Breaking news, CMS measures and career advice from notable physicians captivated Becker's Spine Review sports medicine readers in 2016.
The following are among the most popular sports medicine stories from Becker's this year.
1. Dr. James Andrews #5 among richest doctors in the world
James Andrews, MD, ranked No. 5 on the Gazette-Review's list of top 10 richest doctors in the world. Dr. Andrews is worth $100 million, according to the Gazette-Review.
2. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Russin dies following plane crash
Orthopedic surgeon Michael Russin, MD, died when a plane he was piloting crashed. Dr. Russin, of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla., was piloting a single-engine, RV-7 experimental plane when he crashed in the Everglades on July 3, 2016.
3. 'Spare the scalpel' — Dr. Brian Cole sheds light on the future of orthopedic medicine in TEDx Talk
Brian Cole, MD, MBA, orthopedic surgeon at Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and Chicago Bulls' team physician, "took off his scrubs" to deliver an insightful presentation about the multitude of contemporary options to treat patients with orthopedic injuries.
4. What 6 sports medicine physicians wish they would've known at the beginning of their careers
Sports medicine is unique in the challenges it presents to team physicians and the demands it puts on personal and professional careers, but for the physicians that stick with it the rewards are bountiful. A panel of sports medicine experts shared the advice they wish they'd received when they first started out and their advice for a physician looking to specialize in sports medicine.
5. Dr. Angus McBryde Jr. passes away after car accident
Angus McBryde Jr., MD, died after a single-vehicle car accident in October 2016. He was 79 years old. Dr. McBryde was interim chair of the University of South Alabama's department of orthopedic surgery, located in Mobile. He has held this position since June 2015.
6. Sports medicine physician Dr. Anthony Galea found guilty of professional misconduct
Sports medicine physician Anthony Galea, MD, was found guilty of professional misconduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Dr. Galea frequently traveled to the U.S. to meet with professional athletes and provided them with "unapproved" or "misbranded" drugs, including human growth hormone.
7. Sports medicine physician pay: 5 notes on salaries, bonuses & experience level
The latest salary data on sports medicine physicians of all levels of experience captivated the Becker's audience.
8. More than half of hospital orthopedic programs unprepared for CMS joint replacement program
Of 100 surveyed orthopedic departments in hospitals across the nation, 56 percent expressed concerns of being unprepared for the new Medicare bundled payment model, effective April 1, 2016. Ten percent of orthopedic programs reported being fully prepared.
8. Harvard researchers claim NFL should sever team physicians' relationship with coaches
A study from Boston-based Harvard Law School concluded that physicians should be fully independent and not forced to report to team management or coaches.
9. Bundled payments decrease Medicare payments — but not outcomes — for lower extremity joint replacement
Medicare payments for low extremity joint replacement declined $1,166 more in hospitals participating in a bundled payments initiative that those that were not, while clinical outcomes remained the same.
10. Dr. James Andrews: If football was invented today, it wouldn't be allowed
Orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, MD, spoke about brutality in the NFL saying if the game was invented today, it would never be allowed to exist.