Abstract
Many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky.
–Oliver Wendell Holmes, Old Ironsides, 1830
Authorized by President George Washington and launched on October 21, 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the world today. Old Ironsides, as the ship is often known, is almost as ancient as the fledgling republic she was built to defend and the historic document for which she was christened. In her early years, she patrolled the Caribbean, protecting American merchant vessels from French privateers, and was sent by Thomas Jefferson to quell Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. The pinnacle of her military success was reached during the War of 1812, when she defeated British ships from Nova Scotia to Brazil to Madeira, earning Congressional medals for 3 different captains. The frigate won her sobriquet during a battle with the HMS Guerriere on the afternoon of August 19, 1812, when the sight of a British cannon ball bouncing off her hull caused one excited observer to exclaim, “Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron.” In fact, they are only made of wood, but the incident helped to solidify her image as a symbol of strength and durability (http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/).
By 1830, the Constitution was well past the expected length of service for such a vessel, and rumors began to circulate that the Navy was considering scrapping the venerable warship. Within days, a stirring poem elegizing Old Ironsides appeared in a Boston newspaper. Penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr, an aristocratic medical student with a literary bent, the poem mobilized public sentiment urging the Navy to restore the aging ship, which continued in active duty until 1855.
Old Ironsides celebrated her bicentennial in 1997 by sailing under her own power for the first time in 116 years. Now docked in Boston harbor, she continues to be a source of inspiration for patriots, sailors, and lovers of maritime lore. Not the least enthusiastic of these is David Sisk, chairman of the Medical Publishing Board of Trustees of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and an inveterate builder of model ships. Dr. Sisk, who recently announced his intention to retire after 7 years as board chairman, is currently putting the finishing touches on his masterpiece, a not-so-miniature replica of the USS Constitution. This strikes me as more than appropriate, since Dr. Sisk has enjoyed a professional career as distinguished as Old Ironsides, a career that exemplifies the ideals represented by that revered naval icon.
Like the Constitution, Dr. Sisk has accumulated an impressive catalogue of accomplishments. A dual threat in high school, he graduated valedictorian of his class and all-state quarterback. His initial intention to play football at Georgia Tech and become an engineer may have been derailed by a knee injury, but his mechanical acumen undoubtedly served him well as an orthopaedic surgeon. He arrived as a resident at the renowned Campbell Clinic in 1961, the institution where he was destined to spend almost his entire surgical career and to serve both as residency program director and chairman of the department.
According to the celebrated 80/20 rule, 80% of the work in volunteer organizations is performed by 20% of its members. For the AOSSM, Dr. Sisk has certainly been one of the stalwart 20%. Over the years, he has chaired the program and membership committees, tracked the Society's financial health as treasurer, and directed its operations as president. His presidency culminated in a legendary rock-and-roll themed party that set the standard for all future AOSSM annual meeting celebrations. Those who were present that night undoubtedly agree that the permanent hearing deficits that ensued were a small price to pay for so many golden memories.
In 2001, Dr. Sisk accepted the daunting challenge of following two AOSSM legends, Bob Leach and Jack Hughston, in the role of chairman of the AJSM Board of Trustees. He began his tenure by supervising the selection of the Journal's third Editor and then spearheaded a comprehensive reassessment of its publication model. This thoughtful process resulted in the current partnership between the AJSM and SAGE Publications that has allowed the AJSM to keep pace with the changing landscape of journal publishing. Thanks to Dr. Sisk's diplomatic and organizational skills, a new entente cordiale was established between the AJSM and the AOSSM that facilitated coordination between the Journal and the Society's other educational efforts. The AOSSM Medical Publishing Board became the embodiment of this collaborative spirit and fostered the development of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, a complex undertaking that would not have been possible without close cooperation between the AJSM and its parent society.
A mere litany of Dr. Sisk's accomplishments does not capture the essence of the man, any more than the spirit of the USS Constitution is revealed in a manifest of its maritime triumphs. Like Old Ironsides, it is David's remarkable character that sets him apart. In preparation for this essay, I asked a number of David's current and former colleagues to jot down one or two anecdotes about him. Inevitably, their stories focused on his character traits. Integrity, courage, humility, and selflessness were recurring themes. The secret of David's leadership talent is an ability to inspire others by his own passion to serve.
At the heart of David's personality is his strong sense of stewardship. His actions always seem to say that he is merely the caretaker of whatever power or resources have been entrusted to him. This attitude leads to selfless decisions that put the interests of others first. A testimonial composed at the time of his retirement as team physician for the University of Memphis reads, “You poured out your compassion on the players and their families when you saw that they needed it. You never thought of the team's interest when evaluating a player to return to play.”
Proper stewardship leads to a degree of cautious conservatism that has served David well in his positions of leadership. He has never hesitated to speak out on the side of restraint when he feared that resources might be wasted, demonstrating unshakable courage and a disregard for any personal criticism that this stance might bring. Like the Constitution's hull, David's adamantine exterior repels cannonballs when required. Paradoxically, his defense of unpopular positions is conducted with such humility and sincerity that it usually generates respect and even affection from those who advocate the opposing point of view.
David's conservative streak never has prevented him from being a champion of imaginative change after a proposed action has been carefully researched and evaluated. While stewardship engenders economy and conservatism, it also dictates bold innovation when ambitious new projects will best serve the long-term interests of an enterprise and its constituents. This approach has led to some of the most daring and visionary steps in the history of AOSSM publishing.
In recognition of David Sisk's immeasurable contributions to the AOSSM and its affiliated journals, the AOSSM Board of Directors presented him with a lifetime achievement award at its recent fall meeting. With characteristic humility, David rattled off the names of a score of others who actually did the work for which he was receiving credit. Like his beloved USS Constitution, Dr. Sisk has often disregarded his own welfare in defense of higher principles. Tough as a battleship, he engenders affection from those who have the good fortune to know him well. Huzzah for David Sisk, AJSM's Old Ironsides.
