AAOS Now Podcast

In this episode of the AAOS Now Podcast, host Stuart J. Fischer, MD, FAAOS, speaks with two leaders in orthopaedic data science about how physician-controlled registries are transforming outcomes measurement, implant evaluation, and clinical decision-making. From the early vision of a national joint replacement registry to a new real-time data partnership with Epic, the conversation traces how far the registries have come and where they are headed. Drs. James Huddleston and Steven Glassman share concrete examples of how registry data is driving practice change. They also address how the data supports Clinical Practice Guidelines and research, why surgeon and patient information is protected from outside access, and what the integration of AI and patient-reported outcomes means for the next generation of orthopaedic registries. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: Origins and goals of the AAOS registry portfolio: How orthopaedic surgeons built a physician-controlled data infrastructure to protect procedures and drive evidence-based care Data sources and infrastructure: AJRR's use of hospital and ASC submissions, Medicare claims for complete follow-up on Medicare patients, and a new Epic Community Registries partnership for real-time data capture Registry scale and participation gaps: Why AJRR has surpassed five million procedures while spine, shoulder and elbow, and musculoskeletal oncology registries are still building volume Real-world clinical impact: How AJRR data has influenced cementless knee adoption, robotics use in unicompartmental arthroplasty, and the growth of triple-tapered femoral stems in hip replacement Research and CPG applications: How the Registry Analytics Institute supports physician-led and industry-sponsored research, with strict controls on data dissemination Patient-reported outcomes: The longstanding role of PROMs in spine and the challenges of scaling PROM collection for hip and knee under new government mandates Data privacy: Why registry data remains de-identified and inaccessible to insurers and government agencies, and what individual surgeon dashboards can offer International comparisons and ISAR: How AJRR benchmarks against registries in England, Wales, and beyond, and why U.S.-specific data remains essential AI and the future of registries: How AJRR is piloting AI-powered EHR extraction to improve data completeness without human intervention About Our Guests: James Huddleston III, MD, FAAOS, is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford Hospital; Co-Chair of the AAOS Registry Oversight Committee; and Chair of the American Joint Replacement Registry Steering Committee Steven D. Glassman, MD, FAAOS, is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine; Medical Director at the Norton Leatherman Spine Center; Chair of the AAOS Registry Oversight Committee; and past Chair of the American Spine Registry Executive Committee

In this episode of the AAOS Now Podcast, host Richard Schaefer, MD, FAAOS, sits down with two of orthopaedic surgery's most dedicated advocates for medical student mentorship, William Levine, MD, FAAOS, and Amiethab Aiyer, MD, FAAOS, for a candid conversation about the residency Match process.  The discussion tackles the nuts, bolts, and controversies of today's highly competitive application landscape, including how signaling helps students whittle down the number of programs they apply to, why away rotations may have gotten out of hand, and whether every student really needs to do a research year.  Drs. Levine and Aiyer share how their decades-long professional relationship helped shape their commitment to guiding the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons. They explain that mentorship is a bidirectional partnership in which the mentee must put forth more than just a desire to learn. They talk about the importance of building a diverse "board" of mentors across institutions. And they encourage students to seek out mentors, including near-peers, who have their “finger on the pulse” of the rapidly-evolving Match process.  The episode closes with a candid challenge to prospective applicants: Before attempting to match into orthopaedic surgery, ask yourself why you want to be an orthopaedic surgeon. According to Dr. Levine, mentors should require all of their mentees to answer that question — and if the answer is iffy, encourage them to consider a different specialty.  Key Topics Covered in this Episode How the residency Match process works: from application to Match Day Building a mentorship "board": why one mentor isn't enough and how to cultivate relationships across institutions Mentorship as a bidirectional partnership: what mentees must bring to the relationship The origin of OrthoMentor: how Drs. Levine and Aiyer began collaborating to fill a nationwide advising void and how students at institutions with limited advising resources can still access current, accurate guidance Signaling and application caps: understanding the data behind limiting program applications (yes, 100 applications is too many) Away rotations: how many to do and why cohort strategy matters when applying Research years: when they help, when they don't, and what to look for in a productive year Schools without home programs: unique challenges and where to find current guidance Pursuing the right path: why students should reflect on their motivations before pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery, and why where you train isn’t as important as what you do with the opportunity About Our Guests William N. Levine, MD, FAAOS, the Frank E. Stinchfield Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Chief of the Orthopaedics Service at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center; and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Amiethab Aiyer, MD, FAAOS, Division Chief of foot and ankle surgery and Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Deputy Editor, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

In this deeply personal episode, Bopha Chrea, MD, shares the extraordinary story of her family's survival of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, their harrowing escape from the Killing Fields across the border into Thailand, and their eventual resettlement in Canada. Dr. Chrea, now a foot and ankle surgeon at Iowa Health Care, connects her family's journey to three core lessons she carried into her career: that opportunities are often disguised as misfortune, that growth requires getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, and that gratitude is a genuine superpower. She reflects on how her early experiences navigating the healthcare system as a young child of immigrant parents shaped her path to orthopaedics, and how she now uses those lessons to guide trainees through the challenges of residency and fellowship, as well as the transition into practice. Key Topics Covered in This Episode Opportunities can be disguised as misfortune — How a series of trials and tribulations, including losing his glasses and the destruction of his family’s home, miraculously ended up saving Dr. Chrea's father from execution by Pol Pot’s brutal regime. The lesson: tragedy can lead to positive outcomes and growth. It’s important to get comfortable with being uncomfortable — How her parents’ willingness to take risks in the absence of a guaranteed path enabled the family to escape the Killing Fields and safely reach the refugee camp in Thailand, where Dr. Chrea was born. This lesson: focus on clarity of vision over certainty of path; as long as you believe in the vision, you can navigate through the uncertainty, but if you aren’t willing to try, you definitely won’t succeed. Gratitude is a superpower — How her brother chooses to emphasize the positive aspects of the family’s time in the refugee camp, not just the horrors. The lesson: mindset matters; you can actively choose to frame experiences in a more affirming way. To this day, Dr. Chrea is intentional about expressing gratitude to the people who have supported her journey. Mentoring is not one-size-fits-all — How meeting learners where they are helps them build confidence through small, achievable goals. The path to orthopaedics is paved with personal experiences — How translating for her mother at medical appointments as a child sparked a lifelong commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. Guest: Bopha Chrea, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation in the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa Host: Robert M. Orfaly, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Now editorial board member

This episode spotlights the AAOS Patient Engagement Task Force and its efforts to increase patient involvement in and education about orthopaedic care. Host Stuart J. Fischer, MD, FAAOS, welcomed task force co-chairs James W. Barber, MD, FAAOS, and Monica Payares-Lizano, MD, FAAOS, to discuss the creation and structure of the task force and its focus on patient engagement as a key part of the 2024-28 strategic plan. They explain that the task force was designed to promote bi-directional communication between the AAOS Board of Directors and the AAOS councils and committees that are already involved in patient-facing work.  Highlighted task force accomplishments include a major revamp of OrthoInfo.org – AAOS’ most comprehensive patient-facing musculoskeletal health resource – to make the website more accessible and easier to navigate, as well as provide the content in multiple languages. Drs. Barber and Payares also talked about patient advocacy and the powerful impact of sharing patient stories with policymakers on Capitol Hill, about other AAOS patient education tools such as CPGs, and about the positive effect of patient engagement on PROMs. Both doctors share perspectives about how they are able to effectively inform and communicate with their unique patient populations, emphasizing the importance of placing patients at the center of orthopaedic care. Host: Stuart J. Fischer, MD, FAAOS, member, AAOS Now Editorial Board, and former Editor-in-Chief of OrthoInfo Guests: Monica Payares-Lizano, MD, FAAOS, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Phoenix Children’s; Member-at-Large, AAOS Board of Directors; co-chair, Patient Engagement Task Force James W. Barber, MD, FAAOS, orthopaedic surgeon with Southeastern Orthopaedics and Surgery Center; Secretary, AAOS Board of Councilors; co-chair, Patient Engagement Task Force

This episode explores the importance of leadership development in healthcare and orthopaedics, featuring insights from Duke sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and professor Dean Taylor, MD, FAAOS. Dr. Taylor, chair of the Feagin Leadership Program and a retired Army colonel, shares the origins and impact of the Feagin Leadership Program with host and West Point classmate Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, FAAOS. Dr. Taylor highlights the program’s role in fostering patient-centered leadership not just in orthopaedics, but across the medical spectrum. He defines what healthcare leadership is and outlines the skills and traits that are essential for healthcare leaders – including emotional intelligence and self-awareness – and how these translate into clinical practice and team dynamics.  Dr. Taylor also reflects on his relationship with the late Dr. John Feagin, whose legacy inspires the multidisciplinary Feagin program, and emphasizes the value of embracing diverse perspectives to improve healthcare outcomes. Listeners gain practical advice about enhancing their leadership skills and learn about resources such as the annual leadership forum and the nonprofit Healthcare Leadership Foundation, which are aimed at advancing leadership education in medicine. Host: Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, FAAOS Guest: Dean Taylor, MD, FAAOS