Michael Barbella, Managing Editor03.29.22
There's a new leader in charge at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
The organization officiated a change of leadership ceremony at last week's annual meeting, welcoming New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Felix H. "Buddy" Savoie III, M.D., FAAOS, as its new president for 2022-2023. Savoie assumes the top leadership role in his third year of a four-year term of volunteer service on the Board of Directors.
"I am honored and humbled to serve as AAOS president," Savoie said. "I look forward to contributing to the future of orthopedic medicine, leading the charge to preserve patient access to the highest quality orthopaedic care, and working to overcome barriers to providing the very best care for patients in a value-based healthcare system."
Savoie has made a significant and lasting impact as a physician, advocate, mentor, and researcher. He has been a leader both within his practice areas of shoulder and elbow surgery, arthroscopy, and sports medicine, and in the larger orthopedic field. His leadership roles include serving as president of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association (2016), president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (2016), chair of the Orthopaedic Learning Center (2016), president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (2010), and co-chair of the shoulder committee of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (2015-20).
In addition to his clinical and surgical practice, Savoie has helped grow and advance the field of orthopaedics through the following actions:
Savoie is chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, chief of the Division of Sports Medicine, and the Ray J. Haddad Professor of Orthopaedics at Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was recruited in 2007 to rebuild the program after Hurricane Katrina. The program has become highly successful in achieving excellent patient outcomes and as a training ground for the next generation of orthopaedic experts.
Savoie earned his medical degree and bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Louisiana State University. He completed his internship and orthopedic residency at the University of Mississippi, followed by advanced subspecialty training with an A-O international fellowship in Basel Switzerland, a hand and microvascular fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, an arthroscopy fellowship at Orthopaedic Research of Virginia, and a shoulder fellowship with Dr. Richard Hawkins in London, Ontario, Canada.
A native of Belle Rose in southern Louisiana, Savoie is the oldest of seven children. He is a father of five and grandfather of 10. He and his wife, Amy, live in the uptown area of New Orleans.
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. It provides education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals treat patients in their daily practices. The 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.
The organization officiated a change of leadership ceremony at last week's annual meeting, welcoming New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Felix H. "Buddy" Savoie III, M.D., FAAOS, as its new president for 2022-2023. Savoie assumes the top leadership role in his third year of a four-year term of volunteer service on the Board of Directors.
"I am honored and humbled to serve as AAOS president," Savoie said. "I look forward to contributing to the future of orthopedic medicine, leading the charge to preserve patient access to the highest quality orthopaedic care, and working to overcome barriers to providing the very best care for patients in a value-based healthcare system."
Savoie has made a significant and lasting impact as a physician, advocate, mentor, and researcher. He has been a leader both within his practice areas of shoulder and elbow surgery, arthroscopy, and sports medicine, and in the larger orthopedic field. His leadership roles include serving as president of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association (2016), president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (2016), chair of the Orthopaedic Learning Center (2016), president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (2010), and co-chair of the shoulder committee of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (2015-20).
In addition to his clinical and surgical practice, Savoie has helped grow and advance the field of orthopaedics through the following actions:
- He has a history of leadership within the AAOS. Before becoming president, he served as a member of the organization's Education Council, Research and Quality Council, and Political Action Committee. He also served as chair of the Committee Appointment Program Committee.
- He has trained hundreds of medical students, residents, and fellows, including a host of surgeons who visit from across the world to observe and rotate with him year-round.
- He has authored more than 1,000 publications and continues to develop new academic and clinical research using his own data, alongside other international innovators.
- He serves as an examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and has been a member of the editorial board and reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed journals, including The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Journal of Shoulder & Elbow Surgery, Journal of Arthroscopy, Clinical Orthopaedics Related Research, and American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Savoie is chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, chief of the Division of Sports Medicine, and the Ray J. Haddad Professor of Orthopaedics at Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was recruited in 2007 to rebuild the program after Hurricane Katrina. The program has become highly successful in achieving excellent patient outcomes and as a training ground for the next generation of orthopaedic experts.
Savoie earned his medical degree and bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Louisiana State University. He completed his internship and orthopedic residency at the University of Mississippi, followed by advanced subspecialty training with an A-O international fellowship in Basel Switzerland, a hand and microvascular fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, an arthroscopy fellowship at Orthopaedic Research of Virginia, and a shoulder fellowship with Dr. Richard Hawkins in London, Ontario, Canada.
A native of Belle Rose in southern Louisiana, Savoie is the oldest of seven children. He is a father of five and grandfather of 10. He and his wife, Amy, live in the uptown area of New Orleans.
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. It provides education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals treat patients in their daily practices. The 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.