Embargo for Release:             March 12, 2010
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John R. Tongue, MD, Named Academy Second Vice President

NEW ORLEANS—Orthopaedic surgeon John R. Tongue, MD, of Lake Oswego, Ore., was elected the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) second vice president at its 2010 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

“I became an orthopaedic surgeon because, simply put, I wanted to fix things for my patients,” said Dr. Tongue. “I have gained a great deal of knowledge and satisfaction from my job, which is why it is such an honor to be able to give back to the profession through this leadership role in the Academy.”

A graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and the St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, Dr. Tongue served as an intern and general surgery resident at the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland, Ore., and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Training Program in California. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic in Eugene, Ore., and a hand surgery fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco. Currently, he maintains his private practice in Tualatin, Ore., and also is a clinical assistant professor at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.

“The majority of the Academy’s members are surgeons running community-based private practices,” said Dr. Tongue. “As one of those members I understand the struggles and challenges we face, and I bring that perspective to the Academy’s staff and leaders.”

An active member of the AAOS, Dr. Tongue has served on numerous committees and task forces, including the Council on Education, the Committee on Public Education and the Council on Research.

“Improving communication with our members, patients and the media has always been and will continue to be a very important issue to me,” said Dr. Tongue, who initiated the AAOS Communication Skills Mentoring Program in 2000. “I recognize that health care is rapidly changing, which means the needs of our members will change as well. I look forward to engaging with my peers to learn more about their needs so that the Academy can continue to move forward with the programs, benefits and services that will help us all provide better care for our patients.”

Dr. Tongue has received numerous honors and accolades, including the AAOS Humanitarian Award, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association Public Service Award for his work in passing the Oregon Safety Belt Law, and the Oregon Medical Association’s Doctor-Citizen of the Year award.

"John has demonstrated great leadership in his work on communications for the Academy and his work on road safety in his home state of Oregon, explained Daniel Berry, MD, AAOS first vice-president.  The perspective John brings from years of running a private practice also will be very valuable.  It will be a privilege to sit with John on the Academy's Board of Directors."

Active in several professional societies, Dr. Tongue is a member of the American Orthopaedic Association, the Western Orthopaedic Association, and the Oregon Medical Association. He also has authored more than 80 publications, book chapters and presentations.

When not seeing patients or teaching residents, Dr. Tongue enjoys fly fishing, skiing and spending time with his wife Nancy and their three children.

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