Robert E. Hunter, M.D., past president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), will accept the AANA Distinguished Service Award at the joint annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and AANA, the AOSSM-AANA Combined 2021 Annual Meeting Friday, July 9 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The newly created award is presented to an AANA Member for their exceptional service in leading an initiative or project for the organization, the orthopaedic community or community at large. Dr. Hunter is recognized for the inaugural award for being instrumental in leading the lobbying and advocacy efforts that ultimately resulted in AANA receiving $2.5 million in federal appropriation. This federal appropriation was used to support a pilot program that would improve education and training for military Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The AANA Distinguished Service Award, in addition to recognition at the annual meeting, also grants a donation of $2,500 to be given to the organization of their choice. Dr. Hunter has appropriately chosen the donation to be given to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Foundation, an organization that provides financial resources to enhance Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) in Salida, Colorado, Dr. Hunter’s hometown.
“I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this inaugural award than Dr. Hunter,” says Laura Downes, CAE, AANA CEO. “His passion, dedication and unwavering leadership to AANA’s advocacy efforts and related initiatives are inspirational. The essence of this award can be summarized through Dr. Hunter’s diligent actions.”
AANA is an international professional organization of more than 6,500 Orthopaedic Surgeons and other medical professionals who are committed to advancing the field of minimally-invasive orthopaedic surgery to improve patient outcomes through education, research and advancement.
