AAOS Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - March 6, 2008) - Seventy-Five years ago on an ordinary January day in 1933, a small group of orthopaedic surgeons gathered to form, what is known today as, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. It was a small organization when it started, serving fewer than 500 members. Today, the Academy is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists, serving a membership of more than 34,000 across the globe.

The historic foundations of orthopaedic surgery have been studied and written about by many, but have never been critically studied until now. The Academy made a commitment to document the untold story of the "golden era of orthopaedics," and to provide a lasting archive for the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, patients, and industry professionals. "Given that most of the scientific, technologic, and economic forces that have driven our specialty to its preeminent position in medicine have occurred in the last century, we found it curious that this 'golden era' of orthopaedic surgery had not been researched or analyzed in a scholarly fashion," said Robert W. Bucholz, MD, AAOS past president and co-chair of the 75th Anniversary Project Team.

The 75th Anniversary Project is an ambitious member driven effort to collect information, photos, artifacts, member interviews and existing historical documentation to give a real face to the field of orthopaedics. "When most medical specialties write their histories, too much emphasis is placed on technical advances or tools," said James J. Hamilton, MD, project team co-chair. "Orthopaedic history takes place in physicians' offices, in industry and academic research labs as well as surgical suites. But it also happened in cramped field hospitals, aboard ships, or in underdeveloped villages half way around the world."

At the 75th Annual Meeting, March 5-9, 2008, taking place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif., Academy members and those who attend the meeting will travel a digital timeline taking them on an interactive adventure, where they can see more than 1,500 events that have helped shape the history of orthopaedics.

Other interesting features at the 75th Anniversary celebration include:

--  eMotion Pictures Art Show -- This amazing exhibit was created by
    orthopaedists and their patients portraying the patient and physician
    perspective of the orthopaedic specialty and what it has meant in their
    life through sculpture, paint, wood and photography.
--  Moving Pictures, the film -- An historical film reflecting on the last
    75 years of orthopaedic innovation and development by researchers,
    surgeons, industry and happenstance.  The film's story is conveyed largely
    though the personal stories of orthopaedic surgeons and their patients.
--  Moving Stories, the exhibit -- This traveling exhibit will unfold the
    history of orthopaedics tackling major subjects including, Academy history,
    the War Years, Polio, Scoliosis, Joint Replacement and many others. After
    the Annual Meeting a portion of the exhibit will be available for meetings,
    residency training programs and also to universities and clinics around the
    country.
--  "Moving Stories: Seventy-five Years of Orthopaedic Surgery," is a
    coffee table book -- rich with images, personal stories and timelines. This
    book notes the significant events in the history of orthopaedics.
--  "Getting It Straight" -- is an historical reference book of
    orthopaedics written by Henry H. Sherk, MD, documenting the development of
    the specialty and medical advances in areas such as; fracture care,
    manipulation and surgery.  In addition the book will provide a history of
    the AAOS and other orthopaedic societies.
--  Academy Chronicles -- This three dimensional exhibit is formed from
    actual and miniaturized pieces of Academy history. The elaborate 5-foot by
    7.5 foot display will be showcased in the lobby of the AAOS headquarters in
    Rosemont, Ill., after the Annual Meeting where it will showcase important
    historical and other significant findings associated with the Academy's 75
    years.
    

Please visit the Academy's 75th Anniversary Web site at: www.aaos.org/75years. This site includes an online art gallery from eMotion Pictures, contrasting archival images, excerpts from historical research, the coffee table books, film clips, patient stories and much more.

About AAOS

To view this release online, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2008/aaos030608_75th/index.html

Contact Information: For more information, contact: Sandra Gordon C: (312) 560-1287 O: (847)-384-4030 Addy Kujawa C: (224) 374-8609 O: (847)-384-4033