“Reel” talk with film, TV writers; Culturally Competent Care media tour takes off

In September, Robert C. Klapper, MD, and Michael L. Pearl, MD, addressed the Writers Guild-East membership in New York City about tackling a script or story treatment from a medical point of view. They also provided tips on how to more accurately portray orthopaedic surgeons and orthopaedic injuries on the large and small screens. Academy Communications Cabinet Chair Frank B. Kelly, MD, handled the introductions and participated in a lively question-and-answer session afterward.

Drs. Klapper and Pearl were also interviewed by reporters from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. They discussed the challenges faced by writers to “medically get it right,” while keeping the show’s drama intact. The Academy partnered with the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) for the event.

Culturally Competent Care is the talk of the town
The Culturally Competent Care (CCC) media tour is in full swing; members of the Diversity Advisory Board have been very busy during the past two months promoting this new Academy-sponsored initiative. Culturally competent care is aimed at familiarizing orthopaedic surgeons with specific beliefs and customs among patients of diverse ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds.

Toni M. McLaurin, MD, discussed the issue during an interview on the NBC television affiliate in New York City. Dr. McLaurin also appeared on the CBS6 News at 5:30 program in Albany, N.Y., and also talked about delivering culturally competent care with a reporter from the Associated Press.

Stuart Hirsch, MD, could be heard on WBGO-FM in New Jersey; he also spoke with the health and medicine reporter for The Times, in Trenton, N.J. AAOS First Vice-President E. Anthony Rankin, MD, taped an interview with WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C. William Robert Martin III, MD; Kimberly J. Templeton, MD; and Diversity Advisory Board Chair Ramon L. Jimenez, MD, did a series of radio interviews across the country on this very important issue. Their words reached more than 1.2 million listeners. The Academy has established a Web portal (www.orthoinfo.org/diversity) where you and your patients can go to learn more about culturally competent care and take the CCC challenge quiz. You can also order a free CCC guidebook and CD-ROM at www.aaos.org/challenge.

Back-to-school safety
Now that children across the country are back in school, the Academy partnered with the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America in a radio media tour about keeping children safe at school and on the playground. Lori A. Karol, MD, did interviews with several radio stations including KDJS-FM in Minneapolis and the Clear Channel Radio Network. Howard R. Epps, MD, handled interviews with WCSR-AM in Flint, Mich., and WOHI-FM in Pittsburgh.

Choosing the right backpack and navigating the playground were just some of the topics for Michael G. Vitale, MD, who was interviewed by radio stations WXTA-FM in Erie, Pa., and KPQ-AM in Seattle. Richard J. Haynes, MD, discussed lawnmower safety aimed at children and teens who have after-school or weekend jobs mowing lawns, on stations KXKL-FM in Denver and WDIA-AM in Boston.

Other hot topics
Arthritis Today magazine featured a report on those battling rheumatoid arthritis and the advice that they avoid high-intensity exercise. In the report, Stephanie Siegrist, MD, suggested that patients with rheumatoid arthritis should start slowly and listen to their joints before ramping up any exercise regime.

I talked with a reporter from the Ladies’ Home Journal about how baby boomers can reap the benefits of being active without getting injured in the process. Richard A. Berger, MD, and I were featured in Kiplinger’s retirement planning issue for 2007, discussing how baby boomers are the first generation trying to stay active on an aging frame. I was also interviewed by CNN about weekend warriors who overdo it.

Can strains and sprains lead to other injuries? That was a question posed to David R. McAllister, MD, by the Los Angeles Times after soccer superstar David Beckham sprained first his ankle and then his knee, probably sidelining him for the season. Also featured was William A. Grana, MD, MPH, whose recent study on Chicago White Sox pitchers showed that shoulder injuries later developed in 60 percent of pitchers who had elbow ligament injuries.

Finally, on a wonderfully positive note, USA TODAY featured a story on Dr. Olabisi Caludius-Cole, who almost single-handedly runs a medical clinic in Sierra Leone. Dr. Caludius-Cole needed joint replacement surgery in both knees and both hips to continue to practice. AAOS fellow Wayne M. Goldstein, MD, donated his orthopaedic services and provided the bilateral arthroplasties. He says he was inspired by U2’s front man and philanthropist Bono. Dr. Goldstein says “to save one person is to save the world.”

Nicholas DiNubile, MD, is chair of the Public Relations Oversight Group. AAOS members who are interested in volunteering as spokespersons for the AAOS should contact the public relations department at julitz@aaos.org