Claudette Lajam, MD, FAAOS
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY
Adult Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgeon
System Chief of Orthopedic Quality and Safety
NYU Langone Health
New York, NY
Member Since: 2002
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
The AAOS has allowed me to develop, hone, and utilize leadership skills, create lasting professional relationships with colleagues across specialties, and contribute to the education of other members of this wonderful profession. My earliest AAOS experiences included two terms on the Communications Cabinet and the now-defunct Leadership Fellows Program. Those experiences led to further AAOS service and leadership, including Chair of the AAOS Board of Councilors, member of the AAOS Board of Directors, and Chair of the Central Program Committee for the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting. Currently, I serve as Assistant Editor of OKU 16.
As an Active Fellow Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
AAOS OrthoInfo is one of the best online resources for my patients who have questions about their conditions. It gives them accurate, accessible information they can trust, which makes every office visit more productive.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
There are two answers to this question. The first: “Bag the patient,” from a cardiothoracic surgeon who spoke to my fourth-year medical school class at Cornell. He made a lasting impression (this was almost 30 years ago) about how to handle a patient who becomes unresponsive, and that advice has saved several lives over the course of my career, both in the hospital and, in one case, on an airplane! The second: “You can have it all, but not all at the same time,” from Mary O’Connor, MD, a mentor and orthopaedic leader, when she was my AAOS Leadership Fellows Program mentor.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
A few years ago I would have said “lots of coffee.” Now, we are fortunate to have many artificial intelligence tools that substantially cut down on time spent on tedious tasks. Using agentic AI to set reminders and handle certain tasks, like alerting me to flight deals and upcoming deadlines, has made a real difference on the administrative side.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Being more authentic. With so much noise in our current work environment, taking the time to create personal, meaningful connections has become a real challenge. I’m trying to make it a deliberate habit rather than leaving it to chance.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I love to travel, hike, and cycle. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our giant German Shepherd, our two Maine Coon cats, and our countless nieces and nephews
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I write and produce music using Ableton Live, and lately I’ve been incorporating AI tools into my final productions. It’s a completely different kind of problem-solving than the operating room, and I love it.
My music isn’t just a hobby - it is out in the streaming world. You can find my work on major streaming platforms under the artist names DJ LA-Jam and Finn Blade.
This song is my favorite one, and it features my own vocal and piano (with a lot of help from technology). I composed and wrote the song.
This one is written for the retirement of a colleague. I did the composition, lyrics, and laid out the vocal and had AI transform it into a male voice. It’s also available on Spotify and YouTube.