AAOS has many volunteers who contribute to the Academy’s examination development process. Through their experience and expertise, they offer their time to help build the future of our examination product offerings. Each quarter, we will celebrate these efforts with a featured volunteer in the AAOS Item Writer Spotlight.
Yelena Bogdan, MD, FAAOS is the current Chair of the Examination and Assessment Executive Committee. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Bogdan about volunteering with the Academy and the great contributions she has made.
Thank you, Dr. Bogdan!
Can you share a bit about your background as an orthopaedic surgeon?
I completed medical school at Stony Brook, then residency at Boston Medical under Paul Tornetta. After that, a trauma fellowship at HSS under David Helfet. For my first job, I spent four years at Geisinger’s Holy Spirit Hospital before returning to New York, where I now teach and practice at Jacobi Medical Center.
How did you first find out about volunteer opportunities at AAOS, and how long have you been an AAOS volunteer?
I began in 2013 as a third-year resident. At BU you can’t not know about AAOS opportunities—our mentors are involved in everything. I joined the Patient Education Committee and then the Resident Engagement Project Team. I have stayed active ever since in AAOS and OTA work in various roles.
What is the most rewarding aspect of participating in exam development?
Creating and curating questions that serve as true learning opportunities—not just testing material—is incredibly meaningful. It is great when a test can actually teach you something. I also enjoy collaborating with people across subspecialties and reconnecting with colleagues when I’m in Chicago.
What advice would you give to someone preparing to serve as a committee chair for the first time?
Be fully responsive to emails, stay available, and act quickly when something is needed. And love your staff—they’re the ones who really know the process and keep everything running smoothly.
If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring orthopaedic surgeon, what would it be?
Be careful about entering the field wearing rose-colored glasses. Orthopaedics is wonderful, but it comes with sacrifices. Talk to people about the hardest parts of their jobs so you can understand that going in. And most importantly, don’t neglect your family life—it’s the foundation of everything you do.
How has your family background influenced your journey?
Both my parents are physicians so I knew pretty early on that I would probably be a physician as well. But in medical school, as I was introduced to surgery I knew I wanted to be in the OR. I also had a medical school mentor—a vascular surgeon—who convinced me orthopaedics was the right type of surgery for me. I’m grateful he guided me honestly, and we’re still in touch.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Teaching. When residents later tell me a technique I taught them helped them with a patient, it’s incredibly rewarding. Teaching has always been at the heart of why I love this work.
What inspired you to become a children’s book author?
Writing has always been a hobby—I even wrote a novel in college as my thesis. I didn’t have time for a full novel again, so I combined my love for dogs, rescue stories, and orthopaedics into a children’s book, My Human Likes Bones. I self-published it, and it’s even in our local library.
What type of music do you enjoy listening to while working in the OR, and why?
I grew up in Brooklyn on 90s rap and hip hop, so that’s my go‑to. But these days I let my residents choose—our OR has heard everything from rock to techno to Disney princess songs. I can’t do classical or country in the OR because it makes me sleepy.
Outside of medicine, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?
With two young children, most of my free time is screen‑free family time—crafting, outdoor, and other activities without technology. Personally, I enjoy hiking (my recent trip included the Subway Cave in Arizona), working on 1000‑piece puzzles, and mushroom foraging, a tradition passed down through my Russian family.