American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons CEO Karen Hackett Wins Prestigious Samuel B. Shapiro Award

For more information, contact:

Lauren Pearson (847)384-4031 lpearson@aaos.org

For Immediate Release
04/23/2009

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons CEO Karen Hackett Wins Prestigious Samuel B. Shapiro Award
Association Forum bestows highest honor on the AAOS Chief Executive

Rosemont, IL

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is pleased to announce that its Chief Executive Officer, Karen L. Hackett, FACHE, CAE has received the Association Forum’s 2009 Samuel B. Shapiro Award. The Forum presents this award each year to a chief executive officer for outstanding service and accomplishment in association management. “Receiving the Samuel B. Shapiro Award from my peers at the Association Forum is an incredible honor,” said Hackett. “Having the opportunity to advance the orthopaedic specialty and to share this experience with my colleagues is also very meaningful to me.”

Ms. Hackett joined the AAOS in 2003, supervises a staff of 240, and oversees a 60 million dollar operating budget. Before coming to the Academy, Ms. Hackett enjoyed more than 20 years in association management work. Eight of those years she served as the executive vice president and chief operating office of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She also served as vice president of the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council.

“Karen is a leader who artfully combines collaboration and facilitation to paint the “big picture” for our members and staff,” said Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “Her wealth of experience in association management is second to none. We are fortunate that Karen has found a home here at the Academy and congratulate her on this well deserved and prestigious honor bestowed upon her by her peers.”

“This award is not mine alone,” said Hackett. “I consider myself part of a team; our volunteer leaders and staff also share in this award. These are the wonderful people I work with everyday and together we all help to move the Academy forward.” Since arriving at the AAOS, Ms. Hackett has helped to initiate a board supported employee incentive compensation plan, a new governance structure, a new monthly member magazine and a series of award-winning public service announcements promoting an array of orthopaedic-related topics.

“The real achievement in business management,” Hackett says, “is not a specific policy or program, it is the people. Receiving the Shapiro Award is a wonderful reminder to me on how important it is to mentor other association colleagues and that you do not stand alone. Working together, whether inside or outside your association, only serves to make everyone stronger.”

Ms. Hackett has served on the ASAE Board and chaired several ASAE Committees. She holds an MBA from Lewis University and a BSBA from the University of Central Florida.

The Association Forum will present the Shapiro Award to Ms. Hackett at the Forum Honors Gala on June 25 at Navy Pier in Chicago.

ABOUT THE FORUM
The mission of the Association Forum of Chicagoland is to “advance the professional practice of association management.” Founded in 1916, the Forum serves 47,000 association professionals whose efforts serve more than 37 million members and generate $22 billion in global annual expenditures.

More information about the AAOS