Abstract
Aossm Mourns Passing of Former President
AOSSM and the rest of the sports medicine community recently mourned the passing of Bernard R. Cahill, MD, 79, a true sports medicine pioneer and former AOSSM president and founder. Dr. Cahill was a visionary in orthopaedic sports medicine, having been one of the founders of the Great Plains Sports Medicine Foundation—the oldest sports medicine foundation in the United States along with the American Society of Biomechanics, the Cruciate Society, and the International Society of the Knee.
His AOSSM accomplishments are many, including founding member, president from 1986 to 1987, developer of the Asian Traveling Fellowship, Mr. Sports Medicine Award (1984), George D. Rovere Education Award (1989), and then election into the AOSSM Hall of Fame in 2004. In addition to his accomplishments with AOSSM, Dr. Cahill served in various capacities and roles all over the world, including roles with the Reagan White House as a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and chair of a Sports Medicine Symposium on Children and Adolescents in Competitive Sports. He also served as a team physician for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
Close friend and former AOSSM President, H. Royer Collins, MD, remarked, “We all have cherished memories of Bernie—the fun times we had with him and his great sense of humor. He was an avid fly fisherman and golfer, and he delighted in watching his petite wife out drive the men from the men's tee. Bernie was a mentor to many young individuals in our society and beloved by them. This dapper gentleman with his ever-present ascot will be greatly missed. We have lost a dear and close friend.”
Dr. Cahill's research and clinical contributions include authoring more than 40 scientific publications and more than 200 lectures. One of Dr. Cahill's most long lasting contributions included his work with orthopaedic examinations of lower extremities of varsity football players in the conferences of central Illinois with subsequent establishments of football injury data. These evaluations led to pioneering and landmark studies by Dr. Cahill that allowed the Illinois High School Association to authorize preseason state-wide conditioning in 1974. Dr. Cahill was also instrumental in patient care regarding the effects of preseason conditioning, juvenile osteochondritis dissecans, osteolysis of the distal clavicle, the quadrilateral space syndrome, and strength training in the prepubescent athlete. These clinical conditions are now commonplace, but it was Dr. Cahill who introduced their concepts to sports medicine physicians.
Dr. Cahill was also a member of the United States Marine Corps, serving his country as a ground officer in the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. Dr. Cahill received his bachelor of science and doctor of medicine degrees from the University of Illinois. He is survived by his wife Sandra, 3 daughters, 1 son, and 5 grandchildren.
Dr. Cahill was known to his colleagues as a humble man with deep personal and professional convictions. He was a shining example of professionalism, scholarship, and service to sports medicine and will be missed.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, designated to AOSSM.
Sports Medicine Pioneer, Kalenak, Passes Away
Dr. Alexander Kalenak, Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, died on September 9th, 2008, at his home after a 4-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Kalenak first joined the Department in 1973 and was one of the early pioneers of orthopaedic sports medicine. In addition to his clinical and academic responsibilities at Hershey, he served for many years as team physician for Penn State University. His remarkable career accomplishments were recognized by the Department of Orthopaedics in 2006 with the creation of the Alexander Kalenak, MD Professorship in Orthopaedics. Also, in 2006, he was named to the AOSSM Hall of Fame. He was routinely selected as one of the “Best Doctors in America.”
Dr. Kalenak's life personified service to others. In 2003, he created the Kay Kalenak Golf Tournament to benefit palliative care at the Hershey Medical Center. His other accomplishments included serving as a United States Navy flight surgeon during the mid-60s, volunteer physician for the US Olympic Committee in 1984, and team physician for the Big 33 Football Classic for many years. His commitment to excellence, courage, and passion for life will be his legacy. To many of us he was a colleague. To others he was a physician. But, to all of us, he was a kind and gentle friend.
2004 Hall of Fame Inductee, Robert R. Oden, MD, Passes
AOSSM mourns the passing of Hall of Fame member Dr. Robert R. Oden. A driving force in ski-related sports medicine, Dr. Oden began his career in Chicago, attending medical school and residency at Northwestern University. Following his formal education, Dr. Oden established the first orthopaedic practice in Aspen, Colorado. He later became the first board-certified orthopaedist in a major ski area in the United States. He then went on to become the US Ski Team Physician for the 1960 Olympic Games. Recognizing the need for continued care for the US Ski Team, Dr. Oden established a pool of physicians to travel with the team, founding their medical program and becoming the Chief Orthopedic Surgeon for the US Ski Team from 1967 to 1980. He served as a medical advisor to the US Olympic Committee, a board member of the US Ski Team, US representative to the Federation of International Skiing (FIS) Medical Committee, and an organizer for many FIS Aspen World Cup programs.
Dr. Oden also founded and served as a board member of the US Ski Team Educational Foundation, helping to provide not only for the medical needs, but also the education of team members beyond their ski careers.
Sports medicine education was paramount to Dr. Oden. He was the driving force in the establishment of The Aspen Foundation for Sports Medicine Education and Research, including its fellowship program which he established in the 1970s. Dr. Oden had been a member of AOSSM since 1973. He was recognized for his contributions to sports medicine with his induction into the AOSSM Hall of Fame in 2004 and through several other honors and grants, including the Bleagen Award in 1985 for outstanding service to the US Ski Association, the Aspen Hall of Fame in 1995, and the US and Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 2002.
Dr. Oden's passion for the U.S. Ski Team and the desire for improved sports medicine education made him a key part of its history and a good friend and mentor to many in the sports medicine community.
Aossm Marks the Passing of the following Members from September 2007 through October 2008
Charles W. Brown, MD
Bernard Cahill, MD
Gerald L. Dales, Jr., MD
David Latta, MD
Alexander Kalanak, MD
John K. McCormick, MD
John T. Murphy, MD
Robert Oden, MD
Marcus J. Stewart, MD
E. Harvey O'Phelan, MD
Harry Weller, MD
Basilius Zaricznyj, MD
2009 Subspecialty Certification in Sports Medicine Exam Deadline Approaching
The application for the 2009 examination is currently available online at www.abos.org. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2009. The absolute late deadline with an additional $350.00 late fee is March 31, 2009. Applicants will either need to enter a current American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) username and password OR create a new username and password to access the application.
For more information and details on subspecialty certification requirements and the changes regarding re-certification, visit www.abos.org.
Aossm Self Assessment and Board Review Version 4—Now Available
The Self Assessment and Board Review is a great preparatory tool for the subspecialty examination in sports medicine and also allows professionals a way to meet the requirements for maintenance of certification (MOC) established by the ABOS. Version 4 includes 125 new and unique questions, images, and answers along with citations and references.
You can choose to complete the Self Assessment online or obtain both online and print formats as a package.
Completion of the AOSSM Self Assessment and Board Review and an evaluation will earn up to 12 AMA PRA category I credits™. The print version of the AOSSM Self Assessment and Board Review qualifies for the MOC self assessment required by the ABOS. Visit www.sportsmed.org to order your copy today.
Aossm Needs your Help–Volunteer for a Committee
Every year, AOSSM accepts new volunteers to serve on its standing committees. These volunteer committees form the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations like AOSSM and provide guidance for Society programs and projects. Although requirements and duties vary by committee, volunteers must be able to attend regular committee meetings, which are typically scheduled in conjunction with Specialty Day each spring and the AOSSM Annual Meeting each summer. With the range of Society programs and corresponding committees, there are many opportunities to share your unique perspective. See the listing of committee openings in the November/December issue of Sports Medicine Update.
All membership categories are eligible to serve on AOSSM Committees. Term of service is a 4-year nonrenewable term. Appointment of volunteers to the Society's standing committees is made by the Committee on Committees, which meets in the spring of each year. Volunteers will be notified if they have been selected by May 2009.
If you are interested in serving on an AOSSM committee, fill out the Volunteer Form posted on the AOSSM Web site at www.sportsmed.org by February 1, 2009, and fax it to (847) 292-4905, or you can e-mail it directly to
Sports Health Launches New Era of Multidisciplinary Learning
AOSSM members should receive Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach in early January. This exciting new journal covers topics for a wide variety of professionals including prevention and reconstruction, cardiac condition return-to-play issues, and legal liabilities with covering athletic events. You can also follow Sports Health online by visiting www.sportshealthjournal.org, our Facebook page at www.facebook.com, or by becoming a follower on twitter.com.
If you have a review article, original research article, case study, image, short update, or legal brief that would be beneficial to medical professionals involved in the training and care of the competitive or recreational athlete, submit your paper to Sports Health at http://submit.sportshealth journal.org. For more information on submission guidelines, subscriptions, or advertising please visit www.sportshealthjournal.org.
Published bimonthly, Sports Health is a collaborative publication from AOSSM, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), and the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS).
New 3-D Surgical Animations and Free Downloadable Patient Education Flyer Now Available
AOSSM's new patient-friendly, 3-D surgical animations library of common orthopaedic sports medicine procedures, all with audio narration and text, are now available in the patient education section of the Society's Web site. More than 20 different procedures are available, including ACL repair, rotator cuff reconstruction, and arthroscopy. Members also receive a 15% discount from Understand.com, if they choose to develop their own personalized library.
AOSSM has also developed a free, downloadable flyer to give to your patients, directing them to the new animations and other education materials. For more information and to see for yourself this exciting new tool, visit www.sportsmed.org and click on the patient education tab.
Check Out Aossm's New Online Library
AOSSM's new Online Library is a free, unique, Web-based search engine that allows members and nonmembers to customize and save searches on relevant orthopaedic sports medicine terms. The new tool allows members to view AOSSM publications online, including articles from AJSM, Sports Health: An Multidisciplinary Approach, Sports Medicine Update, meeting abstracts, and past captured meetings.
The Online Library is free to members and non-members. To access the library go to www.sportsmedlibrary.org .
Got News we Could Use? Sports Medicine Update Wants to Hear from You!
Have you received a prestigious award recently? A new academic appointment? Been named a team physician? AOSSM wants to hear from you! Sports Medicine Update welcomes all members’ news items. Send information to Lisa Weisenberger, AOSSM Director of Communications, at
Upcoming Meetings and Courses
February 28, 2009
Las Vegas, NV
All registrations handled by AAOS
March 11–15, 2009
Steamboat Springs, CO
All registrations will be handled by AAOS
May 7–9, 2009
Palace Hotel
San Francisco, CA
July 9–12, 2009
Keystone Resort and Conference Center
Keystone, CO
For more information on upcoming meetings and courses, or to view preliminary programs, please visit our Web site, www.sportsmed.org (click on Education), or call 847/292-4900 or 877/321-3500.
ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY 2009: The First Combined Robert W. Metcalf, MD, Memorial and AANA Winter Meeting will be held at the Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho, from January 31 to February 3, 2009. This program includes shoulder and knee problems, live shoulder and knee cadaveric demonstrations, and “mini courses” for ankle, foot, and hip arthroscopy. For information, visit www.arthroscopyseminars.org, e-mail
XVIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SPORTS REHABILITATION AND TRAUMATOLOGY—Knee Cartilage: Strategies for Treatment of Sports Patients From Trauma to Arthrosis will be held in Bologna, Italy, from April 25 to 26, 2009. Is it possible for a professional athlete who has suffered serious cartilage damage to go back to playing at the same level as before the injury? Can someone with knee arthrosis go back to playing tennis? Our job is to provide answers to these questions. Hence the purpose of the 18th edition of our Congress is to address this topic, focusing our attention on the patient and not on the physician. Two different needs with a common denominator will be addressed separately during the 2 days of the Congress through a series of speeches dealing specifically with courses of treatment for the different pathologies presented. The Congress will be organized with plenary sessions, lectures, and free oral and poster presentation sessions. The abstracts must be exclusively about knee cartilage, and they must be sent to the Organizing Secretariat before January 15, 2009. Further and updated information is available on the Web site at www.isokinetic.com or by e-mail to
The THIRD INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MEDICINE CONFERENCE will be held from February 19 to 21, 2010, in Sun City, South Africa. This meeting, taking place prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, will provide an update on the current evidence in football medicine. More information will soon be available at www.fifa.com/medical.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL is committed to maximizing the health and welfare of participants in professional baseball. Towards this end, the Medical Advisory Committee is inviting investigators to apply for financial support. The maximum offered for each grant is $50 000 per annum, renewable for a maximum of 3 years pending annual review. Requests for application forms and inquiries about the application process should be addressed to Jeff Pfeifer (e-mail:
DEADLINES FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS: We are happy to print notices of noncommercial seminars, courses, continuing education courses, and the like. The sooner you get your information to us, the more often we will print it. Please send course announcements to Donna Tilton at