Ted Parsons, M.D. New President, American Orthopaedic Association

Ted Parsons, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, has been named 2020-2021 president of The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Dr. Parsons, who holds the Breech Family Endowed Chair of Bone and Joint Medicine, entered the organization’s presidential line in 2018, and has since led numerous committees.

The new AOA president also serves as medical director for the Orthopaedic Service Line in the Henry Ford Health System, chairs the Musculoskeletal Health Clinical Council and serves on several other executive leadership committees. He is also a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

The author of numerous professional articles, Dr. Parsons is a frequent visiting professor and invited lecturer at regional, national, and international meetings, review courses and seminars. He has held the roles of examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, as president of the Michigan Orthopaedic Society, president of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, managing director for the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons, and as chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Orthopaedic Residency Review Committee.

Now retired from the Air Force, Dr. Parsons dedicated 30 years of service where he was the only orthopedic surgeon to receive the Medical Corps’ “Golden Headed Cane Award” for outstanding physician, educator and researcher. For serving in a combat hospital in Iraq as the medical group deputy commander, Dr. Parsons was awarded the Bronze Star; he has received additional military honors.

Commenting on his professional history, Dr. Parsons told OTW, “The collective experience of leading two large academic departments over the years, and participating in a number of leadership positions in various professional organizations [has been part of my journey toward this role]. Physicians that are willing to engage and put forth the time in their professional organizations often find it very rewarding to be able to help facilitate the growth of their specialty, and are given opportunities to lead.”

As for how the pandemic might affect his term, Dr. Parsons added, “This year is unusual in that we, as a professional organization, are dealing with the issues thrust upon us by the pandemic (as is everyone for that matter). This includes changes in how we meet the educational and professional needs of our members, among other things. Given that the American Orthopaedic Association is highly focused on developing, promoting, and enhancing leadership, my personal passion centers around our efforts to engage leaders from across the entire orthopaedic community, not just leaders in academic programs.”