Exams and instructions / log in for first-time access.

Convenient Registration

Every member has one current record in the AOFAS database. Always log in to www.aofas.org to register for a meeting or course then click on the Members Only link to access the particular event. Your contact information and the correct reduced member fee will automatically appear in the appropriate fields. Note: If you have an assistant registering you, be sure that person does not create a separate record for this purpose. Assistance is available at aofasinfo@aofas.org or 800-235-4855 or 847-698-4654 (outside US).

Live Webinars – Free to members

All AOFAS members are automatically registered to view the live broadcasts presented on approximately eight Tuesday nights throughout the year. There is no obligation to sign on but you will be provided with access details within a week of each webinar should you wish to participate. You must be logged in for at least 60 minutes of the program and submit an evaluation at the end to receive CME credit. The AOFAS

Webinar Series 2015 is funded by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation (The Foundation) with support in part by grants from Wright Medical Technology, Inc. and Arthrex, Inc.

Email Marketing – Is your email current?

Please log in to your user profile at www.aofas.org on occasion to be sure your preferred email for AOFAS contact is accurate so you don’t miss critical updates about the specialty, the Society, and upcoming opportunities. For login help write to aofasinfo@aofas.org or call 800-235-4855 or 847-698-4654 (outside US).

Social Media – Facebook and Twitter

AOFAS continues to build a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter. Join the crowd and share messages that educate patients and direct them to FootCareMD.org.

www.facebook.com/aofas1www.twitter.com/aofas

You can also keep abreast of Society news at the Facebook AOFAS members page. Log in to your Facebook account, navigate to the AOFAS Members Only page, and request to join.

New and elevating member applicants were approved at the Business Meeting held July 17 during the AOFAS Annual Meeting 2015. Welcome new members! Current members, congratulations on moving forward on your career path. The success of this organization lies with the participation of its membership. Member support is always highly valued. Thank you!

Active MemberNicholas Cheney, DOChristopher Copeland, DOPeter Dryden, MDSafet Hatic, DOChristopher Marrero, MDGeoffrey Miller, MD

Michele Schulz, MDKevin Wing, MD

Candidate MemberEric Linford, MD

International MemberTashfeen Ahmad, MBBSRodrigo Astolfi, MDKristian Buedts, MDFei Chang, MDStefan Feiler, MDMasamitsu Kido, MDAntonios Konstantinidis, MDDaniel Mendes, MDIhsan Oesman, MDManuel Pellegrini, MDRaheel Shariff, MRCSMarcelo Nogueira Silva, MDManuel Sousa, MDFabricio Rampinelli Zanella, MD

Fellow MemberWilliam Weiss, MD

Resident MemberCraig Akoh, MDJustin Colanese, MDAdam Ferguson, DOEnrique Feria-Arias, MDAndrew Harston, MDBernard Lau, MB BChBrandon Morris, MDKatherine Sage, MDOliver Schipper, MDDmitri Tsvetkov, MDBryan Van Dyke, DONicole Zappa, DO

Questions about your membership status should be directed to Lois Bierman, Director of Membership & Marketing, at LBierman@aofas.org or 847-430-5082.

AOFAS grows to 2,200 members