Page 4 - SMU_Summer 2019 Issue 2_Web

FROM THE PRESIDENT

“ Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase is growing in diversity of gender, race,
perfection we can catch excellence.” and socioeconomic background. We come
to sports medicine from many different
VINCE LOMBARDI origins and directions. We all worked
hard to learn and prepare to work in the
service of others. With years of study, years
of skills-building, and a commitment to
compassionate care, we have a profound
impact on the well-being of individuals
The recently refreshed every single day. By reaching even further,

AOSSM mission and core we all have the potential to exponentially
increase this impact.
values reinforce our Society’s Purpose, Passion, and Pride

commitment to the talented In 1972 our Society founders established
professionals who provide the AOSSM and mobilized those

health services for active people of all ages physicians interested in its mission with
pillars of research and education in sports
and abilities. Our AOSSM is a robust vehicle medicine. They saw a need to organize

which is the home of the science, education, physicians interested in sports medicine
into a community. One which had a focus
and advocacy for sports medicine and its on injuries affecting athletes. They took

specialists, moving ever forward to respond the first big steps and our AOSSM has
grown into a global resource for sports
to the needs of our members and enhance medicine knowledge. It is up to us to

their continued growth. continue and enhance this legacy.
I appeal to all AOSSM members—
from first-year fellows to career long
When Jack Hughston, Don O’Donoghue, Joseph Godfrey, and other members—to look beyond the challenges
visionaries launched what we now know as the American Orthopaedic we face every day to find opportunities
Society for Sports Medicine, they did so with a keen sense of purpose. That to achieve an even greater good. These
purpose, that goal was to create a body which would focus on the special opportunities come in many shapes and
and unique discipline of sports medicine as well as the standards with which forms and surround all of us. Our response
we practice our specialized profession. That was nearly 50 years ago, and as to them honors the purpose we have as
we look forward to marking this important milestone in 2022, we do so with physicians to take care of others and the
an appreciation for how AOSSM enables us to explore, discover, and humbly privilege to do so. It is my hope that our
share new opportunities and solutions to keep everyone in the game of life. AOSSM can provide an ever-expanding
AOSSM is many things, but at its core, AOSSM is an inclusive and platform to support our members’ growth
benevolent society. It provides leadership and fosters advances in science, as physicians, enhance our identity as the
art, and practice of sports medicine, giving each of us the continuing home of science and education of sports
education, tools, and opportunities we need to keep growing medicine, and provide fertile ground to
as professionals on the job and a platform from which we can help support important endeavors where
share our wealth of talent beyond the job. sports medicine can help our communities
Maintaining high personal standards of ethics and excellence in and our world at large.
the practice of medicine goes without saying. It’s the essence of who Some of our members have set
we are and what we do as medical professionals. Our AOSSM membership impressive examples to us to follow.

 2 SPORTS MEDICINE UPDATE | Summer 2019, Issue 2