With gratitude …

December is often a time of reflection and appreciation as we say goodbye to another year and look forward to the promise of the one ahead. This year, the moment is bittersweet, as I offer you my final message as editor-in-chief of AAOS Now.

It has been an honor to serve the many dedicated members who make the Academy the stellar professional organization that it is. It has also been a privilege to work with and learn from more skilled leaders than I can possibly name. I am incredibly thankful to Joseph Bosco, MD, FAAOS, who served with me on the Board of Directors and then provided direction as the first AAOS president during my time at AAOS Now. The following year, we were led by my good friend and fellow past chair of the Board of Councilors, Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS. Each president — Felix H. (Buddy) Savoie III, MD, FAAOS; Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS; Paul Tornetta, MD, PhD, FAAOS, and Annunziato (Ned) Amendola, MD, FAAOS — has brought unique insight and guidance to our work, and I am grateful to each of them for their counsel and friendship.

I am equally grateful for the incredible talent and passion that former Deputy Editor Julie Samora, MD, PhD, FAAOS, brought forward during my first two years at the publication. She was beyond gracious in providing me with her insight, allowing us to charge forward on many important projects. Our Editorial Board has been a treasure trove of astute and accomplished writers and facilitators who each contributed to the many unique perspectives we have been able to offer our readers. There are also a number of dedicated staff who do the lion’s share of the work, but I will single out our publisher, Dennis Coyle, for praise in his ability to keep the ship on course while navigating our many strategic initiatives into action.

Whether you are a regular reader flipping through our print editions cover to cover or only clicking through a few links, including this message, I hope you have found the articles presented over the past five years enjoyable and informative. Reflecting on every comment and feedback received, I have placed an emphasis on our clinical, quality, and research coverage to bring you the latest innovations and established best practices. We have expanded our focus on practice management and professional development, along with timely updates on advocacy issues that demand every orthopaedic surgeon’s awareness. Monthly themes have added context to topics that benefit from more in-depth discussion. I immensely enjoyed the many member profile stories and AAOS highlights, as well as some powerful essays in our Final Cut column. This work has been so gratifying and stimulating because of the fascinating individuals who all create the fabric of the Academy.

If I were to sum up the strategic initiative that has carried through my term, it has been to deliver the information each reader wants at the time and place of their preference, enriched with abundant multimedia content and ready for bidirectional communication. Those, like myself, who still appreciate the sensory satisfaction of a paper journal have benefited from a refreshed layout and links to online content. For the ever-increasing number of members who consume most information digitally, we are mid-stream on a multiyear process of transforming AAOS Now into a communication channel that can be enjoyed on screens of any size, with clear and concise reviews, interviews, and, most recently, podcasts. Check out AAOS Now often to discover a more frequent cadence of news and information releases in the coming months.

The work of delivering an exceptional member benefit in AAOS Now will be placed on the shoulders of a new leadership team. To that end, I offer my final personal thanks to Alexandra Page, MD, FAAOS, who has been a phenomenal partner as deputy editor and now takes the reigns as editor-in-chief. A foot and ankle surgeon from San Diego, Alexe brings deep knowledge of the Academy as a past chair of the Board of Specialty Societies and member of the Communications Cabinet, among many roles. Her keen discernment and organization will be invaluable as our “print-to-digital transformation” blueprint takes shape. It is truly an exciting time for this publication as the ways we communicate continue to undergo rapid evolution.

As I discussed in my October Editor’s Message, I have always found service to be a source of tremendous professional satisfaction. I offer my sincerest thanks to all AAOS members for the privilege of serving in this role. It has been an enriching experience to learn so much from each of you and to pass this knowledge on to others. I wish everyone good health, peace, and prosperity in the new year.

Robert M. Orfaly, MD, MBA, FAAOS, is a professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Oregon Health and Science University. He is also the editor-in-chief of AAOS Now and chair of the AAOS Now Editorial Board.