Furthermore, said Dr. Barrack, “Merged with The Knee Society, and its partner, The Hip Society, creates an unprecedented opportunity for us to collaborate and to carry that legacy successfully well into the future.”
Greenwald’s two annual CCJR meetings (Spring and Winter, Las Vegas/Cleveland and Orlando) are literally treasured by the global community of orthopedic physicians, nurses and suppliers for their independence, quality of lectures, debates and ability to remain clinically relevant for 36 years.
Here’s how a surgeon from Chile, who’d paid $850, plus airfare, hotel and other expense to attend, described CCJR to OTW:
“This is the most up-to-date meeting in the world for surgeons. Everyone on the podium is an expert. This is different from AAOS [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons] where the speaker’s level of expertise is more uneven. Seth’s meeting is free of commercial bias. At other meetings, market forces cause devices to be introduced to surgeons without critical judgment. At this meeting, experts debate and we can make up our minds.”
A Typical CCJR
Sitting in a CCJR meeting is like learning from a curriculum designed by an educator. Not a surgeon. Not a committee. Not a manufacturer.
That’s because CCJR is the singular vision of Oxford University and M.I.T educated, bushy-haired, crinkly-eyed A. Seth Greenwald, D.Phil.(Oxon).
Greenwald starts every meeting by calling his 1,000 – 1,500-member class to order. On time. In 36 years, he’s never been late.
CCJR typically opens with three debates. Point. Counterpoint. One faculty member affirms one side of a current issue. Another takes the other side. Full contact. “This is going to be like taking candy from a baby.” “Are you kidding me? Get real!”
That is only the first step in Dr. Greenwald’s master plan. Step two is a literature critique and review or as Seth puts it, “What do the outcomes tell us?”
A panel of his faculty members dissect the latest studies. “This data is at odds with my clinical experience.” “Solid study design, sample size is bit small.” “While the numbers may not be on target, the conclusion mirrors my own outcomes.”
Step three is live surgery. Not just any live surgery. At one memorable CCJR, Russell Warren, M.D., from the Hospital for Special Surgery performed a reverse shoulder reconstruction live, in full color with Evan Flatow, M.D., providing colorful commentary and channeling questions from the audience for Dr. Warren while he was operating.
That was as much performance art as surgery.
Thirty-six years of CCJR have educated, we estimate, 15,000-20,000 orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and, yes, company executives, engineers and sales people as well as regulatory agency personnel from all over the world and—helped the careers of more than a few faculty members.
