Orthopaedic trauma symposium 2023

Dr Heather A Vallier is a native of Wisconsin. She graduated with Highest Distinction from Northwestern University in 1989, receiving a BA in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology. She attended Stanford University School of Medicine, where she received Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Teaching and Research. She completed her residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, followed by a fellowship in Orthopaedic Traumatology at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

She was recruited to the Orthopaedic Trauma Service at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland in 2001. She is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University. In 2007 she was awarded the inaugural C. L. Nash M.D. Professorship in Orthopaedic Education.

Dr Vallier has lectured nationally and internationally on her research and on fracture techniques on hundreds of occasions. She has published over 200 journal articles and 23 book chapters. She has also been awarded for teaching at both basic and advanced fracture courses, and as Educator of the Year in 2020 by the residents of Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Vallier has received many research grants over the past several years, including an award from the Orthopaedic Trauma Association to study the effects of surgical timing in multiply-injured patients, and she is a member of the Executive Committee of the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium, involved in numerous multicenter trials evaluating injury treatment and outcomes.

She is the Past-President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and has served for several years within the OTA, on the Board of Directors and as the inaugural Chair of the Publications Committee. She is a Deputy Editor for the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. She also enjoys mentoring and advising students and residents and served as the Director of Education in Orthopaedic Surgery at MetroHealth from 2002-2009 and 2012-2015. In 2013 she founded the Trauma Recovery Services program at MetroHealth and served as the Medical Director through 2022.

Dr Vallier lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio with her husband, Jeffrey Simske. They have two adult children. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, gardening, cooking, and playing the piano.

Professor Peter Giannoudis is the Professor and Chairman of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery (tenured post) at the Medical School of the University of Leeds, UK.  He has served in positions of responsibility including, President of the British Trauma Society (2003-2007), President of the European Society of Pelvis and Acetabulum (2007-2012), President of the European Society Tissue Regeneration in Orthopaedics and Traumatology (2018-onwards), Chair of the International Committee of Orthopaedic Trauma Association (USA) (2012-2019), Trustee of the British Orthopaedic Association (2017-2020), and Editor in Chief of Injury Journal (2010- onwards). He has been awarded research grants in the sum  of over £12,000,000. He has published 750 peer review publications and 14 Orthopaedic and Trauma textbooks. His H-index is 121 with 54,004 citations. Professor Giannoudis is a regular international keynote speaker having delivered over 400 lectures around the world.

Professor Joe Dias graduated from Bombay University in 1981 obtaining accreditation in the UK 1987. He trained on the Leicester training programme under Paul Gregg where he obtained his MD and was appointed consultant in general orthopaedics specialising in upper limb surgery.

Joe Dias is Professor of Hand and Orthopaedic Surgery and Head of the Academic Team of Musculoskeletal Surgery (AToMS) and is a Consultant Hand and Orthopaedic Surgeon for the University Hospitals of Leicester.

He has published over 160 scientific articles, over 20 other publications and over 30 chapters in books most on hand surgery and epidemiology. He has 24 publications on scaphoid fractures. He has authored multiple national reports and NICE accredited clinical pathways.

Professor Dias has received many substantial grants including from the HTA and NIHR looking at scaphoid fractures (SWIFFT) Dupuytrens (DISC) and RAPSODI. He was co-applicant on the DRAFFT2 study and UK FROST, SOFFT, FIRST.

He has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Hand Surgery (Europe edition) and on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Professor Dias was President of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) in 2008 and was President of the British Orthopaedic Association in 2012.

He was Head of School of Surgery at the East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery (South) and currently leads an orthopaedic research team (AToMS) at Leicester, with 5 MD/PhD students and 2 BSc students. He has maintained close links with Orthopaedic surgery in India visiting and lecturing regularly.

He chaired the PBR Tariff for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, the EWG on T&O HRGs, the Clinical Commissioning Guidance development group and on the boards of the UK Department of Health Enhanced Recovery and Shared Decision-Making programmes. He has worked with MONITOR for many years.

He is currently Chair of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Clinical Senate.