Rankin to Focus on Advocacy, Unity, and Diversity as President of AAOS

In this issue of Orthopedics, Dr E. Anthony Rankin, new president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, discusses his role with the organization, his plans for the year, and his priorities in life.

E. Anthony Rankin

What are you planning to accomplish throughout your presidency?

In the coming year, I will focus on three goals: advocacy, unity, and diversity.

The advocacy initiative will address among other things, two important concerns of our members, namely medical liability reform, and Medicare reimbursement issues. Both of these concerns underscore a prime focus of our advocacy effort, that of patient access to care.

Explain your focus on advocacy throughout your tenure with the Academy.

To elevate and improve our advocacy program, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board held a workshop in December 2007 and will hold another, more in-depth, workshop this spring. We want to engage our members to become more active politically, both through contributions to our Political Action Committee, and by becoming personally involved in the political process as we advocate for patient access to quality care and patient choice.

As I visit our State and Regional Societies this year, I plan to take the message of the importance of our political involvement at the grassroots level for the benefit of our patients, our practices, and our profession. To facilitate increased member participation, we held focus groups at the Annual meeting and conducted a survey to determine what is critical to our members in the advocacy arena and what are they willing to do to work toward that goal.

How would you describe the current status of the Academy?

True to our vision, the AAOS is the authoritative source of knowledge and leadership in musculoskeletal health. And fulfilling our mission, we serve the fellowship and the profession, champion the interest of patients, and advance the highest quality of musculoskeletal health.

Explain your goals for the Academy in 2008.

Besides advocacy, I plan to focus on orthopedic unity. Seventy percent of our current membership belongs to a specialty society, or has an interest in a specialty area. Yet, we are orthopedists first, and we are stronger and more effective when we partner in our programmatic areas of education, advocacy, research, and communications.

We are planning a Unity Summit just prior to our Fall Meeting with the aim of strengthening our unity movement and countering the fragmentation that is the threat that accompanies specialization.

How do you plan to increase diversity in the profession?

I will engage the AAOS Diversity Advisory Board, the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society, and the Ruth Jackson Society to continue their outstanding work, both individually and collectively, to provide role models and serve as mentors to aspiring minority and female medical students, and to promote culturally competent care to our fellowship.

Diversity is a strategic goal of AAOS and we will continue the work that we have accomplished to further build on our successes of increasing the numbers of minority and female orthopedic surgeons and to have them participate at all levels of involvement of the AAOS.

We have a significant population of uninsured and underinsured. Is the AAOS going to support nationalized health care?

The AAOS Council on Advocacy is currently developing a draft position statement on Health care reform. We are already on record along with nine other medical societies including the American Medical Association and American Cancer Society, calling for “Health care coverage for all to ensure quality of care and to improve the health status of all Americans,” while at the same time recognizing that comprehensive medical liability reform is essential to ensure access to quality health care. We plan to assume a leadership role in the Presidential debate on health care reform.

Is AAOS going to continue to have an educational role for orthopedists nationwide?

Education is the cornerstone of AAOS. We will continue with all of our education offerings for the members that include the Annual Meeting, cutting-edge CME, MOC preparation materials, surgical skills courses, printed, and electronic materials (Orthopaedic Knowledge Online). As a part of our unity initiative, we partner with the specialty societies to co-brand and co-sponsor education materials to the benefit of our mutual members and AAOS Fellows.

Since the OIG investigation, have there been any changes made within AAOS with regard to industry relationships?

The AAOS has had a Code of Ethics for many years, and well over a year ago developed a Standard of Professionalism on Industry Physician Relationships. This new Standard of Professionalism went into effect January 2008.

Our members must adhere to these standards as a condition of membership. The AAOS can discipline a member for violation of these standards.

What is AAOS’ stance on orthopedists who benefit financially from companies whose products they use?

AAOS supports appropriate financial disclosures to patients regarding relationships between orthopedic surgeons and implant manufacturers. The priority of AAOS members is the care and well being of their patients. The patients’ interests come first. It is important to recognize and understand that many different financial relationships between members and implant manufacturers result in compensation, including providing consulting advice, conducting research, and educating orthopedic surgeons and the public.

AAOS holds that there is no place for illegal or unethical arrangements where compensation to a physician greatly exceeds the value of the services to the company. Such arrangements erode public trust and confidence. Our priority has been, and remains, our patients.

Will AAOS continue to promote humanitarian efforts? If so, how?

AAOS encourages and promotes humanitarian efforts in a number of ways. The AAOS Humanitarian Award is highlighted at the Annual Meeting, our publications highlight humanitarian activity frequently, humanitarian organizations exhibit at the Annual Meeting, and this year there is an instructional course on how to get involved. Many of our specialty societies have humanitarian outreach programs that are highlighted in their publications, as well as our own. We also have a close relationship with health volunteers overseas.

Your son, Dr Marc Rankin, has joined your practice. How do you feel about him following in your footsteps?

I have the unique pleasure of working with my son Marc in the same practice. Marc trained in the Howard University orthopedic program, so I had the opportunity to observe him mature and become an excellent orthopedic surgeon.

He provides outstanding patient care and he loves to teach. He works with our residents at the Veterans Administration, Howard University, and Providence, and is team physician at Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, and St Johns College High School. I am both proud and honored to have him as a partner.

With commitments to your practice, the Academy, and a number of other organizations, how do you find any available free time?

My practice commitments, including patient care, administration, and teaching, along with the AAOS commitment, make for a full schedule. It is an honor and a privilege to be president of AAOS and have the opportunity to work with all of the exceptionally talented and dedicated volunteers and staff of AAOS.

My wife Frances and I enjoy getting to our place on the Chesapeake Bay with family and friends, especially in the spring and summer. We both enjoy music and fortunately have excellent venues here in Washington to hear music, from jazz to classical to opera.

Author

Dr Rankin is from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Washington, DC.

Dr Rankin has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.