Bryan H. Laycoe, MD, FAAOS
Orthopaedic Surgeon prior to my retiring in 2014.
Chair, Department Of Surgery
Legacy Health
Vancouver, WA, 2009-2012
Ridgefield, WA
Why did you join AAOS?
After entering practice and passing my boards, it was important to me to associate with colleagues. Community is very important in professionally providing the best care for patients. It was also important for me to be on the inside of our profession. I found the CME that involved small group discussions so valuable in keeping me from being a small volume surgeon. I was very appreciative of AAOS dealing with political issues.
How do you define success?
Having gained the admiration and gratitude of patients, colleagues and acquaintances.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My Commanding Officer, USMC, when I served as his medical officer, USN.
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
The quick access to skilled surgeons who have defined their "niche" and excelled and can teach has been invaluable. Continuing education is so important as decades go on. Of course, political engagement from Medicare to Congress is so supportive of private practice.
What advice would you give to new members of AAOS?
Work from day one to establish your "niche". Then improve those skills over decades.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I volunteered to serve as medical officer USN '73-'75 at the end of war. I fortunately served with wonderful Marines at HQ, Fleet Marine Force above Pearl Harbor. As I finished forty years of Orthopaedics, I looked back and realized how important those 2 years were to me. I have been heavily involved with my American Legion Post since then, "still serving"... "the legacy".