Lee Nattress Accepts Post With Orthopaedic Surgeons
On April 1,1966, LeRoy Wm. Nattress, Jr., assumed the position of full-time consultant to the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (AB-OS), after serving in this capacity on a part-time basis since 1959.
Mr. Nattress was Executive Director of the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. from July 1960 until his resignation from that office on March 31, 1966. He had earlier served as Assistant Executive Director and Examinations Director for the Certification Board. He was a co-author in 1956 of course books in above-knee prosthetics published by UCLA, and has been a frequent contributor to the Orthopedic and Prosthetic Appliance Journal, the Mark of Merit, and Facility Facts. Mr. and Mrs. Nattress and their three small children plan to make their home in Chicago.
Mr. Nattress received a B.A. degree from Hope College, Holland, Michigan; an M.A. in education (counseling and guidance) from the University of California, Los Angeles; and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Education degree at American University, Washington, D.C.
In his new position, Mr. Nattress is establishing an office of research in medical education for orthopaedic surgeons. He also will continue his work with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in developing new evaluation techniques in cooperation with the Committee on Graduate Education and its subcommittee on Examinations and Evaluation which, each year, administers an In-Training Examination to all orthopaedic residents in the United States. Mr. Nattress served as a consultant in the establishment of this examination in 1963.
In accepting this position with ABOS, Mr. Nattress is undertaking a pioneer activity. To date, nine universities have established offices of research in medical education; however, ABOS is the first of the nineteen medical specialty boards to become involved, in this way, in medical education. One reason for the orthopaedic surgeons' interest in education is that 60 percent of the residents now in training are in non-university-affiliated centers. This percentage is expected to increase and, therefore, if the training of orthopaedic surgeons is to be maintained at an effective level, the non-university programs must keep abreast of the university programs in the methods and techniques of education.
In establishing this office, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery is further demonstrating its longstanding concern for determining competency in orthopaedic surgeons. Due to this concern, ABOS became involved in a research program with the University of Illinois' Center for the Study of Medical Education, in which the certification process and manpower needs in orthopaedic surgery are being investigated. Mr. Nattress is working closely with the University of Illinois on this project which was initiated in 1964 and is to be completed in 1968.
Mr. Nattress has accepted an appointment to teach in the Prosthetic-Orthotic Education Program at Northwestern University and is continuing as a consultant to the Inter-provincial Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists of Canada.
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