OREF Announces New Leadership

ROSEMONT, Ill., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its most recent Board of Trustees meeting, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) is pleased to announce its 2026-2027 Board.

Andrew N. Pollak, MD, of University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, succeeds Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago as President. Dr. Jacobs will remain on the board in the role of Past President.

The presidential line for 2026-2027 is Dr. Pollak, Dr. Jacobs, First Vice President, James R. Ficke, MD, of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore; and Second Vice President, Nicholas M. Bernthal, MD, of David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles.

The presidential line and the Secretary/Treasurer, Karen L. Hackett, MBA, former Chief Executive Officer of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, comprise the OREF executive committee.

OREF also welcomes new Trustees Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, of UT Health Austin, Texas; Leesa Galatz, MD, MBA, of Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System, New York; Laurence Higgins, MD, Vice President of Strategic Development of Arthrex, Naples, Florida; Diane McKeever, MM, retired Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago; and Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Philadelphia.

The new board members will join the following Trustees who are continuing their terms: Michael P. Bolognesi, MD, of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Richard F. Kyle, MD, of HCMC Orthopaedic Specialty Center, Minneapolis; Francis Y. Lee, MD, PhD, of Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Richard F. Santore, MD, of Orthopaedic Medical Group of San Diego; Thomas P. Sculco, MD, of The Hospital for Special Surgery, New York; Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, New York; and Stuart L. Weinstein, MD, of University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, Iowa.

The board would like to thank the following trustees who have fulfilled their terms for their years of service: Daniel J. Berry, MD, of Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; John D. Kelly, IV, MD, of Penn Orthopaedics, Philadelphia; and David C. Templeman, MD, of Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis.

About OREF

An independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, OREF strives to improve clinical care and patient outcomes by advancing innovative research, developing new investigators, and uniting the orthopaedic community in promoting musculoskeletal health. The Foundation raises funds to support research on diseases and injuries of bones, nerves, muscles, and tendons and to enhance clinical care leading to improved health, increased activity, and a better quality of life for patients. For more information, visit oref.org or follow OREF on X and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation