AO NORTH AMERICA NEWS

In Memoriam Professor Howard Rosen, M.D.

One of the true North American pioneers of the AO philosophy and techniques, and one of its greatest teachers, died of cancer in New York last summer. Dr. Howard Rosen was the first surgeon from North America to attend an AO course in Davos, which happened to be the first AO course offered, in 1960. He returned to the United States carrying the original AO "tackle boxes" filled with instruments and implants, and thus became the first surgeon in North America to utilize this new (and controversial) system for internal fixation of fractures.

Dr. Rosen's meticulous surgical skill and careful adherence to the techniques he learned in Davos resulted in outstanding clinical results, and before long, surgeons throughout the region were sending their most difficult non-union patients to him for surgery. Because of his clinical success and his tremendous teaching ability, Howard Rosen became a faculty fixture at AO courses throughout the world. He helped organize the first AO course in Israel, and volunteered his services to operate on Israeli war injuries in 1973. As a table instructor, Howard Rosen was a great friend of many AO North America members, and was a lifetime Trustee to the AO Foundation, with AO friends all over the world. He was also a devoted husband to Connie, and a wonderful father and grandfather. At the AO courses he became famous for his teaching during the practical work laboratories. As a table instructor, he was totally dedicated, wonderfully enthusiastic, and absolutely tireless, and he truly had great influence on the careers of hundreds of surgeons who trained under him. Because of this, AO North America's Steering Committee decided to create an award in his memory - the Howard Rosen Table Instructor of the Year. This annual award will be presented each year to a North American course faculty member who exemplifies Howard Rosen's dedication in the laboratories. The first recipient of this honor is announced in an accompanying article in this issue of AO North America News.

For those of you who knew Howard, or would like to learn more about his life and career, please visit the AO Foundation's web site: www.ao-asif.ch, which contains a wonderful tribute to Dr. Rosen by his lifelong friend, AO North America surgeon Joseph Schatzker.