A Message from AANA Immediate Past President John D. Kelly IV, M.D., FAANA

Posted 5/26/2026

Dear Colleagues: 

Thank you for your support and engagement throughout my presidential year. Serving as AANA president has been a profound honor and a unique opportunity to affect much good for our members and patients. I am grateful for the dedication of our members, volunteers and leadership who have elevated AANA to become the premier arthroscopy education platform in the world. 

Over the past year AANA has accomplished much. We have increased our international outreach exponentially with a special emphasis on sharing knowledge with impoverished nations. Surgeons practicing in economically deprived nations are now offered membership at a significantly discounted rate. We have established a Humanitarian Award to recognize our many benevolent members. Our commitment to training our Military surgeons has never been stronger. We will likely procure increased federal funding to enhance both military surgical training and research productivity. AANA’s educational mission is vibrant, and we are actively collaborating with AOSSM. Our coveted journal remains the most cited orthopaedic surgical publication in America! 

Leadership development has always been an integral element of AANA’s fabric. We are launching the Kelly Family Scholarship, dedicated to training early career members who have endured unique challenges in their pursuit of becoming an arthroscopic surgeon. An AANA Leadership Fellowship will be introduced to impart skills to a select cohort of mid-career surgeons interested in someday leading our beloved organization.  

Membership is thriving and we are actively entreating our esteemed Physician Assistants, Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists to become part of the AANA family. Our Board of Directors is strongly considering launching a capital campaign which will secure AANA’s vitality in the face of declining external support. And finally, in collaboration with AOSSM and OREF, AANA is seeking creative ways to procure substantive grants for the execution of meaningful and impactful research studies.  

As I reflect on the past year, I am indebted to all our faithful servants who served on committees or have provided superlative educational content bearing the AANA name .Our Board of Directors has served its members with distinction and our CEO Laura Downes has proven to be an executive for the ages as her staff has performed admirably the entire year. 

It is now my pleasure to pass the AANA gavel to Dr. Kevin Bonner. He is an exceptional man and leader who has the vision and acumen to propel our organization to heightened success. 

Congratulations to Dr. Bonner and the 2026–2027 AANA Board of Directors. I look forward to supporting the organization in my role as Immediate Past President. 

With humble gratitude,