Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA
Chair, Own the Bone Steering Committee
Virginia Commonwealth University
Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA
CHI St. Alexius Health Williston ND
Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA
TSAOG Orthopedics/ Burkhart Research Institute of Orthopedics
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine
Cynthia L. Emory, MD, MBA, FAOA
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Clifford B. Jones, MD, FAAOS FAOA
Dignity Health Phoenix
Ahmad N. Nassr, MD, FAOA
Mayo Clinic
Frederick C. Redfern, MD, FAOA
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Children’s National Health System
Theodore W. Parsons, III, MD, FACS, FAOA
Henry Ford Health System
Andrew Cozadd, PA-C
Regions Hospital – HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA
Regions Hospital
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Laura Boineau, MSN, APRN, FNP
Prisma Health – Upstate
Colleen Watkins, MD
West Virginia University
Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA
Chair, Own the Bone Steering Committee
Virginia Commonwealth University
Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA
CHI St. Alexius Health Williston ND
Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA
TSAOG Orthopedics/ Burkhart Research Institute of Orthopedics
Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA
University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine
Cynthia L. Emory, MD, MBA, FAOA
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Clifford B. Jones, MD, FAAOS FAOA
Dignity Health Phoenix
Ahmad N. Nassr, MD, FAOA
Mayo Clinic
Frederick C. Redfern, MD, FAOA
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Children’s National Health System
Theodore W. Parsons, III, MD, FACS, FAOA
Henry Ford Health System
Andrew Cozadd, PA-C
Regions Hospital – HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA
Regions Hospital
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Laura Boineau, MSN, APRN, FNP
Prisma Health – Upstate
Colleen Watkins, MD
West Virginia University
Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA
Chair, Own the Bone Multidisciplinary Advisory Board
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Neil Binkley, MD, CCD
University of Wisconsin
Felicia Cosman, MD
Columbia University
Beatrice J. Edwards, MD
Risa Kagan, MD
UCSF East Bay Physicians Medical Group
Jeffrey P. Levine, MD, MPH
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg
University of Maryland at Baltimore
Joan McGowan, PhD
Daniel Mendelson, MD
University of Rochester
Nelson B. Watts, MD
Mercy Health
Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA
Ex-Officio (Past MAB Chair)
Children’s National Health System
Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA
Ex-Officio (Chair, Own the Bone Steering Committee)
Virginia Commonwealth University
We are excited to recognize expert implementers from successful Own the Bone institutions who make up our Mentorship Program. Mentors assist with areas such as helping sites get started with the p
Program, grow their program over time, and assist with other program implementation areas.
Animesh Agarwal, MD, FAOA, FAAOS
Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Traumatology
Andrew Cozadd, PA-C
TRIA Orthopaedic Center – Minneapolis, MN
Christina Morganti, MD
Anne Arundel Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center – Annapolis, MD
Stacey L. Rothwell, PA-C
Fracture Liaison Clinician and Coordinator
In Memoriam
Image: Andrew and Susanna Bunta
The AOA mourns the loss of Own the Bone physician leader Andrew D. Bunta, MD, FAOA (1942-2022)
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.
If you would like to leave your messages, memories, and condolences for Susanna Bunta and family, please visit here.