As I prepare to conclude my service as chief executive officer of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, I have been asked to reflect on accomplishments, milestones, and proud moments from the past decade.
The truth is, those are difficult questions to answer.
Not because there have not been meaningful achievements. There have been many. Together, we have grown, adapted, innovated, weathered challenges, and pursued opportunities that strengthened our Society and expanded our impact. But leadership has a way of teaching a humbling lesson: very little value is ever accomplished by one person.
Organizations succeed because countless people invest their talent, wisdom, time, and trust. Presidents and volunteer leaders provide vision. Members contribute expertise and passion. Professional staff bring commitment and excellence every day. Progress emerges from the collective effort of people who care deeply about a shared mission.
What I have come to appreciate most over these 10 years is that leadership is less about directing an organization and more about serving as a steward of it.
None of us truly own an institution like AOSSM. We borrow it for a season.
We inherit the work of those who came before us. We benefit from foundations we did not build. We make decisions with the best information available at the time. We try to leave things better than we found them. And then, inevitably, we pass the responsibility onto others.
That is why recognizing past leaders remains important. Their fingerprints are all over the successes we enjoy today. Many of the opportunities before us were created by decisions made years—even decades—ago. The future is built upon the quiet efforts of people who often never see the full results of their work.
Perhaps that is where time becomes such a remarkable teacher.
From legacy to future: AOSSM CEOs past and present celebrating over 40 years of leadership, growth, innovation, and continued success. (L to R) Tom Nelson, Irv Bomberger, Corey J. Parker and Greg Dummer recently gathered to enjoy lunch and talk about the past, present and bright future of the Society. Corey J. Parker, MPA, is the new AOSSM CEO. Come to the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle in July to meet Corey!
Time provides perspective. It reveals which decisions mattered most. It turns today's challenges into tomorrow's lessons. Sometimes it validates our choices; other times it reminds us that growth often comes from mistakes and setbacks. In every case, time has a way of bringing clarity that is unavailable in the moment.
And it is only through time that we truly understand whether our work has created lasting value.
That reality gives me tremendous confidence about AOSSM's future.
What excites me most is not any single initiative, program, or accomplishment. It is the strength of the people who will carry this Society forward. I have had the privilege of watching talented leaders emerge, experienced leaders continue to serve, and dedicated professionals commit themselves to our mission. The momentum of this organization does not belong to any one individual. It belongs to a community that cares deeply about advancing sports medicine and improving the lives of patients.
For that, I am profoundly grateful.
I am grateful to the Presidents who trusted me, challenged me, and taught me. I am grateful to our volunteer leaders and members whose passion for excellence has continually raised the standard. I am grateful to the professional team whose dedication made every success possible. Each of you helped me become a better leader than I would have been on my own.
As I say farewell, my hope is simple: that AOSSM continues to be a place where people come together in service of something larger than themselves.
The future of this Society is bright because its foundation is strong, its purpose remains clear, and its people are exceptional.
The rest, as always, will be revealed by time.
