March 10, 2004

Press Conference: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons media briefing

To: News editors, news directors, assignment editors From: Pat Pyke, Boise State communications and marketing, (208) 426-1987, ppyke@boisestate.edu Subject: Opportunities to cover a national press briefing on Friday, March 12 Date: March 9, 2004 Press conference: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons media briefing Topic: Non-contact ACL knee injuries Time: 1 p.m. (Pacific Time), Friday, March 12 Location: San Francisco Hilton, San Francisco, Calif. Boise State professor Ron Pfeiffer and local surgeon Kevin Shea will speak Each year the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons hosts a national media briefing focusing attention on a hot topic in orthopaedic medicine, prior to the AAOS national conference. Out of many dozens of research topics and papers submitted, the AAOS has chosen to brief the media on the latest research in preventing non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries, a devastating injury that is affecting younger and younger athletes — especially girls — each year. Because of their extensive research in this area, Boise State kinesiology professor Ron Pfeiffer, who co-directs the Center for Orthopaedic and Biomechanics Research (COBR) at Boise State, and COBR research associate and local surgeon Kevin Shea have been asked to speak at the media briefing. Only three research teams have been invited to speak. Pfeiffer and Shea’s research uses rigorous analysis and a study involving 1,439 Idaho teens to present ideas that may challenge previous assumptions about preventing ACL injuries. The AAOS will issue a press release on Friday, March 12. Boise State will post it on the news Web site at news.boisestate.edu that morning. If you are interested in making arrangements to cover this national press briefing through syndicated, affiliate or freelance media, please contact AAOS media relations coordinator Claudette Yasell at 415-978-3527. Pfeiffer and Shea are leaving Thursday night. To talk to Pfeiffer before he leaves, reporters are welcome to contact him at 426-3709 or rpfeiffer@boisestate.edu or on his cell phone at 869-5875. He will take his cell phone to San Francisco. Also, please feel free to contact me for other background information. Thanks for your interest.