The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is proud to announce that Rick W. Wright, MD, MMHC has assumed the role of President following his installation at the Society’s 2026 AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle.
Dr. Wright serves as the Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds the Dan Spengler, MD Chair in Orthopaedics at Vanderbilt Health, where he also serves as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs. In these leadership roles, he oversees clinical quality and operations across one of the nation’s premier academic health systems while continuing to advance patient care, education, and research in sports medicine.
An internationally recognized sports medicine specialist, Dr. Wright earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri before completing his orthopaedic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and sports medicine fellowship at the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center. Prior to returning to Vanderbilt in 2019, he spent more than 25 years at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he served as Executive Vice Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, residency program director, and head team physician for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. Throughout his career, he has also cared for professional and collegiate athletes, including the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals.
A member of AOSSM since 1998, Dr. Wright has held several leadership positions including Chair of the Enduring Education and Membership Committees. He also served as Program Chair for the 2022 AOSSM Annual Meeting. He is a past recipient of the AOSSM Cabaud Memorial Award and is the 2026 recipient of the AOSSM George Rovere Education Award.
“Dr. Wright is an exceptional leader whose commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation has shaped our Society for many years,” said Corey Parker, MPA, CEO of AOSSM. “His passion for advancing sports medicine and developing future leaders makes him uniquely positioned to guide AOSSM through an exciting period of growth. I look forward to partnering with him as we continue to strengthen our impact on our members, our patients, and the profession."
“It is an incredible honor to serve as President of AOSSM at such a pivotal time for the Society,” said Dr. Wright. “This year, I look forward to advancing initiatives that strengthen our community, invest in the next generation of leaders, and publicly launch our Strive for Five campaign—an ambitious commitment to securing the resources needed to fuel groundbreaking research and innovation.”
Dr. Wright succeeds Eric C. McCarty, MD, who now serves as Immediate Past President. As President, Dr. Wright will lead AOSSM’s Board of Directors and help advance the Society’s mission to be the global leader in sports medicine by fostering education, research, advocacy, and collaboration that improves the care of athletes and active people of all ages.
The AOSSM 2026-2027 Board of Directors includes:
- Rick W. Wright, MD, President, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Matthew T. Provencher, MD, MBA, President-Elect, The Steadman Clinic
- Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD, Vice President, Andrews Sports Medicine Institute
- Grant Jones, MD, Secretary, The Ohio State University
- Brian R. Wolf, MD, Treasurer, UI Sports Medicine
- Eric C. McCarty, MD, Immediate Past President, University of Colorado
- Christopher C. Kaeding, MD, Past President, The Ohio State University Sports Medicine Institute
- Jacqueline Brady, MD, Member at Large, Oregon Health & Science University
- Steven Cohen, MD, Member at Large, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
- Lutul Farrow, MD, Member at Large, Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center
- Meghan Bishop, MD, Member at Large, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
- Joseph H. Guettler, MD, Communications Chair (Ex Officio), William Beaumont University Hospital
- Scott Rodeo, MD, Council of Delegates Chair (Ex Officio), Hospital for Special Surgery
- Volker Musahl, MD, Research Chair (Ex Officio), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Katherine Coyner, MD, Education Chair (Ex Officio), UConn Health
- Corey Parker, MPA, Chief Executive Officer, AOSSM (Ex Officio Non-Voting)
About the AOSSM
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is the premier global sports medicine organization representing the interests of 4,200 orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. AOSSM is committed to cultivating evidence-based knowledge, providing extensive educational programming, and promoting emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids. For more information on the growing field of sports medicine, visit the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) online at sportsmed.org.
Contact AOSSM at [email protected]