AAOS Supports Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ top leadership has released the following open letter to members regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

Dear Colleagues:
 
With the utmost concern, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, which has already resulted in tremendous injury, suffering, and the loss of human life.
 
As a medical association, we are fully committed to reducing human suffering from injury, trauma, and disease—anywhere in the world. We encourage all interested AAOS Members to offer help and support, in any way they can, to assist those in the medical community in Ukraine to care for the injured.
 
Several communities and healthcare institutions are already organizing efforts to support medical relief to Ukraine. For example, we are aware that Yevhen Pavelko, MD, a surgeon with the University of Illinois at Chicago and Chairman of the Humanitarian Committee of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), is coordinating an effort to send medicines and medical equipment to Ukraine.
 
With many members inquiring about how they can help, we share this resource summary, which identifies humanitarian organizations, including the effort noted above, that are already working in the region to make an impact and are actively seeking monetary and/or medical supply donations to help in the region.
 
We continue to keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers and thank you for whatever support you can provide to ease the human suffering of this escalating tragedy. As events unfold and we hear more from our colleagues in the region, we will update the membership on future needs and opportunities to assist.
 
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS
President, AAOS
 
Coleen S. Sabatini, MD, MPH, FAAOS
Chair, AAOS International Committee