COVID's Silver Lining for Orthopedic Surgery: An Interview with Joseph Bosco lll, MD

At AAOS 2021, outgoing President Joseph Bosco III, MD, shares the positive changes in orthopedics accelerated by COVID-19 from the move of procedures to ASCs to increased use of technology

Joseph Bosco III, MD, vice-chair of clinical affairs for NYU Langone Orthopedics and outgoing president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) presided over the Academy during a transformative time accelerated by COVID-19. Dr. Bosco began his presidency in March 2020 just as the pandemic shut down many areas of the US impacting the healthcare system and orthopedic procedures. As Dr. Bosco prepared to turn over the reins at AAOS 2021, he spoke with SmartTRAK about his experience during the year and how the pandemic and technology are creating opportunities and accelerating trends that will change the practice of orthopedics for years to come.

To find out more, click on the following video. A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also available below.

SmartTRAK: Lisa Mahan here with Smart Track. Today, I have the honor to be talking to Dr. Joseph Bosco, III, outgoing president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Bosco, thank you for talking to me today.

Dr. Joseph Bosco: Well, thank you for having me.

Ending your term as president of AAOS must be a bit bittersweet. You've served during a challenging time with the disruption from COVID. How was it navigating through the pandemic?

JB: That's a great question. When I think about the pandemic, it gave us the opportunity at the academy and our profession, an opportunity to shine and show its metal and show our character through this crisis, and that's exactly what we did. The academy and its members really worked hard and diligently for the good of the public throughout this crisis. The academy not only worked with our folks in Washington DC, to make sure that our practices had the resources they need to survive the pandemic and come out strong. But also our members, when we were told we couldn't do elective surgery, we continued to provide emergency care and even volunteered in COVID wards. So, I think crisis reveals mettle and the true mettle and character of our profession and the members of our academy have really shown through. No one ever wished for this, but it was an opportunity for us to prove our value, and I think we did.

Yeah, that's obvious, and then what do you feel were some of the biggest changes, the lasting changes that came into orthopedic practice because of the pandemic?

JB: We thought a lot about this and we think there were four major innovations that have been percolating along, evolving slowly like at a speed of a glacier and basically they are ...

To download a transcript and read Dr. Bosco's answer to this and other questions, and his thoughts on how the pandemic will change the practice of Orthopedics for years to come, just click the button below.