Lessons in Orthopaedic Leadership: An AOA Podcast

If orthopaedic surgeons stop showing up, who decides what our profession becomes? We sit down with Dr. Fred Azar, past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a longtime leader and current Department Chair at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, to talk about the future of organizational involvement in orthopaedic surgery and why it matters more than ever as healthcare grows more compl...

Ballistic missiles overhead at 2 a.m. Surgeons back in the OR at sunrise. A city buying groceries and sending kids to school while medevacs arrive around the clock. That contrast is the setting for our conversation with Dr. Roman Hayda, Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at Rhode Island Hospital and a retired US Army colonel who has traveled to Ukraine repeatedly to support frontline trauma hospitals. We...

“I’m fine” is one of the most expensive sentences in health care, because it can hide pain, lost function, fear, and stalled recovery. We talk with Dr. Judy Baumhauer, a national leader in orthopaedic surgery and outcomes measurement, about how patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) give patients a real voice in their care and give clinicians a clearer signal about what’s working. We get specif...

The next wave in orthopaedic surgery isn’t just surgical technique it’s how care gets organized, measured, and paid for. We sit down with Dr. Aaron Chamberlain, senior medical director for Intermountain’s musculoskeletal clinical program, to unpack why vertically integrated healthcare systems can be a powerful engine for value-based care and what that means for surgeons who want to lead, not just...

We sit down with Dr. Paul Anderson, a nationally recognized orthopaedic spine surgeon and longtime leader in bone health, to explain how bone fragility quietly drives pseudoarthrosis, hardware failure, periprosthetic fracture, and revision surgery across orthopaedics, including spine fusion, total hip and knee arthroplasty, shoulder procedures, and sports medicine repairs. Our goal is simple: help...

Great leaders aren’t born in a boardroom—they’re forged in moments where stakes are high, information is messy, and people need clarity. That’s the lens we bring to a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Mike Archdeacon, trauma surgeon and long-serving chair at the University of Cincinnati, on how to navigate leadership without losing the joy of clinical work. We dig into the real mechanics of leadi...

Ready to Rethink How Orthopaedic Leaders are Made? We sit down with Rex C. Haydon, MD, PhD, FAOA, archaeologist turned musculoskeletal oncologist and Second President‑Elect of the American Orthopaedic Association—to trace the ABC Traveling Fellowship from its post‑war roots to its modern role as a launchpad for mid‑career transformation. Across five to six weeks and multiple continents, the fellow...

Fracture fixed, problem solved? Not even close. Dr. Andrea Spiker sits down with two orthopedic leaders, Dr. Marc Swiontkowski and Dr. Kyle Jeray, who helped turn a quiet crisis—osteoporosis-related fractures—into a national movement that’s changing how surgeons practice, teach, and lead. You’ll hear the untold origin story of Own the Bone and why it succeeded where earlier efforts stalled: simple...

David Martin, MD, FAOA takes us on a profound exploration of orthopaedic board certification's past, present, and future landscape. As Executive Medical Director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), Dr. Martin provides podcast host, Dr. Douglas Lundy, rare insights into how the certification process shapes both individual surgeons and the entire profession. Dr. Martin articula...

What if the biggest breakthroughs in joint care are stalled not by science, but by budgets? We sit down with Dr. Josh Jacobs to trace the future of orthopaedic research across funding realities, scientific frontiers, and the mission to keep surgeon scientists in the game. It’s a candid look at how NIH indirect cuts, DOD reductions, and shifting hospital margins collide with the urgent need to tack...

What happens when a respected orthopaedic chair steps away from the big title to get back to the OR, residents, and real day-to-day impact? We sit down with Dr. Keith Kenter to unpack a rare leadership arc—building an academic culture in Kalamazoo, navigating post-COVID administrative sprawl, and ultimately returning to Missouri to reclaim core values: teaching, operating, and mentoring. It’s a ca...

Want to know why some orthopaedic practices deliver faster care at lower cost with happier patients? Doug Lundy, MD, MBA, FAOA sits down with Dr. Gerry Williams, FAOA to map the strategy behind ancillary ownership—and why control, not just margin, is the quiet superpower of modern MSK care.  The heart of the episode is surgical workflow. When surgeons lead ASCs, standardization and team expertise...

Want a real look at how independent orthopaedic groups thrive while hospitals buy up urgent cares, primary care, and the referral rails? Dr. Doug Lundy, AOA host, sits down with Dr. Kimmerly, president at Peachtree Orthopedics in Atlanta, to unpack how a 44-physician practice stays nimble, patient-centered, and profitable in a market dominated by large systems and complex EHR ecosystems. The story...

What if a health system could be massive and still feel local to every patient it serves? We sit down with Dr. MaCalus Hogan, chair of orthopedic surgery at UPMC, to unpack how a hybrid model—academic, community-employed, and private partners—can deliver scale without sameness. Dr. Hogan shares the leadership habits that shaped his path (mentorship, humility, listening first) and how those habits...

A new chair’s first year can feel like drinking from a fire hose—until the patterns emerge. Dr. Doug Lundy speaks with Dr. Jennifer Wolf, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Chicago, to unpack what truly shifts when your role becomes building others: the politics you don’t see until you’re in the seat, the communication cadence that keeps a department alig...

The future of orthopaedic practice won’t be won by the highest offer or the loudest brand—it’ll be won by groups that can bend without breaking. Dr. Doug Lundy sits down with Dr. Alex Vaccaro of Rothman to unpack how a true megagroup navigates shrinking CMS rates, anesthesia shortages, hiring wars, and private equity. 

Dr. Doug Lundy sits down with two leaders at the forefront of residency education: Dr. Tessa Balach, past chair of the Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (CORD), and Dr. Trent Guthrie, current CORD chair to discuss the future of Orthopaedic Education. Their conversation explores the shift toward competency-based medical education in orthopaedic surgery.  Technology's transformative ro...

Robotics emerges as another transformative force. While many surgeons remain skeptical, Dr. Chen makes a compelling case for why robotics will eventually become standard. Perhaps most exciting is the potential to address periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)—what Dr. Chen calls "the holy grail" challenge in joint replacement. From implant coatings that prevent bacterial adhesion to novel...

What makes a great orthopaedic leader? Dr. Alex Ghanayem, fresh off his term as the 137th President of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), shares candid reflections on leadership, legacy, and the future of orthopaedic surgery in this thought-provoking conversation with podcast host, Dr. Doug Lundy.   Dr. Ghanayem brings refreshing humility to his assessment of presidential leadership, emph...

Moving beyond typical discussions of value-based care, Dr. Mather reframes the entire conversation. "Value-based care is financial innovation to solve important healthcare problems," he explains. These problems extend far beyond cost control to address clinician burnout, prior authorization burdens, care gaps, declining profitability, and health equity. For surgeons planning their career...

Dr. Rick Wright explores the future of orthopaedic sports medicine, focusing on promising developments in cartilage replacement, meniscus substitution, ACL repair, and innovative rotator cuff treatments. His expert insights reveal how these advancements could transform patient care while addressing the economic realities of implementing cutting-edge treatments.

The healthcare workforce crisis is reshaping American medicine in profound ways that will impact both providers and patients for decades to come. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Thomas L Miller, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Utah, reveals how healthcare institutions are navigating the aftermath of what he calls "a bird's eye view of the future" following the pande...

What happens when devastating cancer diagnoses transform into manageable chronic conditions? Dr. Terry Peabody, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University and past AOA president, takes us on a compelling journey through the evolving landscape of musculoskeletal oncology. Dr. Peabody shares profound leadership wisdom gained from mentors who taught him that true leadership means "b...

The healthcare landscape is transforming at lightning speed, with consolidation reshaping how orthopaedic care is delivered across America. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. David Jevsevar, CEO of OrthoVirginia, shares his unique perspective gained from navigating nearly every side of this complex equation—from private practice founder to hospital executive to leader of one of the nation'...

Whether you're contemplating your first practice or considering a job change, this conversation offers invaluable guidance from those who've successfully navigated multiple transitions.  AOA Emerging Leader Aaron Brandt, MD, had a discussion with Antonia Chen, MD, FAOA, and Clayton Nuelle, MD, about transitioning jobs early in your career, and how to decide what your non-negotiables are...