Dr. Freddie Fu Named President of International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
OSAKA, JAPAN, April 8, 2009 — Freddie H. Fu, M.D., renowned UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) orthopaedic surgeon, today was named president of the prestigious International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) at its Biennial Congress in Osaka, Japan. Dr. Fu, who has been a member of the ISAKOS Board of Directors for 10 years, will serve a two-year term as president.
ISAKOS is considered the preeminent international forum for the exchange of ideas that advance arthroscopy, knee surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine. ISAKOS promotes and provides educational opportunities for specialists from every corner of the globe, across cultural traditions and economic disparities, including developing countries. This year’s Congress has brought together world leaders from more than 75 countries to experience unique diversity and education through instructional course lectures, scientific papers, philosophical debates, symposia, lectures and hands-on workshops.
Dr. Fu has been the David Silver Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine since 1997. He was the founding medical director of UPMC’s Center for Sports Medicine, regarded as one of the country’s top sports medicine research and clinical programs. And, under his chairmanship, the UPMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery currently is ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. News & World Report annual Best Hospitals survey.
Dr. Fu also is the current president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). He is world-renowned as a pioneer in numerous innovative arthroscopic surgical techniques to treat injuries to the knee and shoulder. He also is heralded for his extensive research in biomechanics, in vivo kinematics, comparative anatomy, stem cell and regenerative medicine involving the knee. Most recently, he has become a world leader in anatomic double-bundle ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction surgery. The “double-bundle” is a newer and evolving concept of restoring an injured ACL’s natural anatomy and function by correctly replacing both bundles of the ACL instead of the traditional one-size-fits-all, single-bundle ACL reconstruction that has been used without question by surgeons for decades. In addition to successfully performing more than 600 double-bundle surgeries himself in the last few years, Dr. Fu’s research team at Pitt currently has more than 20 studies completed or under way to evaluate the merits of the double-bundle procedure. In 2008, UPMC hosted the first international summit on the double-bundle, attracting more than 250 surgeons and physicians from 25 countries.
“My mission over the next two years as ISAKOS president is to integrate international leaders to provide education, research experience and opportunities via meetings and mentorship for ISAKOS members, especially in countries where technologies are being developed,” said Dr. Fu. “The society will partner with regional societies to enhance our missions, and work with industry leaders as well as to provide educational and research opportunities for ISAKOS members.”
Over the years, Dr. Fu has trained more than 500 surgeons and physicians worldwide and more than 60 in the United States through the Pitt Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship Program. Many of his fellows have become leaders in the field and leaders in ISAKOS.
In this, its 100th anniversary year, Dr. Fu’s department also is noted for its gender equity. While today only 3 percent of orthopaedic surgeons are women, Dr. Fu has recruited four outstanding female orthopaedic surgeons to join his faculty. For the 2008-09 academic year, a record number of five Pitt orthopaedic residents are women. “Although much has changed over the past 100 years, our tradition of attracting the best and brightest faculty to provide quality patient care, teaching and innovative research remains the same,” said Dr. Fu. “My roles as president of both ISAKOS and AOSSM will provide me with opportunities to work with my colleagues at Pitt and worldwide to continue educating the next generation of orthopaedic scientists and surgeons to advance orthopaedic science and clinical practice that results in the best outcomes for our patients,” he added.
Dr. Fu’s other academic appointments at Pitt are: professor of physical therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; adjunct professor of health and physical activity, School of Education; and professor of mechanical engineering, School of Engineering. He has been the head team physician for Pitt’s Department of Athletics for more than 20 years.
Because of his reputation, Dr. Fu attracts both athletic and non-athletic patients from all over the world, and frequently is quoted as a scientific and clinical expert in top-tier national media, including the New York Times and USA Today.
Dr. Fu’s research efforts have led to more than 125 professional awards and honors, nearly 700 national and international presentations, and editorship of 26 major orthopaedic textbooks. He also is the author or co-author of more than 275 peer-reviewed articles and 83 book chapters on the management of sports injuries. He has held offices in numerous academic organizations, including the Herodicus Society, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Society and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). He has served as president of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society and as a board member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, among numerous other leadership roles in leading professional and scientific organizations.
In 1996, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) honored Dr. Fu with the President's Challenge Award for his tutelage in advancing the quality of health care related to sports medicine. In 2002, Dr. Fu became the sponsor of the annual NATA New Investigator Award, and he was named as one of three University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Fellows because of his “inspiration to countless students, athletes, colleagues and the broader community.”
Community Service Also Priority for Dr. Fu
The internationally renowned surgeon always has been very active in his local community of Pittsburgh. In 1999 he was named one of 100 “Pittsburghers of the Century” by Pittsburgh Magazine. He is consistently listed in the magazine’s annual “Best Doctors” issue. Also in 1999, the Allegheny Cycling Association gave Dr. Fu its award for Outstanding Service to the Cycling Community in recognition of his sponsorship and support of many local cyclists and cycling events. In May 2002, the YMCA of Pittsburgh honored Dr. Fu with its 28th Annual Person of the Year award. Two years later, he was named Vectors/Pittsburgh Man of the Year for Community Service. In 2008, he received the Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation’s Humanitarian Award for community service, and was honored by the Heinz History Center as a History Maker in celebration of Pittsburgh’s 250th birthday.
Dr. Fu has served for many years as chairman of the board for the Pittsburgh Marathon, company physician and member of the Board of Trustees for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, chairman of the board for the Children’s Festival Chorus, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, honorary board member of the Parental Stress Center, among his numerous other community service roles.
The Hong Kong native is a graduate of Dartmouth University and earned his medical degree at Pitt in 1977. He continued his residency and fellowship training at Brown University, Pitt, Hannover Trauma Center in Hannover, Germany, and in East Lansing, Michigan. In 1984 he was selected as an AOA North American Travelling Fellow, and in 1988 as an AOSSM International Travelling Fellow. Dr. Fu is married to Hilda Pang Fu, also a community leader, and they have two grown children. Dr. and Mrs. Fu reside in the City of Pittsburgh.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For a photo and complete biography of Dr. Fu or to reach him directly for interviews, please contact Stacey Simon in UPMC Media Relations at 412-647-3555. For more information on Pitt’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, go to http://www.orthonet.pitt.edu. For more information on ISAKOS, go to http://www.isakos.com.