Greenwich CT Orthopaedic Foundation Receives International Distinction



The Greenwich-based Orthopedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles has been approved as a teaching center by the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine. The Foundation becomes one of 120 such teaching centers worldwide so designated for their ability to host doctors and other health-care professionals who require advanced training in arthroscopy, knee surgery and orthopedic sports medicine.

's8220;Being named a teaching center fits perfectly with our mission of medical education and research in the area of orthopedic and sports medicine,'s8221; said Kevin Plancher, M.D., founder and chairman of the Foundation. Dr. Plancher is a leading orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist and head of Plancher Orthopedics & Sports Medicine PLLC with offices in New York City and Connecticut. 's8220;When we started the Foundation five years ago, our vision was to bring the latest procedures and technology to practitioners worldwide,'s8221; he said.

That vision has been accomplished through the Foundation's8217;s BioSkills Lab, a training facility that can accommodate six to 24 students or physicians at six stations outfitted with suction, irrigation and electrical power. In addition to its on-site capacity, the BioSkills Lab is electronically capable of offering interactive educational seminars and anatomy workshops to physicians, researchers and fellows off-site through live-feed line capabilities.

The International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine has approved 45 other teaching centers in the United States, confers the designation on facilities that provide training and research in arthroscopy and orthopaedic sports medicine. ISAKOS was formed in 1999 with the merging of the International Arthroscopy Association and the International Association of the Knee and has a membership of more than 1,850 orthopedists from 72 countries.

Dr. Plancher, who is an official orthopedic surgeon for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, will be attending the Society's8217;s conference in Florence, Italy, in May 2007, where he will be leading several instructional review cases. About 70 countries are represented every year at the Society's8217;s conference.

In addition to its continuing education role, the BioSkills Lab is used for a variety of other professional and community purposes. Recent uses have included medical equipment demonstrations and training, 's8220;bench's8221; experiments of medical devices prior to surgery and a local class of middle-school students being 's8220;doctor for a day.'s8221;

Numerous educational and rehabilitation seminars for university medical and nursing students, community members and other neighboring health care agencies are also offered by the Foundation, which also runs clinical research trials. These trials provide volunteer participants with access to medications not yet available to the general public and include patient education, diagnostic tests such as electrocardiograms and blood tests and follow-up visits.

Bio:
Kevin D. Plancher, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.O.S, is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine expert with extensive practice in knee, shoulder, elbow and hand injuries. Dr. Plancher serves as Chairman for the Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles, whose mission is both research and education in orthopedics and musculoskeletal disease. Additionally, Dr. Plancher is an Associate Clinical Professor in Orthopedics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY. He is on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Journal of Medicine and Sports.

A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Plancher received an M.S. in Physiology and an M.D. from their school of medicine (cum laude). He did his residency at Harvard'ss combined Orthopaedic program and a Fellowship at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colorado where he studied shoulder and knee reconstruction. Dr. Plancher continued his relationship with the Clinic for the next six years as a Consultant. Dr. Plancher has been a team physician for over 15 athletic teams, including high school, college and national championship teams. Dr. Plancher is an attending physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City and The Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT and has offices in Manhattan and Greenwich, Connecticut. www.plancherortho.com

Dr. Plancher lectures extensively domestically and internationally on issues related to Orthopaedic procedures and injury management. During 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Dr. Plancher was named among the Top Doctors in the New York Metro area and was the New York State Representative for the Council of Delegates to the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons. For the past six years Dr. Plancher has received the Order of Merit (Magna Cum Laude) for distinguished Philanthropy in the Advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2001, he founded The Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles, a non-profit foundation focused on maintaining and enhancing the physical well-being of active individuals through the development and promotion of research and supporting technologies. www.ofals.org.





Greenwich CT Orthopaedic Foundation Receives International Distinction