Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA
Chair, Steering Committee
TSAOG Orthopedics / Burkhart Research Institute
San Antonio, TX
Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA
Bryan K. Lawson, MD, FAOA
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, TX
Bryan Lawson, MD, FAOA
Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA
Regions Hospital
St. Paul, MN
Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA
Alexander J. Ghanayem, MD, FAOA
Ex-Officio (President)
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL
Alexander J. Ghanayem, MD, FAOA
Jaime L. Bellamy, DO, FAOA
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
Jaime L. Bellamy, DO, FAOA
Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA
Kristyn Hare, PA-C, CCD
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
Kristyn Hare, PA-C
Ajith Malige, MD
St. Luke’s University Hospital Program
Los Angeles, CA
Ajith Malige, MD
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
Laura S. Phieffer, MD, FAOA
Ohio State University Health System
Columbus, OH
Laura S. Phieffer, MD, FAOA
Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Liaison
Children’s National Health System
Washington, DC
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Morgantown, WV
Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA
Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA
Corporate Liaison
Sonoran Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons
Scottsdale, AZ
Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA
Colleen Watkins, MD
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Colleen Watkins, MD
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
Co-Chair
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA
David A. Essig, MD, FAOA
Northwell Health
Great Neck, NY
David A. Essig, MD, FAOA
Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP
Jennifer Bruggers, MD, FAOA
Wellstar Medical Group
Atlanta, GA
Jennifer Bruggers, MD, FAOA
Lisa K. Cannada, MD, FAOA
Novant Health Orthopedic Fracture Clinic
Charlotte, NC
Lisa K. Cannada, MD, FAOA
Marci D. Jones, MD, FAOA
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Boston, MA
Marci D. Jones, MD, FAOA
William F. Sherman, MD
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Indianapolis, IN
William F. Sherman, MD
Andrea Spiker, MD
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
Andrea Spiker, MD
Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA
Co-Chair
CHI St. Alexius Health
Williston, ND
Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA
Darin M. Friess, MD
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR
Darin M. Friess, MD
Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
Mohamad J. Halawi, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
Mohamad J. Halawi, MD
Brian Webb, MD, FAOA
JPS Health Network
Fort Worth, TX
Brian Webb, MD, FAOA
Rishi R. Gupta, MD
Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute
Frederick, MD
Rishi R. Gupta, MD
Colleen Watkins, MD
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Colleen Watkins, MD
Brett A. Freedman, MD
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
Brett A. Freedman, MD
Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA
Sonoran Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons
Scottsdale, AZ
Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
Chair, MAB
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
Jeffrey P. Levine, MD, MPH
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ
Jeffrey P. Levine, MD, MPH
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Ex-Officio
Children’s National Health System
Washington, DC
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Neil Binkley, MD CCD
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Neil Binkley, MD CCD
Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg
University of Maryland at Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg
Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA
Ex-Officio
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA
Felicia Cosman, MD
Columbia University
New York, NY
Felicia Cosman, MD
Joan McGowan, PhD
Joan McGowan, PhD
Daniel Mendelson, MD
Jewish Senior Life
Rochester, NY
Daniel Mendelson, MD
Nelson B. Watts, MD
Mercy Health
Cincinnati, OH
Nelson B. Watts, MD
Image: Andrew and Susanna Bunta
It is with great sadness that the AOA informs of the passing of Andrew D. Bunta, MD, FAOA on Thursday, February 24th, 2022. His loss is felt deeply by those who had the privilege of knowing him personally and professionally at the Own the Bone program, the AOA, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he completed his medical school and residency, and became full faculty and Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1999.
Unwavering in his commitment to the care of his patients, Dr. Bunta was identified by past AOA President Dr. Marc Swiontkowski as exactly the right leader to take on the challenge of the AOA’s then pilot secondary fracture prevention program, Own the Bone. Dr. Bunta responded to the call, becoming a tenacious and tireless advocate for the initiative. He served as the first Chair of the AOA’s Own the Bone Steering Committee, a role he undertook for two terms, from 2007 to 2013. Dr. Bunta subsequently served as Chair of the Own the Bone Multidisciplinary Advisory Board. Most recently, since its launch in July 2019, Dr. Bunta was host of the monthly Own the Bone Orthopaedic Bone Health ECHO clinics.
Dr. Swiontkowsk recalls: “Andy was the perfect leader for the Own the Bone program. He was the ultimate patient advocate – gentle and kind while remaining firm when dealing with indifference on the part of orthopaedic surgeons. With consistency, and armed with data, he patiently stewarded the effort to convince the orthopaedic community that this was an issue on which we must lead.” Dr. Paul A. Anderson adds: “Dr. Bunta was a truly inspiring person who was personally responsible for my evolution into the field of osteoporosis. Andy was a kind and sincere individual who always spoke with respect for all and with great wisdom. He was an outstanding leader for the AOA’s Own the Bone program and its most outstanding spokesman. The current Own the Bone program would not be where it is today without all of the work done by Dr. Bunta. He will be sorely missed.”
Last year, at the AOA’s 2021 Annual Meeting, Dr. Bunta was honored as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession, a testament to the esteem of his colleagues for his years as a physician leader, mentor, and educator. Fellow Own the Bone advocate Dr. Kyle Jeray said the Pillar commitment stemmed from Dr. Bunta’s widespread reputation “as a great friend, confidant, someone who could always be counted on if you had issues or problems…Andy was always there, trustworthy and supportive…a dedicated and devoted family man…he has touched a lot of people’s lives, and has been a huge influence in the AOA.” In the words of Stephen Kates, current Own the Bone chair: “Andy Bunta was a true gentleman, great educator, enthusiastic advocate for outstanding patient care and exceptional colleague who has positively influenced several generations of surgeons over the last 40 years.”
Northwestern’s Dr. Terrance Peabody described his first impressions in getting to know Dr. Bunta: “I was charmed by his character, by how gracious he was, and he seemed to care about the right things.” Dr. Peabody also commended Dr. Bunta’s tremendous commitment and dedication to the cause of secondary fracture prevention: “I truly believe that the Own the Bone program has been successful not solely because of Andy but largely due to Andy: his passion, and how much he cares about what truly is a public health problem affecting all patients and [orthopaedic surgeons] because we care for those patients. But he took it on [and] he was able to assemble a cadre of people who really cared, and put it forward to get everyone’s attention.”
The AOA mourns the loss of Dr. Bunta, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Bunta’s wife, Susanna, and his entire family.