U.S. Air Force Veteran, Educator Join AAOS Board of Directors

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors—Elisha “Eli” T. Powell IV, M.D., of Alaska, and Yale A. Fillingham, M.D., of Philadelphia.

Dr. Powell has been deeply involved in AAOS leadership, serving as Alaska’s Board of Councilors representative for the last six years. In his BOC role, he also chaired the BOC Advocacy Resource Committee. He also served on the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC) since its inception.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Powell was chief of orthopedics at the U.S. Air Force Academy and served as head team physician and chief of sports medicine for the Academy’s NCAA Division I athletics program. He later deployed to Iraq, where he commanded the region’s largest hospital and received the Bronze Star. In addition, he served as president of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS). He completed his military career as hospital commander at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, where the hospital was twice selected as the best in the Air Force.

Dr. Powell has held leadership roles in organized medicine, including as president of the Alaska State Medical Association and chief of the medical staff at Providence Alaska Medical Center. He has authored numerous publications in orthopedic literature and has served as a physician for the U.S. Men’s National Alpine Ski Team. In 2017, he received the J. Leland Sosman Award for outstanding medical coverage and service to the U.S. Ski Team.

Dr. Powell specializes in sports medicine, with decades of experience caring for professional, collegiate and recreational athletes. He is president of Orthopedic Physicians Alaska, the largest provider of musculoskeletal care in the Last Frontier. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, Dr. Powell earned his medical degree from the University of Florida and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Washington.

Dr. Fillingham has been an active leader within AAOS, serving in multiple roles supporting evidence-based care and quality improvement. His contributions include committee service and section leadership, and he most recently chaired the AAOS Evidence-Based Quality and Value Committee and served as a member on the Research and Quality Council.

Beyond AAOS, Dr. Fillingham has served in key roles within national orthopedic organizations focused on evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines. He has held positions within the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), including as vice chair of the AAHKS Evidence-Based Medicine Committee, and has helped develop clinical practice guidelines that address perioperative pain management, osteoarthritis, and antibiotic prophylaxis, among other topics.

An accomplished researcher and educator, Dr. Fillingham leads a robust research program focused on multicenter clinical trials, perioperative optimization, and patient outcomes. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and has contributed to the development of evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving patient care in orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Fillingham specializes in hip and knee reconstruction at Rothman Orthopaedics, where he serves as vice chair of research and as an associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University. He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center, followed by fellowship training in adult hip and knee reconstruction at the Rothman Institute.

With more than 39,000 members, AAOS is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The organization advances musculoskeletal health by providing comprehensive education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals best treat patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.