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BLOG: What happens in Vegas may or may not stay in Vegas
Upon arriving at the registration desk of the 2015 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting today, I immediately had flashbacks to my first ever AAOS Annual Meeting here in Las Vegas in 2009. At that time, I was a medical student learning how to navigate third-year clerkship rotations. Now, I find myself immersed in navigating the art, science and practice of orthopedic surgery. The AAOS Annual Meeting allows orthopedic surgeons and trainees of all levels to learn new techniques, implants and procedures, and bring knowledge back to their own program. So, certainly everything that happens in Vegas will not stay in Vegas.
There is perhaps no better place to begin this blog than with a summary of my first stop of the day – the exhibit hall – complete with the Orthopaedic Video Theater (OVT), scientific exhibits and poster presentations. While I have an interest in sports medicine, shoulder surgery and arthroscopy, and tend to gravitate toward presentations within those categories, I found myself stopping at multiple posters in a variety of fields, and was excited to find some certain “hot topics” that span multiple clinical areas of orthopedic surgery. Namely, exhibits and posters on patient expectations and satisfaction, simulation training and revision surgery (regardless of the procedure) were on display. I think they reflect growing trends within our field. Another area of growing interest on display both within the poster hall as well as in the OVT is hip arthroscopy, including topics from setup to advanced techniques in the central and peripheral compartments of the hip.
My last stop today was the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) Annual Meeting. This has become one of my favorite meetings, not only because of the amazing guest speakers and presentations year after year, but also because of the unrivaled networking opportunities.
Rachel M. Frank
The RJOS is a remarkable organization that fosters mentorship, leadership and education for women in orthopedics. I am incredibly proud to be a resident member. Each year that I have been privileged enough to attend the AAOS Annual Meeting, the attendance and energy seems to grow. I am just extremely inspired to see so many women practicing orthopedic surgery and truly leading the way in their respective fields.
The guest speaker was Maj. General Suzanna Vautrinot of the United States Air Force, who presented on “Challenges, solutions, and communication to optimize leadership: Lessons from the military to apply to health care” was exceptional. Throughout her speech, Maj. General Vautrinot connected with the audience, and outlined several parallels between what we do, and her life in the United States Air Force, especially with regard to leadership and mentorship. Following her speech, Maj. General Vautrinot, as well as several leaders in various specialties within orthopedics, also gave presentations, including Susan Cero, MD; Mark Gebhardt, MD; JoAnn Hannafin, MD, PhD; and Jennifer Weiss, MD. As a fourth-year resident who looks up to these individuals, it was especially motivating to hear them speak about how to be a successful leader in this field.
With that, I will conclude this blog. But don’t worry, the night is young and tomorrow is a brand new day.
Rachel M. Frank, MD, is a fourth-year resident at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Disclosure: Frank reports no relevant financial disclosures.