J. Chris Coetzee, MD, MBChB, Installed as AOFAS® President

ROSEMONT, Ill., July 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, J. Chris Coetzee, MD, MBChB, has been named president of American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS)^®, the leading organization for lower extremity medicine and foot and ankle surgery. In addition to leading the Society as president, Coetzee will serve on the Board of Directors of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation.

As president of the 2,200-member Society, Coetzee will continue the mission of advocating for patients on local and national levels to ensure they receive the best and most appropriate orthopaedic foot and ankle care. He will also continue the AOFAS tradition of providing outreach to communities in need through the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation. One of Coetzee's other priorities during his one-year term is ensuring that orthopaedic residents are involved in the Society early on during their medical training.

"We still live in uncertain times. Belonging to an organization like the AOFAS helps me channel the uncertainties of today into creative solutions for tomorrow," Coetzee said. "I am looking forward to continuing collaboration with peers from all over the world to work towards our goals of improved patient care, education, and outreach."

Coetzee earned his medical degree from University of Pretoria School of Medicine in South Africa and performed his orthopaedic residency at University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. He also completed a fellowship in foot and ankle orthopaedics at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in addition to a trauma fellowship in Davos, Switzerland. His current work is through Twin Cities Orthopedics in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

As an avid supporter of the educational mission of AOFAS, Coetzee served as program chair of the 2014 AOFAS Annual Meeting, and has chaired several other AOFAS committees. He is an assistant editor of the AOFAS peer-reviewed journal Foot & Ankle International and a reviewer for other orthopaedic journals.

Coetzee added, "My hope for all in the Society is to live by the words of Benjamin E. Mays: 'The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little; not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities.'"

About Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons 
Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consists of four years of medical school, five years of postgraduate residency, and a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists care for patients of all ages, performing reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treating sports injuries, and managing foot and ankle trauma.

About the AOFAS
The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) mobilizes our dynamic community of foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons to improve patient care through education, research, and advocacy. As the premier global organization for foot and ankle care, AOFAS delivers exceptional events and resources for continuous education, funds and promotes innovative research, and broadens patient understanding of foot and ankle conditions and treatments. By emphasizing collaboration and excellence, AOFAS inspires ever-increasing levels of professional performance leading to improved patient outcomes. For more information visit the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society online at aofas.org.

SOURCE American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society

Related Links

http://www.aofas.org