Stuart A. Hirsch, M.D. 2007 Tipton Award Recipient  Stuart A. Hirsch, M.D. Receives 2007 Tipton Award for Outstanding Orthopaedic Leadership Constructing safe, wheelchair accessible playgrounds, encouraging young orthopaedic surgeons to become leaders who will advance patient care, and championing diversity are a few of the reasons Stuart A. Hirsch, M.D. received an award for leadership on Feb. 15, 2007. Established by friends, colleagues, and organizations through the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF), the William W. Tipton Jr., M.D. Leadership Award honors the qualities exemplified by Dr. Tipton’s career — leadership, and passion and dedication to the medical community and fellow orthopaedists. An orthopaedic surgeon, educator, former chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Board of Councilors, and AAOS executive vice president and chief executive officer who led the organization for nearly 10 years, Dr. Tipton demonstrated leadership and dedication to fellow orthopaedic surgeons, staff, and the entire medical community. The award commemorates Dr. Tipton, and encourages others to continue his legacy. “Bill had developed a talent for bringing together skilled orthopaedic surgeons and opportunities to serve the orthopaedic community. He was a leader who would use his position, not for personal benefit but rather to benefit the specialty and to empower those who he came in contact with,” said Dr. Hirsch, who received the second annual Tipton Award at a Ceremonial Meeting during the AAOS Annual Meeting in San Diego on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007. According to Valerae O. Lewis, M.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Hirsch’s leadership demonstrates the qualities the Tipton Award is meant to acknowledge. “A true leader not only leads by example, but inspires others to do the same, Dr. Lewis said. “I think this is exemplified in Stuart’s devoted service and interactions within the community of orthopaedics and beyond.” Dr. Hirsch said that although it wasn’t his most visible leadership activity, creating opportunities for young orthopaedists as a leadership mentor was one he greatly enjoyed. “Investing in our future leaders is as great an investment as you can make. We recognize that our investment in our specialty, and our personal commitment to research and the future will reward both us as the physicians, and our patients with new technology and new techniques so that we can respond even better to the conditions we treat.” Listening, Dr. Hirsch says, is an important part of investing in the future, and he credits his leadership roles with giving him a chance to make friends, learn more about the specialty, but most importantly with teaching him to communicate and listen intently to address the educational needs of orthopaedic surgeons and patients. “Orthopaedic surgery is so important to our way of life for recreation, health, restoring function after injury and illness, and diminishing the infirmities of aging.  With good leadership, we will be recognized as serving vital and important functions that are appreciated by our society.” Listening also played a large part in Dr. Hirsch’s role as the chairman of the AAOS Communications Council.  In that role, Dr. Hirsch demonstrated leadership through activities of interest not only to orthopaedic surgeons, but also to the general public. Each year, during the AAOS Annual Meeting, orthopaedists volunteer to build a playground and donate it to the host city, an activity that Dr. Hirsch compares to orthopaedics. “A 20-something woman who had cerebral palsy spoke from her heart after one of the playground builds.  She said that growing up she had never had the opportunity to play with her brothers or sisters at the playground, and if playgrounds like the one we built had been available, she would have been able to play with her siblings,” said Dr. Hirsch.  “I believe that’s an excellent metaphor for what orthopaedics is all about: we return people to function in a better capacity by breaking down the barriers that prevented them from fully participating in life.” In addition to AAOS Communications Council Chair, Dr. Hirsch served as an officer and executive committee member for the Somerset County Medical Society, and as an officer, executive committee member and department chair at Somerset Medical Center.  He also held several positions on committees and boards for the American Orthopaedic Association, AAOS, and OREF.  Dr. Hirsch plans to donate the $5,000 Tipton Award to encourage support for developing orthopaedic leadership and to continue supporting playground builds. William W. Tipton Jr., M.D. Leadership Award homepage

Send this page to a friend