ABOS looks for its next executive director

In the November issue of AAOS Now, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) announced that David F. Martin, MD, will step down from his role as executive director at the end of 2027. ABOS has formed a search committee to find the next ABOS executive director. The board anticipates making a decision in the third quarter of 2026 with a start date of summer 2027 to overlap with Dr. Martin.

Since 1974, ABOS has had six executive directors. For the next leader, the organization is looking for a visionary thinker and change agent who will continually focus on “what’s next.” A candidate must be an ABOS Diplomate who is participating in the ABOS Continuing Certification process and who has recertified at least once. The chosen person must possess a commitment to ABOS’ mission of protecting the public.

Executive director responsibilities
The responsibilities of the position include:

• Promote the purpose and mission of ABOS to residents, candidates, Diplomates, and professional societies (the executive director is the subject-matter expert and the public face of ABOS)
• Work closely with the ABOS Board of Directors to create and implement board decisions and actions regarding policies, programs, and strategies
• Create and manage the ABOS budget, making sure that the organization acts as a good steward of the fees the organization receives
• Manage, mentor, and nurture staff
• Oversee the management of ABOS volunteers and consultants
• Manage and increase partnerships with other organizations, such as AAOS, the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and orthopaedic subspecialty societies
• Participate in ABOS board meetings, American Board of Medical Specialties meetings, and ABOS activities (e.g., oral examinations, Question Writing Task Force meetings, Field Test Task Force meetings, standard setting meetings, and form review meetings)

The deadline to submit a letter of interest and CV is Jan. 25, 2026. More details can be found at abos.org/executive-director.