A message from AANA President John D. Kelly IV, M.D., FAANA
Posted 1/21/2026
Dear AANA Members,
I am humbled to serve as your 44th President. I wish to share that your AANA Board of Directors as well as our talented staff headed by gifted leader Laura Downes, CAE is hard at work to enrich the value of your membership. We are all deeply committed to providing you with the most impactful and relevant educational vehicles possible. I am grateful for the leadership of our committee chairs, who are driving key priorities across education, advocacy, international outreach, research, membership and communications. Here are a few highlights of the work underway.
Our Learning Center, under the leadership of Dr. Josh Szabo, is vibrant and has the singular mission of meeting the needs of registrants in terms of surgical execution and planning. Our Journal, led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Michael Rossi, is poised to greater affirm its standing as the most informative literary platform for arthroscopic education. We remain steadfast in advocating for fair and just reimbursement and thanks to the leadership of Dr. Patrick Joyner, we are tenaciously tackling inappropriate ‘bundled codes’ as well as the omnipresent and often unfounded ‘peer to peer’ debacle.
Under the stewardship of Dr. Mark Hutchinson, our international outreach has grown exponentially and the AANA mission is reaching some of the most underserved and impoverished regions. Dr. Alan Zhang, Research Chair has conceived a plan to collaborate with AOSSM in order to expand AANA’s research resources. With Dr. David Tennent at the helm, AANA is constructing new leadership development pathways for our younger surgeons and Dr. Harris Slone has enlivened the sphere of AANA’s electronic communication influence on surgeons. Dr. Joe Eichinger is embarking on a plan to increase Physician Assistant membership, while Dr. Paul Caldwell and Dr. Jason Dragoo are crafting sound strategies to ensure a strong financial future.
With First VP Dr. Kevin Bonner, Navy Veteran, at my side, AANA remains committed to our Military Colleagues. With the blessing of former president Dr. Rob Hunter presiding, AANA is resolute in continuing to fight to ensure the continued vitality of our Military Advanced Surgical Treatment (MAST) program.
With the creative genius of both AANA26 Program Chair Dr. Travis Dekker and Education Chair Dr. Bill Ciccone, the 2026 AANA Annual Meeting promises to be a memorable experience. Replete with lively debates as well as timely discussions on controversies, attendees will be treated to the most contemporary arthroscopic education conceivable. Dr. Joe Tauro has endeavored to include arthroplasty education so that our members can provide the most complete care for our patients.
Please join us in Phoenix in May. You will receive huge dividends in your quest to become your ‘best surgical self’ and enjoy the warm and embracing culture that AANA is best known for. This is the work of AANA and it is only possible because of your involvement and support.
And yes, we will also have some fun along the way – celebrated comedian Sinbad will deliver an entertaining but meaningful Keynote Presidential Address to registrants on Thursday while Super Bowl Champion Coach Bruce Arians will mesmerize attendees on Saturday with a second Keynote Presidential Address.
Together, we will continue to elevate our specialty, advance patient care and ensure that arthroscopy’s best days are still ahead.
Humbly yours,
John D. Kelly IV, M.D., FAANA
44th AANA President