AAOS Names New Medical Director

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has a new medical director.

The Rosemont, Ill.-based organization that provides musculoskeletal education to orthopedic surgeons worldwide named William R. Martin III, M.D., to the post. He assumes his new role on June 1.

Martin’s appointment is not a complete surprise—he has been affiliated with the 77-year-old organization for at least six years. He was a member of the Academy Leadership Fellows Class of 2004, and served on the Healthcare Delivery Committee. Martin also has served on the Council on Advocacy and the Diversity Advisory Board. An announcement about Martin’s appointment claims he has received “many” awards for his research, humanitarian and leadership efforts, but AAOS officials do not elaborate on the accomplishments. According to an online biography, however, Martin helps provide orthopedic services for crippled children throughout Arizona as well as the poor and medically indigent people living in cities and on Native American Indian reservations.

Martin is an orthopedic surgeon at Copper State Orthopedics Ltd., and the medical director of Urgent Care Plus, LLC, both in Pheonix, Ariz. His online biography credits him with developing and implementing national policies on “culturally competent care” and for improving health disparities.

“We are fortunate to have such a motivated and dedicated new medical director, especially during this period of opportunity and challenges within the changing healthcare landscape,” said academy CEO Karen L. Hackett, CAE, FACHE. “Dr. Martin’s continued involvement in advocacy for AAOS, for orthopedic patients and for other medical organizations has prepared him for his newest endeavor in Washington.”

Martin graduated from Tufts University in Massachusetts and received his medical degree from Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University. He earned a general surgery internship and an orthopaedic residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, according to an AAOS news release. Martin completed an adult foot and ankle reconstruction fellowship and post graduate work in public health at the University of North Carolina.

Martin has been an active member of the Western Orthopaedic Association in Towson, Md., the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (based in Rosemont, Ill.), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (also based in Rosemont), the Arizona Orthopaedic Association and both the Arizona and American Medical Associations.