For many years, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) has served as the fund raiser for AAOS orthopaedic education programs. Recently, however, the OREF Board of Trustees decided to refocus the organization’s emphasis on raising funds for research rather than education (See “OREF, OMeGA Reach Agreement on Fellowship Funding,” AAOS Now, July 2013).

At its meeting on Sept. 20, 2013, the AAOS Board of Directors agreed that AAOS would assume responsibility for its own fundraising activities for corporate grants and management of the AAOS Education Enhancement Fund. This was an amicable decision between the AAOS and the OREF, and the two organizations will continue to work together on other initiatives.

According to Ramon Jimenez, MD, OREF president, “Over time, OREF has tried to be many things to many individuals and groups, and therefore lost its clarity of mission. A comprehensive review showed that the organization was straying from its critical purpose—to support orthopaedic research.

For OREF to be a strong advocate for orthopaedic research, we had to refocus ourselves with a laser-like intensity,” continued Dr. Jimenez. “We are bringing all of our resources to bear on funding investigator- and agenda-driven research in basic/translational science, clinical science, and health services. We are grateful that our partners at the AAOS understand our need to transition out of activities that are no longer part of our mission.”

In announcing the new situation, Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, AAOS president, noted that “the Academy appreciates OREF’s past support and wishes OREF continued success as it shifts to its strategic focus on orthopaedic research.” The AAOS assumed educational fundraising responsibility on Jan. 1, 2014; fundraising activities will be managed by Barbara Hoffman, administrator. Ms. Hoffman can be contacted at hoffman@aaos.org