Dr. Michael J. Bosse and Dr. Ellen J. MacKenzie receive the OTA 2023 Lifetime Achievement award
"It is my privilege and honour to present the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to honor an OTA member who has dedicated their career to orthopaedic trauma and whose overall contributions to the profession have made outstanding, long-lasting and impactful improvements to orthopaedic trauma education and research, and patient care.
This year we have dual awardees: Dr. Mike Bosse and Dr. Ellen MacKenzie
Dr. Bosse has had a distinguished career as a clinician, surgeon-educator, researcher, mentor, and leader including serving both his country and the OTA in various roles, including as OTA President.
Dr. Bosse’s greatest contributions are in the area of clinical research with the development of muti-centre prospective trauma consortia. Collaborating with Dr. MacKenzie, they initiated the LEAP trial, the first truly national orthopaedic trauma clinical research study. This trial demonstrated the ability to perform high quality research in orthopaedic trauma patients and that orthopaedic trauma centers could come together collaboratively to do this work. In addition to the many important clinical findings that have improved the care of the mangled extremity and patients with high-energy traumatic injuries, LEAP helped stimulate and launch the career of many clinical investigators. Their research was an inspiration to many performing clinical research, both senior and junior, in trying to get prospective clinical trials off the ground.
The tireless efforts of Dr. Bosse and Dr. MacKenzie also led to the creation of the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium in 2009. This has led to an amazing 36 funded studies, $150 million in competitive grants won and over 20,000 patients enrolled. This initiative has had an immeasurable impact on patient care, in developing research infra-structure and in inspiring both current and the next generation of researchers. Their efforts are summarized in one of the nomination letters: “Without their efforts, there is no METRC.”
In reading about Dr. Bosse and Dr. MacKenzie, terms such as “inspiration”, “legend of orthopaedic trauma”, “tireless”, ‘dedicated”, “leader” “collaborative”, “brilliant”, “patient-centred” and “impact” were repeatedly used. Their contributions to the profession have made outstanding, long-lasting and impactful improvements to orthopaedic trauma education and research, and patient care.
I can’t think of any individuals more deserving of this award.
Congratulations to Dr. Bosse and Dr. MacKenzie"