Earlier this month, Premier orthopaedic surgeon James Guille, M.D. was appointed President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society. He succeeds Jonathan Garino, M.D., also of Premier Orthopaedics.

“It was an honor and privilege to serve as President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society,” Dr. Garino says. “While the society is often and importantly known primarily for its educational contributions, its additional mission of protecting and enhancing the delivery of orthopaedic care in our state is a complex, time-intensive and somewhat underappreciated endeavor. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in furthering the society’s mission in those two aspects.”

The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society has established firm longstanding relationships with politicians in Harrisburg and in communities around the Commonwealth, and is the number-one source of musculoskeletal education for the politicians. By meeting with the senators and representatives in person, the board can comment on patients’ concerns and struggles to obtain fair healthcare in Pennsylvania, as well as the hurdles that orthopaedic surgeons face in trying to care for patients. The society has taken special interest in the opioid epidemic, has obtained several grants and sponsored multiple symposia on the topic.

In this new role, Dr. Guille is responsible for overseeing the obtainment of goals set forth by the board, particularly in advocacy and education. Over the next year, his goal is to promote the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society as the number-one provider of musculoskeletal education for patients, politicians and healthcare providers in the Commonwealth. “A big challenge this coming year is to re-establish our in-person annual meeting in Hershey in October 2021. Politically, we are working closely with Harrisburg on preauthorization reform, venue change and the opioid crisis,” Dr. Guille says.

“Dr. Guille is among the most committed individuals to the mission of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society,” Dr. Garino says. “He brings great energy to the society as it continues to evolve in a world where educational opportunities in other areas abound by focusing on the orthopaedic residents in our state, as well as optimization of orthopaedic practice by ensuring the regulators and legislators in Harrisburg are aware of how their decisions impact orthopaedic care delivery. Dr. Guille is the right man for the job at this most unusual and uncertain time.”

In addition to now being the President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society, Dr. Guille has previously served as the President of the Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society and the Eastern Orthopaedic Association, which includes the East Coast states from Maine to Florida.