The Political Action Committee of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons endorsed fellow member Al Gross, MD, for the U.S. Senate on Sept. 19.
Dr. Gross is running as an independent, challenging Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
He is the second AAOS member running for Congress in 2020 after Tennessee Senate Republican candidate Manny Sethi, MD, announced his campaign in June.
Dr. Gross' campaign focuses on tackling high healthcare costs in Alaska, balancing Medicare by negotiating directly with the pharmaceutical industry to redirect funds from drug companies to providers and defending a woman's right to choose.
This is the first time that two orthopedic surgeons have simultaneously run for the U.S Senate, according to AAOS President, Kristy Weber, MD.
"It speaks to the diversity and leadership of our members in striving to serve not only their patients but also their country,” Dr. Weber said in a press release.