Ken Adatto
New Orleans, LA
Member Since: 1977
Prior to retirement, what was your professional title?
Prior to retirement, I was an owner of my private practice and also a clinical professor of Orthopedic Surgery at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Many years ago, my group ran the residency program and I ran the hand section. I am still active at the school, serving on the admissions committee for the last 34 years. This past year, I interviewed a few students whose parents I had interviewed.
As an Emeritus Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
I enjoy reading the AAOS Headline News and many of the other emails that let me know the latest, up-to-date information. I enjoyed the information at the Annual Meeting in my hometown of New Orleans this year.
If you were mentoring a new member, what important advice would you give them as they progress in their career?
If I was mentoring a young new member, I would recommend that they enjoy the patient contact and treat the patient as a member of their family. One of my mentees to one of my patients would bring his daughter when she was in high school because she wanted to become a physician. Later she did and graduated with honors from LSU. I could not convince her to go in orthopaedics. She became an outstanding ENT surgeon.
What aspect of retirement surprised you the most?
When I retired, the first three months I missed the contact with my patients.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I am enjoying playing at golf two mornings a week. We are all in our 80s and are still able to play 18 holes. Our group laugh at our good shots and laugh at our bad shots. We laugh a lot. I work out once a week with a trainer to keep this 82-year-old body going.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
We have seven grandchildren and two great grandsons. They call me Touchdown or TD.
At LSU, I was the clinical faculty of the year nominated by the students. I was Alumnus of the year. My wife and I have merit scholarships at LSU and the University of Virginia.