Harrisburg, PA: Shattering a more than 60-year-old glass ceiling, Angela W. Rowe, DO FAOAO, has become the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society’s (POS) first female president. Dr. Rowe, of Hollidaysburg, Blair County, began her term on Friday, October 27, 2017. She takes the Society’s helm from Allegheny County’s Patrick N. Smith, MD. She practices with University Orthopedics Center (UOC) in Altoona, PA.

Being the “first female” is nothing new for Dr. Rowe. She was the first female in her orthopaedic residency training program at Midwestern University and Blair County’s first and only female practicing orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Rowe is also the first female orthopedic surgeon to serve on the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics Board of Directors.

During Dr. Rowe’s induction ceremony, former President Patrick Smith, MD stated, “In our more than 60 years of existence, POS has never been led by a woman orthopaedic surgeon, even though we have had many qualified and able female board members. Angela is shattering our own glass ceiling and is leading the way to a new future for POS.”

During her ascent to the Society’s presidency, Dr. Rowe traveled the Commonwealth from her Hollidaysburg home to meet with surgeons and orthopaedic residents to hear their concerns and to recruit their active involvement in the POS. She also attended many legislative events in Pittsburgh, Monroeville, and even Philadelphia. Dr. Rowe was also a constant fixture at nearly every Harrisburg press conference, policy meeting, or legislative event. She is an effective advocate for her patients and a champion for orthopaedic specialists.

At home, Dr. Rowe is a hockey mom who travels throughout the Northeast supporting her son; she is pursuing her MBA from Widener University; and until recently, was Chairman of the Board at Advanced Center for Surgery, the only free-standing surgery center approved by the Commonwealth to perform out-patient total joint replacement surgery.

As president, Dr. Rowe stated she intends to, “aggressively pursue HB 1293, State Representative Marguerite Quinn’s (R, Bucks) medical treatment prior-authorization standardization legislation; HB 1234, State Representative Florinda Fabrizio’s (D, Erie) bill that will allow Ambulatory Surgical Center procedures with recovery times up to 24 hours; and POS’s initiative to ensure prompt payment of Workers’ Compensation claims.”

Advocating for excellence in the practice of orthopaedic medicine, POS is a professional medical specialty organization representing more than 1500 orthopaedic surgeons across Pennsylvania. For more information on the importance of bone, joint and muscle health at every age, visit www.paorthosociety.org. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rowe call 814.942.1166 or online at www.uoc.com.