The Own the Bone program is guided by nationally-recognized bone health experts in orthopaedic surgery, endocrinology, rheumatology, women’s and family health, and gerontology.
The Own the Bone Steering Committee advises on programmatic issues. The Own the Bone Multidisciplinary Advisory Board (MAB) engages the coordination aspects of a multispecialty program.

Own the Bone Steering Committee

Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA

Chair, Steering Committee

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA

Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA

Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA

Paul D. Sponseller, MD, FAOA

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Children’s Center
Baltimore, MD

Paul D. Sponseller, MD, FAOA

Colleen Watkins, MD

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

Colleen Watkins, MD

Wayne J. Sebastianelli, MD, FAOA

Ex-Officio

Penn State University
Hershey, PA

Wayne J. Sebastianelli, MD, FAOA

Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA

Vice Chair, Steering Committee

TSAOG Orthopedics / Burkhart Research Institute
San Antonio, TX

Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA

Ahmad N. Nassr, MD, FAOA

Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

Ahmad N. Nassr, MD, FAOA

Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA

Regions Hospital
St. Paul, MN

Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA

Abner M. Ward, MD, MBA

Tenaya Medical Group
Merced, CA

Abner M. Ward, MD, MBA

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Ex-Officio

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA

CHI St. Alexius Health
Williston ND

Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA

Laura S. Phieffer, MD, FAOA

Ohio State University Health System
Columbus, OH

Laura S. Phieffer, MD, FAOA

Andrew Cozadd, PA-C

Regions Hospital – HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
St. Paul, MN

Andrew Cozadd, PA-C

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Liaison

Children’s National Health System
Washington, DC

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA

The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center

Indianapolis, IN

Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA

Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA

Corporate Liaison

Sonoran Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons
Scottsdale, AZ

Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA

Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP

University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP

Multidisciplinary Advisory Board (MAB)

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Chair, MAB
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Jeffrey P. Levine, MD, MPH

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ

Jeffrey P. Levine, MD, MPH

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Ex-Officio
Children’s National Health System
Washington, DC

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Neil Binkley, MD CCD

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI

Neil Binkley, MD CCD

Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg

University of Maryland at Baltimore
Baltimore, MD

Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg

Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA

Ex-Officio
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Stephen L. Kates, MD, FAOA

Felicia Cosman, MD

Columbia University
New York, NY

Felicia Cosman, MD

Joan McGowan, PhD

Joan McGowan, PhD

Daniel Mendelson, MD

Jewish Senior Life
Rochester, NY

Daniel Mendelson, MD

Nelson B. Watts, MD

Mercy Health
Cincinnati, OH

Nelson B. Watts, MD

Own the Bone Education Subcommittee Members

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Co-Chair
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
Madison, WI

Paul A. Anderson, MD, FAOA

Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

Scott D. Daffner, MD, FAOA

Andrea Spiker, MD

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI

Andrea Spiker, MD

Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA

Co-Chair
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Indianapolis, IN

Thomas J. Fischer, MD, FAOA

Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP

University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

Lori S. Fitton, PhD, APRN, CNP

Jennifer Bruggers, MD, FAOA

Wellstar Medical Group
Atlanta, GA

Jennifer Bruggers, MD, FAOA

Marci D. Jones, MD, FAOA

University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Boston, MA

Marci D. Jones, MD, FAOA

Lisa K. Cannada, MD, FAOA

Novant Health Orthopedic Fracture Clinic
Charlotte, NC

Lisa K. Cannada, MD, FAOA

William F. Sherman, MD

The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Indianapolis, IN

William F. Sherman, MD

Own the Bone Membership Subcommittee Members

Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA

Chair
TSAOG Orthopedics/Burkhart Research Institute
San Antonio, TX

Kevin L. Kirk, DO, FAOA

Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA

Carol A. Lin, MD, FAOA

Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA

University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH

Michael J. Beltran, MD, FAOA

Afshin E. Razi, MD, FAOA

Maimonides Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY

Afshin E. Razi, MD, FAOA

Andrew Cozadd, PA-C

Regions Hospital – HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
St. Paul, MN

Andrew Cozadd, PA-C

Colleen Watkins, MD

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

Colleen Watkins, MD

Rishi R. Gupta, MD

Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute
Frederick, MD

Rishi R. Gupta, MD

Own the Bone Registry Subcommittee Members

Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA

Co-Chair
CHI St. Alexius Health
Williston, ND

Gregory A. Brown, MD, PhD, FAOA

Darin M. Friess, MD

Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR

Darin M. Friess, MD

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Children’s National Health System
Washington, DC

Laura L. Tosi, MD, FAOA

Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA

Co-Chair
Regions Hospital
St. Paul, MN

Julie A. Switzer, MD, FAOA

Mohamad J. Halawi, MD

Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Mohamad J. Halawi, MD

Brian Webb, MD, FAOA

JPS Health Network
Fort Worth, TX

Brian Webb, MD, FAOA

Joseph A. Abboud, MD, FAOA

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
Philadelphia, PA

Joseph A. Abboud, MD, FAOA

Joseph Johnson, MD

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Joseph Johnson, MD

Brett A. Freedman, MD

Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

Brett A. Freedman, MD

Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA

Sonoran Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons
Scottsdale, AZ

Laura Prokuski, MD, FAOA

In Memoriam

Image: Andrew and Susanna Bunta

 

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.