After several months of searching, Brett Owens, MD, was announced as the new Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) during the 2024 AOSSM Annual Meeting in Denver this July. Dr. Owens will begin his duties in September and become the fourth Editor-in-Chief of AJSM in January 2025.
When Dr. Bruce Reider decided to step down as Editor-in-Chief for AJSM after 23 years at the helm, the Medical Publishing Board of Trustees and AOSSM Board of Directors knew that whoever would be following Dr. Reider’s footsteps would have some tough shoes to fill. Dr. Owens has proven that he is more than qualified for the position. “I began an interest in sports medicine due to some early mentors. I was lucky to meet a couple of future AOSSM presidents when I was an injured West Point cadet—Bob Arciero and Dean Taylor. I didn’t know any physicians growing up, but seeing these incredible people helping young athletes get back on the field was an instant draw and it stuck,” Dr. Owens shares upon reflecting on his path towards a career in sports medicine.
Dr. Owens is currently chief of sports medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital in Providence and University Orthopedics, Inc, in Providence, Rhode Island. As a key figure in academia, he serves as professor and vice chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Brown University Alpert Medical School and professor of surgery (orthopaedics) at Uniformed Services University of Health Science. Since joining AJSM as an associate editor in 2012, he has been a trailblazer, founding the Electronic Media Editorial Board to bring podcast and video content to the journal. Under his careful leadership, the group has expanded to 20 talented young editorial board members who spearhead the journal’s active social media presence. Beyond his media contributions, Dr. Owens also acted as editor for randomized controlled trials from 2016 through 2019.
Upon graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Dr. Owens laid the foundation for an extraordinary career in sports medicine. He earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, and after several years of active military service he returned to West Point to become the chief of orthopaedics and sports medicine at Keller Army Hospital. His role was crucial in the lives of both soldiers and cadets, serving as team physician for Army’s varsity athletic teams.
Despite his action-packed career, Dr. Owens always managed to set time aside for research, publishing over 350 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, giving over 200 national and international presentations, and co-editing five textbooks in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
“I have always loved research, [going back to] my early days when I got started as a medical student,” Dr. Owens recalls. “I enjoyed the process and the thrill of being able to get your work published. When I began as a reviewer, I became a better researcher and writer. I am fortunate to have served as an associate editor for AJSM for 12 years, working alongside Dr. Reider, and it has been the most rewarding work of my career to date.”
Dr. Owens sees the role of the editor as “a procurer of the best literature in the field – helping surgeons and sports medicine caregivers worldwide elevate their care of athletes to the highest level.” However, he also realizes the publishing world is not exempt from changes and challenges over the next five years.
“Certainly, there are a lot of changes on the horizon in publishing to include challenges to the traditional model of subscription service,” Dr. Owens admits. “The emergence of artificial intelligence also challenges the scientific field in general and has specific concerns in publishing. The rise of numerous publication platforms as well as the bombardment of scientific information on social media adds to the complexity of the landscape faced by those who rely on accurate information to provide optimal care. We aim to continue serving as the trusted choice of sports medicine science in the world.”
