Richard K.N. Ryu, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in Santa Barbara, California, has been awarded the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Distinguished Service Award. The presentation took place at the Combined 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and AANA, the AOSSM-AANA, July 9 in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Ryu is a past president of the AANA.
According to the organization, the new award is meant to recognize an AANA member for exceptional service in leading an initiative or project for the organization, the orthopedic community, or community at large. Included in the award is $2,500, which can be donated to an organization selected by the recipient. Dr. Ryu and his wife Linda Ryu have selected the National Military Family Association as the recipient of the $2500 award.
Dr. Ryu has received the inaugural award because of his “commitment and influential leadership to the Annual AANA and Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS) Course. The concept for the first AANA/SOMOS Course originated from a discussion with Dr. Ryu and SOMOS past presidents and AANA members Dr. Matthew Provencher, Capt., M.C., USNR; and Dr. John Tokish, Col., USAF.”
Eventually known as the AANA/SOMOS Course, the event covers intensive skills over two days, and includes hands-on cadaver lab training and lectures (rotating annual focus on shoulder, then knee).
“I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this inaugural award than Dr. Ryu,” said Laura Downes, CAE, AANA CEO. “His passion, dedication and unwavering leadership to the AANA/SOMOS Course and related initiatives are truly inspiring and are qualities that represent the essence of this award.”
Dr Ryu told OTW, “I am deeply honored to have received the Distinguished Service Award from the AANA, an organization that has my utmost respect for their critical mission of providing arthroscopic education world-wide. Although an individual award, I need to acknowledge Presidents Brian Cole and Mark Getelman of AANA as well as Past Presidents of SOMOS, Matt Provencher and John Tokish who were the true architects of the AANA SOMOS collaboration.”
“Finally, I want to thank and congratulate my co-recipient of the award, Dr. Rob Hunter, whose tireless efforts have advanced our goal of assisting our military colleagues in the care of the service men and women who sacrifice so much for our country.”
