Scott D. Boden, M.D.: New Chair, Chief at Emory

Renown orthopedic surgeon Scott D. Boden, M.D. has been named Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Chief of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Medicine for Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Boden has served as interim chair since February 2018, and he follows former chair James Roberson, M.D.

Dr. Boden is a professor of orthopedic surgery, director of the Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center, chief medical officer/chief quality officer of Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital, and vice president of business innovation for Emory Healthcare. He has been at Emory since completing his spine surgery fellowship in 1992.

According to Emory, “Boden’s collaborative spirit and commitment to innovation are evidenced by his leadership roles in various initiatives, including development of the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, strategic partnerships with the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, Dream and other corporate entities, and the affiliation between Emory Healthcare and Walmart on employee health, spine surgery and joint replacement surgery. Boden also is a driving force behind the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub set to launch on September 1.”

Dr. Boden commented to OTW, “Since I have been serving as the MSK [musculoskeletal] Center Director for over a decade, I’ve been laying the strategic foundation for this next phase for quite some time. Our major priorities are as follows:

• Continue to expand local market presence through growth in our new regional offices and broader affiliations with the professional sports teams and large corporate partners in Atlanta.
• Continue to build on our direct to employer contracting initiatives which capitalize on the efficiency of our dedicated free-standing Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital. In celebrating the hospital’s 10-year anniversary we continue to produce some of the lowest infection rates and highest patient satisfaction scores in the country.
• Design and build a new MSK outpatient center with embedded wet lab and clinical research space to allow us to attract the best scientists in the field, continue to attract the best clinicians and educators, and to bring the Emory Department of Orthopaedics into Top 10 status.

Lastly, we are placing great focus on increasing diversity (women and underrepresented minorities) among our trainees and faculty to better reflect the populations we serve. To that end we have already begun a ‘Women in Orthopaedics’ Summer Internship program which will be expanding next summer; also, we are completely revamping our residency selection process.”

“In addition to serving as Department Chair and system service line chief, I have the privilege of continuing in my new role as Vice President for Business Innovation for Emory Healthcare. This role allows me to engage in major strategic discussions, help coordinate real estate development on multiple healthcare sites, engage in key strategic partnerships and business development activities (mergers and acquisitions) at the healthcare system and university level. One of those projects includes the upcoming 9/1 launch of the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub—a novel model to accelerate innovation with strategic corporate partners and venture funding.”