AANA25 Non-Scientific Access Pass-PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (Main Stage)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This speech honors Alan S. Curtis, a distinguished physician known for his excellence, humility, and dedication to family and education. Born and raised in Braintree, Massachusetts, Curtis excelled in hockey and pursued medicine after personal sports injuries inspired his path. He trained extensively, becoming a leading orthopedic surgeon and an innovator in sports medicine, particularly in rotator cuff repair techniques. Known as "a man built for others," his impact extends beyond surgery to fellowship training and family devotion.<br /><br />The speaker reflects on sports medicine's evolution since the 1950s, highlighting the fitness decline post-World War II and initiatives by U.S. presidents like Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson to promote fitness nationwide. Advances in arthroscopy, spurred by pioneers like Masaki Watanabe and Robert Jackson, improved treatment of sports injuries alongside the fitness boom of the 1970s and '80s. The talk covers how organizations like the Arthroscopy Association of North America (ANA) fostered innovation and education, emphasizing the passion driving professionals in the field.<br /><br />Recent society events are reviewed, demonstrating ongoing commitment to education, research, and collaboration, including combined meetings with other societies, fellowships, and advocacy efforts. The speech closes by urging younger medical professionals to maintain passion, humility, and a service mentality—likening good medical care to attentive waiting service—and celebrates those who support these collective efforts. Overall, it is a tribute to personal excellence, leadership, and the enduring impact of dedication within sports medicine.

Asset Caption

Moderator: John D. Kelly IV, M.D., FAANA
AANA President Alan S. Curtis, M.D., FAANA

Keywords

Alan S. Curtis

orthopedic surgeon

sports medicine

rotator cuff repair

arthroscopy

sports injury treatment

Arthroscopy Association of North America

medical education

sports fitness history

medical leadership