At the June meeting of the AAOS Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer Karen L. Hackett, FACHE, CAE, introduced two new staff members in key leadership positions—Constance M. Filling, chief education officer, and Deborah Cummins, PhD, director of the AAOS department of research and scientific affairs.

Constance M. Filling
Ms. Filling has an extensive background in medical education. Most recently, she was employed at the College of American Pathologists, a medical society with more than 500 employees that supports more than 18,000 board-certified physicians. Ms. Filling served as vice president of learning and publications, leading the strategic integration of all education and publication activities.

“One of my main priorities as chief education officer,” said Ms. Filling “is to continue the tradition of excellence that has already been established at the Academy through the development of courses and publications that provide our members with leading-edge information they can use in their practice environments.”

Another priority, she noted, is to help AAOS members manage the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Maintenance of Certification® process.

“Thirdly, I think there are real opportunities for working together across the Academy to develop innovative educational offerings,” she said.

She was drawn to the Academy because of its reputation for excellence in education.

“The AAOS is a really strong organization—it has a wonderful educational presence,” she said. “The staff and volunteers have been welcoming and professional, and are very committed to the Academy’s mission.”

Ms. Filling holds a bachelor’s degree in education, sociology, and psychology from Cornell College, and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Chicago. She is a former chair of the board of directors of the American Society for Training & Development, the world’s largest association focused on workplace learning and development professionals.

“I am very pleased that we have hired Ms. Filling as our new chief education officer,” said Ms. Hackett, “and I look forward to working with her.”

Deborah Cummins, PhD
As director of the AAOS department of research and scientific affairs, Deborah Cummins, PhD, will oversee the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), appropriate use criteria (AUC), and process checklists. She will also direct health services research on musculoskeletal and related conditions, as well as data collection, analysis, and reporting.

“Dr. Cummins is a seasoned researcher and experienced methodologist with a long history of management experience,” said William R. Martin III, MD, medical director.

“Dr. Cummins has been responsible for building the ADA’s evidence-based guidelines,” noted Dr. Martin. “Under her direction, the ADA went from one to sixteen completed guidelines and has completed more than 40 systematic reviews and projects.”

“My main goals are to build on the excellent foundation of high-quality, evidence-based practice methods established at AAOS to continue to develop CPGs and to launch the AUC tools, which will provide guidance on the appropriate use of a procedure or therapeutic measure,” said Dr. Cummins.

Dr. Cummins holds both a BA and an MA in sociology from Texas A&M University; she received her PhD in medical humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Jennie McKee is a staff writer for AAOS Now. She can be reached at mckee@aaos.org