AAOS Appoints New Board of Councilors Chair

Georgia orthopedic surgeon James W. Barber, M.D., has been chosen to chair the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Board of Councilors (BOC).

Dr. Barber has been an active AAOS leader, serving as an AAOS Board of Directors (BOD) member and in multiple BOC leadership roles, including secretary and chair-elect. His dedication to advancing musculoskeletal health and strengthening physician advocacy has led to appointments on key committees, including Joint BOC/Board of Specialty Societies (BOS) Bylaws Review Committee and Professionalism Committee. As a BOC leader and board member, he has served on the Education Council, Research and Quality Council, and the AAOS Political Action Committee. Dr. Barber is also a graduate of the former AAOS Leadership Fellows Program (LFP).

Beyond the AAOS, Dr. Barber’s leadership extends into state and regional advocacy and professional service. He is a past president of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society and currently serves as speaker of the House of Delegates for the Medical Association of Georgia, where he has also held leadership positions, including vice speaker. Dr. Barber was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to chair the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce, and he is unit commander of the South Georgia MAG Medical Reserve Corps. In addition, Dr. Barber is active in community and civic leadership and serves on the boards of the Douglas Community Foundation and the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Ga.

Dr. Barber has worked in private practice in Douglas, Ga., since 1998. He is an orthopedic surgeon with Southeastern Orthopaedics and practices at the Southeastern Orthopaedics Surgery Center. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Georgia Baptist Medical Center (Atlanta Medical Center). Dr. Barber graduated from the Medical Association of Georgia’s Physicians Leadership Academy and Leadership Georgia.

With more than 39,000 members, AAOS is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The organization advances musculoskeletal health by providing comprehensive education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals best treat patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.