Virtual: Address of Incoming President, Theodore W. Parsons, III, MD, FACS, FAOA:
“The AOA: A Comprehensive House with Compassionate Leaders”
AOA Business Meeting

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About Theodore W. Parsons

Professor and Chairman
Breech Family Endowed Chair of Bone and Joint Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Medical Director, Orthopaedic Service Line
Henry Ford Health System

Dr. Ted Parsons is Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for the Henry Ford Medical Group in Southeast Michigan and Medical Director of the Orthopaedic Service Line for the Henry Ford Health System.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1982, Dr. Parsons attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences where he received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.  He completed a General Surgery Internship and subsequent Orthopaedic Surgery Residency training at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.  Following residency, Dr. Parsons completed a Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Returning to San Antonio, Dr. Parsons spent the next 15 years as an attending Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center, holding such positions as Orthopaedic Residency Program Director, Orthopaedic Department Chair, Director of Graduate Medical Education, and Dean of Graduate Medical Education for the Air Force/Army Health Education Consortium.  He was a 4-time recipient of the “Outstanding Educator Award” and a recipient of the Air Force Medical Corp’s coveted “Golden Headed Cane Award” for the outstanding physician, educator and researcher (the only orthopaedic surgeon to ever receive this award).  In 2004 – 2005 Dr. Parsons served 5 months in a combat hospital in Iraq as the medical group deputy commander, caring for wounded coalition forces and civilians.  He was awarded a Bronze Star for his combat service.

In July of 2007, Dr. Parsons officially retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel, after 29 years of active duty service.  Additional major decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals, the Humanitarian Service Award, and the Legion of Merit for distinguished service. In August of 2007, Dr. Parsons was appointed Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, where he holds the Breech Family Endowed Chair of Bone and Joint Medicine. Dr. Parsons chairs the Operating Room Executive Committee, the Revenue Integrity Finance Committee, the Musculoskeletal Health Clinical Council, and serves on several other executive leadership councils/committees. In 2018 he was appointed as the Medical Director for the Orthopaedic Service Line, with responsibility for the full spectrum of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal services across the health system.

Dr. Parsons currently holds an appointment as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Wayne State University.  He has served as President of the Michigan Orthopaedic Society, President of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, as Managing Director for the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons, as Chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Orthopaedic Residency Review Committee, as one of 2 Michigan representatives on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Board of Councilors, and for many years as an examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In 2018 Dr. Parsons was elected into the Presidential Line of the American Orthopaedic Association, and currently serves as First President Elect. He currently serves as President of the Bloomfield Hills Michigan Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with ecclesiastic responsibility for thousands of church members in Southeast Michigan.

Dr. Parsons has authored multiple articles and book chapters, and often serves as a visiting professor and invited lecturer at regional, national, and international meetings, review courses, and seminars. In 2011 he was awarded the Brian Allgood Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service in Military Orthopaedics.

Dr. Parsons and his wife Kathryn have been married for 38 years.  They have three children (Theodore IV [TJ], Adrianna, and Colin) and two grandchildren (Oliver and Hazel). He enjoys spending time with family, snowboarding, and struggles to be very average at golf.

AOA Business Meeting

The AOA’s Annual Business Meeting occured virtually. This session was closed for AOA Members only.

Activities included within the Business Meeting included:

  • Elections: Active election of slate and nominations from members for the Nominating Committee.
  • New Members: Announced the results of membership candidates for the Class of 2020. All voting AOA members had the opportunity to cast a electronic ballot by June 1 to approve the final slate for membership.
  • Organizational reports: An electronic business meeting report highlighting updates and reports on aspects of the organization were released by Saturday June 20 to the membership.