Annual Meeting Symposia

The 2010 Symposium entitled The Orthopaedic Surgeon and Industry Relationship: Evolution or Revolution? is now available online.

The 2010 symposium will explore the current regulatory and enforcement environment regarding the relationship and potential conflicts of interest between orthopaedic surgeons and industry.

1. Introduction and Review of Recent Events
   Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, New York, NY
2. Perspective of an Orthopaedic Chair and Educator
   Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, New York, NY
3. Perspective of a Federal Enforcement Attorney - Department of Justice Enforcement Initiatives
   Kirk Ogrosky, JD, Washington DC
4. Perspective of Orthopaedic Industry and the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
   Christopher L. White, JD, Washington DC
5. Perspective of a Health Care Compliance Professional - Law, Best Practices and Ethics
   Kathleen (Katie) McDermott, JD, Washington, DC
6. Panel and Audience Discussion

The Academy welcomes the participation of Kirk Ogrosky, Deputy Chief for Health Care Fraud, Fraud Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, in this important symposium.

Go to Symposium

In recent years, there have been extensive publicity and public discussions on the relationship between pharmaceutical and medical device makers and individual physicians. Articles questioning some of these relationships have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other major publications.

This area of the website contains communications, news items, and press releases regarding the ongoing efforts of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to address the relationship between pharmaceutical and medical device makers and individual physicians.

The AAOS has adopted required standards on the appropriate relationship between physicians and industry. This area of the website reviews these standards and their implications in practice. This section also discusses the position of AdvaMed and PhRMA.

The AAOS has developed aspirational ethical guidelines to address under what circumstances, if any, it is appropriate for orthopaedic surgeons to accept gifts or other financial support from industry, including pharmaceutical, biomaterial or device manufacturers. This area of the website provides the AAOS Opinions on Ethics and Professionalism and guidelines for physician-industry relationships.

The AAOS has developed a number of educational programs and publications that provide insights into the complex and potentially challenging and rewarding relationships between health care companies and health care professionals. The orthopaedist-industry symposia presented at the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Annual Meetings are at the center of these educational endeavors.

The AAOS has developed several tools for orthopaedic surgeons to use in discussing conflict of interest issues with patients and the public.