David F. Martin, MD, to step down as ABOS executive director

David F. Martin, MD, FAAOS, executive director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) since 2016, has announced that he will step down from that position effective Dec. 31, 2027, when his current contract is completed.

Before being hired as ABOS executive director, Dr. Martin was a longtime ABOS volunteer. He served for 10 years on the ABOS Board of Directors, including one year as president. Dr. Martin first became involved with ABOS in 2001 as an oral examiner and continued to volunteer for ABOS until he became executive director.

“Serving as the ABOS executive director has been an honor and a privilege,” Dr. Martin shared. “For many years, I have believed in the ABOS mission of protecting the public and have been extremely proud to play a part in accomplishing that mission.”

One of Dr. Martin’s primary goals during his time as ABOS executive director has been to increase the value of the ABOS Initial Board Certification and the ABOS Maintenance of Certification programs to orthopaedic surgeons across the country while reducing the burden that those programs place on ABOS Diplomates. During his tenure, ABOS initiated the highly successful ABOS Web-Based Longitudinal Assessment (ABOS WLA) Pathway and the ABOS Knowledge, Skills, and Behavior (ABOS KSB) Program. He also leads a small, dedicated staff in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, streamlining all programs and activities.

“Dr. Martin has played a major role, particularly behind the scenes, at making sure ABOS has stayed to its mission of protecting the public,” said ABOS President Charles Nelson, MD, FAAOS. “Over the next two years, he will continue to lead the organization and work with the next executive director on a successful transition.”

Dr. Martin is ABOS board-certified and holds ABOS Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. He has seen patients at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health throughout his tenure at ABOS and will continue to do so after stepping down as executive director.