The Patellofemoral Foundation held its annual board meeting at the recent AAOS in New Orleans on March 9, 2018. Oceana Grill hosted the event which occurs prior to the annual luncheon and serves to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of PFF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. This year the award was presented to Dr Robert Teitge of Detroit, Michigan.

The Board continues to focus on education related specifically on diagnostic and treatment options for patellofemoral patients. Ample time was devoted to developing an effective, comprehensive, and high quality online education series.  The task is supported with the excellent volunteer support of several members of the International Patellofemoral Study Group (IPSG) that include Drs. Beth Shubin Stein (NYC), Seth Sherman (Columbia, MO), Jackie Munch (Portland, OR), and Adam Yanke (Chicago).

The PFF Foundation Board of Directors at Oceana Grill in New Orleans.

The Board of Directors of the Patellofemoral Foundation were honored to present the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to Vicente Sanchis-Alfonso MD PhD.  Dr. Sanchis-Alfonso works at the Hospital Arnau de Vilanova in Valencia, Spain. Prior recipients of the award, Drs. Elizabeth Arendt and Alan Merchant, attended the celebration luncheon to honor their peer.

Dr. Sanchis-Alfonso was introduced by PFF board president, John Fulkerson MD who summarized his career work and significant accomplishments. The attendees were then treated to a heartfelt and poignant speech that was highlighted by an incredible accounting of dates and events that defined his career  passion for the patellofemoral joint. He mentioned that he still owns and cherishes his first communication from Dr. Fulkerson!

The 2017 Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting was held in beautiful San Diego this past week. The Board of Directors of the Patellofemoral Foundation recently held our board meeting and luncheon in San Diego concurrent with the 2017 AAOS meeting.  This year we met at the Oceanaire Restaurant located a few blocks from the San Diego Convention Center.

Agenda items included updates on a number of ongoing projects and relationships with partners that include AANA, ISAKOS, and AOSSM.  The upcoming September 8-9, 2017 PFF/AANA Orthopaedic Learning Center course was discussed and significant time was given to ideas for providing residents and fellows with a focused course directed to teaching current and optimized options for treatment.

The board was grateful and fortunate that corporate donations continue to support efforts to provide education. Dr. John Fulkerson reviewed the current list of sponsors noting especially the generous DJO Global commitment to donate $250,000 over 5 years.  Continued support from Smith & Nephew, Kinamed was gratefully acknowledged as well as the first year of support from ZipLine Medical.

The board meeting was adjourned at noon and the invitation-only luncheon followed.  In attendance were leaders of PFF partner organizations including AANA President Rob Hunter, MD of Salida, CO and AOSSM President Ned Amendola, MD of Duke University.  Michael McBrayer, Sr. VP of DJO Global and Alain Tranchemontagne, Sr. VP of Smith & Nephew each took a few minutes to voice their commitment to the goals and efforts the Patellofemoral Foundation. Vineet Sarin, PhD, President of Kinamed, also attended this year’s luncheon.

Each year the PFF presents a very special award at the luncheon to honor significant contributions to patellofemoral science and treatment.  The Patellofemoral Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award this year was awarded to Vicente Sanchis-Alfonso MD PhD of Valencia, Spain.  Several previous recipients of the award, Dr. Alan Merchant and Dr. Liza Arendt, joined us for the celebration.