To all my orthopaedic colleagues and friends in Indiana,

My name is Steve Mitros.  I’m an orthopaedic surgeon in South Bend, and this year’s president of the Indiana Orthopaedic Society.

Throughout its history, the IOS has generally confined its meaningful communications to our dues-paying members, reaching out to the Hoosier orthopaedic community at large only with an annual invitation to membership at the start of each summer.  Honestly, it’s easy for me to understand how one might be disinclined to participate in an organization about which one knows nothing beyond the fact that the word “orthopaedic” appears in its name.

In an attempt to improve awareness of our state society among Indiana’s orthopaedic surgeons, with the encouragement of our Board of Directors, I’ve decided to communicate our society’s efforts on behalf of patients and surgeons to ALL orthopaedic practitioners in Indiana - whether they are dues-paying members or not.  For the one year I hold office, the plan will be to send out an email no less frequently than every two months detailing the activities of the society, including decisions made by the Board at our quarterly meetings, plans for the Society's Annual Meeting scheduled for next April in French Lick, and reports on the Society’s advocacy efforts regularly made on behalf of all of you and your patients.  My sincere hope is that better communication from the IOS will allow you an improved perspective on its worth, and a greater appreciation of the value of your participation.

For those of you that have been regular dues-paying members all along, please don’t be offended that for one year I’ll be offering these insights into the Society and its work to those who at present don’t pay dues.  The IOS continues to be very much dependent on your financial support in order to provide a quality Annual Meeting, facilitate our advocacy efforts, support resident education, and compensate our very talented Executive Director.  I assure you that you aren’t buying dinner and drinks for the Board meetings (the Board members pay for drinks and dinner out of their own pockets)!  Please click on “Pay Membership Dues” in the upper righthand corner of the page - and thank you! This link can be used to pay dues and make contributions to the IOS PAC and Foundation.

Finally, to all of you:  My email is [email protected] - for any questions, comments, or suggestions, and if you all would be so kind, PLEASE send me the name and email address for your practice manager. I would like to include them in the emails I send because I would like to keep them abreast of the society’s advocacy efforts on behalf of your practices.  I can’t imagine that any one of them would decline the offer.

Sincerest thanks for all that you do for the people of Indiana,

Steve Mitros