Patricia Brewster, chief executive officer, and Kitchi Joyce, chief administrative officer, both of IntraHealth Group and OrthoAtlanta, have been appointed to leadership positions within the 2017-2018 American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) Board of Directors, its Council and Committee Chairs.
Patricia Brewster, Kitchi Joyce in AAOE Leadership Positions

According to the June 5, 2017 news release, “Patricia Brewster, M.H.A., F.A.C.M.P.E. will serve a second year as Annual Conference Committee Chair of AAOE during its 2017-2018 year. In this capacity, Brewster’s leadership will ensure Annual Conference Committee goals are met for creating rewarding professional development experiences for members, prospective members, and addressing ancillary populations’ needs.
“A member of AAOE since 1978, Brewster served on its Board of Directors from 2007-2010, including Past President, 2009-2010. Throughout her career, Brewster has taken the opportunity to serve on many professional boards, including the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE), Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Brewster is the recipient of the 2008 MGMA/ACMPE Harry J. Harwick Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2002 MGMA/ACMPE Edward B. Stevens Article of the Year Award, and many other industry honors.”
Patricia Brewster told OTW, “The focus of the 2018 Annual Conference Committee will be to create an outstanding educational and networking event for all members. We hope to continue the legacy of educational excellence. The committee will begin their work in July with a weekend meeting in Orlando, the site of next year’s meeting.”
“Kitchi Joyce has been named to the AAOE Board of Directors serving as Secretary in the 2017-2018 term,” says the news release. “In this role, Joyce will ensure that all actions of the Board of Directors are documented. Joyce, a twenty-year employee of IntraHealth Group and OrthoAtlanta, oversees Information Technology, Informatics, Compliance and Corporate Sponsorships for the organization.”
“Joyce is extremely active within the orthopedic community, both nationally and in Atlanta, and has served as a board member of the Georgia Association of Orthopaedic Executives (GAOE), and as a member of the Georgia Medical Group Management Association (GMGMA), American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE), Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), Atlanta Sports Council and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Board of Advisors.”
Kitchi Joyce commented to OTW, “Being named as the Secretary of AAOE Board of Directors this year brings an added dimension to my involvement with, and dedication to, the orthopedics industry. With the healthcare system becoming ever-more complex and interconnected, ongoing education and networking with peers and industry experts is more important than ever.”

Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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