AANA24 Foot & Ankle All-Access Pass-GENERAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION: Diversity Session, AANA Awards, Announcement of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors Slate (Main Stage)

GENERAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION: Diversity Session, AANA Awards, Announcement of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors Slate (Main Stage)

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Video Summary

The General Session Diversity panel at the AANA annual meeting featured heartfelt discussions on diversity in orthopedics, particularly the underrepresentation of women and minorities. Moderated by Dr. John Tokish and Dr. Rachel Frank, the session spotlighted inspiring stories of four women orthopedic surgeons who are daughters of practicing surgeons. They shared how familial support, especially from their fathers, played a pivotal role in their careers. Their experiences emphasized grit, mentorship, and the importance of a supportive community in overcoming challenges related to gender and ethnicity. <br /><br />The panelists underscored that increasing diversity improves patient care and outcomes, but acknowledged orthopedics lags behind other fields in ethnic diversity. They advocated shifting from notions of “fitting in” to fostering a sense of “belonging” for minorities in the profession.<br /><br />The session also included prestigious AANA awards recognizing significant contributions to education, research, and leadership. Jeff Abrams and Bob Burks received Distinguished Service Awards for exemplary dedication and integrity. The highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Dr. Steve Burkhart for pioneering arthroscopic shoulder surgery, revolutionary surgical techniques, and profound impact on military and civilian orthopedics.<br /><br />Additionally, the new 2024-2025 AANA leadership slate was announced, reflecting strong, diverse, and capable leadership preparing the organization’s future. The overall session celebrated progress and encouraged continued advocacy, mentorship, and inclusion in orthopedic surgery, affirming the critical role of positive support and representation in shaping the field’s future.

Asset Caption

Moderators: Rachel M. Frank, M.D., John M. Tokish, M.D., FAANA

Keywords

Diversity in orthopedics

Women orthopedic surgeons

Minority representation

Mentorship in surgery

Gender equity in medicine

Orthopedic surgery community

AANA annual meeting

Orthopedic leadership

Lifetime Achievement Award

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Supportive professional environment