Codman Shoulder Society

Dear Colleagues: None of us achieves success in life without the perspective and support of good friends and colleagues. I am deeply grateful to those who have mentored me, offered their advice, and allowed me in turn to be a friend and advise and mentor them. Few people make the list of truly important influences, and I hope to honor them by presenting my own journey alongside Codman's. I share many of Codman's beliefs and his passion for creating value for patients and for

Dear Colleagues: None of us achieves any measure of success without our teachers and mentors. Here are some of mine — orthopedic surgeons, a thoracic surgeon, Harvard Business School professors, and my father, Professor Richard Warner. My father was a pioneer in GI-endocrine tumors and described carcinoid syndrome in 1955. He led by example, through hard work and dedication to a cause. Dr. David Shahian was a champion for value-based care who created the framework for reporti

Dear Colleagues: It is not clear that Codman had any partners to help him bring "The End Result Idea" — or his many other innovations and concepts — to other surgeons. I have been blessed with three great partners over my nearly four decades as a shoulder surgeon. Each has been different, yet all have shared the same burning desire as E.A. Codman to improve patient care through innovation. Peter Millett is a brilliant and creative surgeon who has gone on to develop many produ

Dear Colleagues: It is not clear to me who helped and supported Codman, let alone mentored him. His life was marked by controversy and friction with colleagues. Although he found a friend in Harvey Cushing, the great neurosurgeon, I do not know whether anyone helped him navigate his own shortcomings or the personal approach he took to advancing his ideas. Perhaps, some of you have been fortunate enough to have a mentor — a leader who not only gave you opportunities but helped

Dear Colleagues: E.A. Codman was not only a champion of the "End-Result" concept, the precursor of what we now call value-based healthcare, but also an innovator. He believed that an individual with the courage to challenge the status quo and pioneer new methods of treatment was essential to improving the value of care we offer our patients. I will speak about such individuals in my Codman Lecture in Vancouver in a few weeks. For now, I'd like to introduce you to one such ind

Dear Colleagues: The first Codman Lecture at the annual American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons meeting was given in Boston in 2016. Our speaker was Professor Robert Kaplan of Harvard Business School, who spoke on “Value-Based Healthcare Delivery for Orthopedic Surgery.” Professor Kaplan is an expert in accounting and has developed many of the tools now used to determine the value of healthcare treatments. Yet, more than a century earlier, Codman had already grappled with the co

Dear Colleagues: At this year’s International Congress of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, I will deliver the 16th Codman Lecture — one of the great honors of my professional life. Unfortunately, none of the 15 prior lectures survive in print or on video. Carter Rowe gave the inaugural Codman Lecture in 1980, addressing Codman's influence on the development of shoulder surgery. Dr. Rowe was, in fact, one of Codman's last students at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and went on

Dear Colleagues: E. A. Codman was a forerunner to the "Pioneers" of shoulder surgery. Decades before orthopedics was a recognized specialty—and long before "shoulder surgery" existed as its own subspecialty—he was among the first to describe clinical tests and treatments for shoulder disorders. The Codman Lecture will explore these and his many other contributions, offering perspective on our own drive to "innovate" in the name of better patient care. Best regards, Jon “J.P.”

Dear Colleagues: We know a great deal about E. A. Codman and his contributions to orthopedics before it emerged as a distinct specialty. His innovations extended well beyond shoulder surgery. But what do we know about his values and motivations? Bill Mallon, Codman’s biographer, offers a vivid portrait of Codman the man, and his book should be required reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of him. By examining Codman’s values—and the trials he faced in advancing t

Dear Colleagues: It is the privilege and honor of my career to give the 16th Codman Lecture at this year's International Congress of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery in Vancouver, Canada. My presentation won't focus on surgery, but on something that should motivate and inspire us all as surgeons: values. Codman was a remarkable person, and thanks to Bill Mallon's biography, we now know a great deal about what he did. But who was he, and what were his values? Why should they inspire