C (3:36)

And, Tom, if you could just share something about Dr. Smith that maybe the rest of the society wouldn't know, maybe something that only a fellow might know. What's a fun fact about Dr. Smith?

E (3:47)

So many things I'll never forget my.

F (3:49)

First day in clinic.

E (3:51)

You probably don't know this, Rowan, but we first day in fellowship, I'd spent all my time on the east coast, and I was really excited to come back to the west coast to go surfing, be back near home. And we had a normal clinic day. I thought we'd be done by about four or five, and there was really good south swell going. So I was like, okay, we'll probably be done here around six. And Ron, at the very beginning of the fellowship was part of the fellowship was him doing a physical exam on me. And I was like, oh, gosh, you know, I could just see the sun setting a little bit as I was doing the physical exam on myself. And I'm like, you know what? This is going to be a great year, but I don't think I'm going to be doing that much surfing. So he is a great tennis player. He's been a great friend all these years. He's really changed my life for the better. And him and Wendy have just been so important to me, and it's just really, I'm so excited for him and so happy for him. It couldn't be a more deserving pillar than getting this. So thank you, Tom.

D (4:44)

Thank you for those comments, but you've added so much not only to the enjoyment and professional stimulation, but it is through Tom Harris that what we have at harbor is going to continue. He's the director of our program now. And, you know, you're just really. You like to see your kids grow up and then go surpass what you've done.

E (5:10)

No, I don't think I'll be able to do that, but that's very nice.

D (5:13)

Tom certainly has done that.

C (5:14)

And just from the foundation perspective, too, thank you for everything you've donated to our society. And, you know, it really is an honor to get to. To share this event with you. So thank you very much for your time.

D (5:25)

Well, thank you, Joe and Dr. Park, for all you've done to make this really a very meaningful ceremony for not just me, but the way it was handled for all of our pillars, our legacy pillar, that was just a terrific category and enhancing our recognition of our legends. And of course, we can't forget our founders of course.

B (5:49)

Yeah. I think what I've heard, not only from folks talking about you, but about our other pillars, is just how much it means to serve other people. Right. That's what it really all comes down to. We obviously serve our patients. You've had opportunities serve the society, you've served fellows, you serve residents as an educator, and then how much joy you get out of watching those people go serve others. So that's my real takeaway from this. So I appreciate your service to your patients, to the education of this society, to the foundation financially, and to help make this what it is. So we really appreciate your service, all those different areas. So thank you very much.

D (6:19)

Yeah. A pleasure and a privilege.

C (6:23)

Thank you.

D (6:24)

Great.

C (6:25)

Thanks, Ron.

B (6:27)

2025. AOFAS pillar, Greer Richardson.

C (6:31)

Today we have a true legend of orthopedic foot and ankle surgery. Greer Richardson. And today you were just honored as a pillar. I think I told your son David this, but you gave a talk at NYU when I was a resident, and you spoke about every complication that you'd seen from Bunion Correction. And I found that to be one of the most interesting talks I've ever listened to. And now, in retrospect, 15 years into my practice, I share many of those frustrations with you as well. But, you know, I just really want to thank you for everything you've done for our society and for our field in general. And I think, obviously, it's a huge honor to have your son here at our society as such an important member and to accept this award with you. So I really thank you for taking the time to kind of.

G (7:13)

You're welcome.

D (7:14)

Pete?

F (7:14)

Yeah. I know this. This society has meant so much to you.

G (7:18)

Oh, so much. I had friends after friends, and then they get old like I am, and some of them aren't around, and some of them are. And it was a wonderful group. All of us, well, you know, doctors and particularly orthopedists, were pretty opinionated, but we got along just fine, and we would just look forward to the next time we could get together. Now, sometimes my wife Carol, was still sort of rearing the children, so I went by myself a fair amount. But I really. I enjoyed it all, and I got more out of it than I gave.

F (8:03)

And I remember when you were first coming along then Maeves just. It really wasn't a foot and ankle subspecialty. So they would just say, take some time or something.

G (8:14)

Oh, they said, take a weekend out and learn it. That's what they would. And. And it wasn't that easy. But I visited so many Dr. Ginestrus and Dr. Man and well, the male clinic, Mayo Clinic.

F (8:32)

Did you visit Ken Johnson too?

G (8:34)

Ken, yeah, and I visited Ken and at the Mayo Clin and also when they opened their New Mexico or Arizona office, I went there to see him. Jude, of course, a penis. You know that most of us are arrogant and what get away, you know, but it's, it was a complicated part of our body and you have to walk on them. I had a wonderful period where things opened up to me as, as I went along in terms of understanding the foot, the forefoot, the mid foot. Oh boy, arthritis, the mid foot's tough and collapsed arches. And all of a sudden I was caught up in the whirlwind and I just wanted to know more and more. So I finally started writing on it in Campbell's operative Orthopedics. After 348 pages, I said wait a minute, this is a lot. One time my son here, he stuck his head in the attic. He said, dad, when are you going to stop working on this story?

F (9:54)

That's right, because your office was through my bedroom.

G (9:56)

Yes, I had to go through his.

F (9:58)

Story, my bedroom at about 4 in the morning every morning for 18 months it seemed like. So finally I was like, when is this story gonna get told? I'm ready for you not to walk through my room at 4am.

B (10:14)

So after seeing your dad and obviously growing up, I'm sure being a mentor as well as I father figured you, what is the biggest lesson you learned from him and what inspired you to nominate him for this award?

F (10:27)

Well, that's gonna be hard to narrow down. The biggest lesson I learned, I learned so many lessons inside of orthopedics, it's always put the patient first. Patient is what's most important. Get to know them. Try not to ever operate on someone the first time you meet them unless it's a trauma that just needs to go. But always try to get a relationship first before you sign them up for surgery. Get to know them. Take your time to know them. So patient care and that a lot of what we do inside of this field is about relationships, certainly with the patients, but also with colleagues, those that are formed at this society, at AOFAs and in other groups. And so this is what's going to make this profession fulfilling. My dad always felt and taught me was the relationships that are formed, that's what's going to, that's what's going to sustain you for the long decade after decade are forming those relationships that mean so much. And they certainly did to my dad.

C (11:34)

That's awesome.

B (11:35)

I do have a question about the necklace that you're wearing. I don't know if you want to share it. It's a very unique necklace.

C (11:39)

It looks like corn and.

B (11:40)

Corn and beads.

F (11:42)

Chicago.

G (11:44)

One of our fellows was. Lived in Hawaii does now. And yeah, then she came and she got to be part of our family. I mean, that's. She was on the staff of the camel clinic. We asked her to stay when. But finally she wanted to go back home. One of her parents had passed away and she wanted to be there.

D (12:08)

And.

G (12:09)

But these fellows that come and go and they stick in your heart and your mind, you know, and they. You'll get some that are full of themselves, but most of them, most of them want to listen and learn. And so that's about the most, I've got to say.

C (12:34)

Well, thank you very much for spending the time with us. And, you know, it's obviously a huge honor. Gary Richardson and his son David. I'm sure you can't be more proud of your son.

G (12:43)

Oh, no.

C (12:43)

But he's also a wonderful person, which you know that as well.

B (12:46)

So congratulations on an award well earned.

G (12:49)

Thank you all.

F (12:50)

I appreciate y' all doing this.

A (12:52)

Thank you for listening to the AOFAS Ortho podcast, a Convey Med production. To learn more about joining our dynamic community of highly skilled orthopedic specialists, visit aofas.org.