BoneSmart was conceived in 2005 by Richard Warner when he found he needed a hip replacement and realized what dreadfully poor and biased info there was on the internet and that much of what there was, terribly hyped by the manufacturers.
So he set to work developing an organistation called BoneSmart with a dream to provide totally unbiased and neutral information to prospective hip and knee replacement patients. Pretty soon he had the BoneSmart.org website up and running with some excellent information.
The Board of Directors:
Next came FARM, the Foundation for the Advancement in Research in Medicine where surgeons can meet and discuss various issues. This provided the basis for our board of directors who provide back-up and specialist input.
Here am I with Richard Warner and three of the directors;
Front is James Buchanan (hip surgeon) and me, back, Richard Warner, Rocco Pitto (hip surgeon) and Ian Clarke (research scientist).
The BoneSmart Forum:
Finally, late in 2005, the forum was set up. It ran for about 3 years doing very little when I stumbled upon it and saw its potential. I also noticed there was little professional input so I emailed the admin (Richard Warner!) and asked if they would mind me providing comments here and there. Well, it seemed they had been aware of the need for some professional governance on the forum and had asked a doctor or two but no interest. They thought of having a nurse but didn't know how to go about finding one with the right credentials and experience in the subject but also in managing a forum! They told me that when they got my email they saw it as an answer to a prayer!
You might like to know the following about me:
I trained 59-62 at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and worked for 2 years (a long time in those days!) in the orthopaedic theatre there. The N&N was significant as that was the place where Ken McKee and John Watson-Farrar were working on the very first modern concept of a hip replacement. McKee also dallied with knee replacements and I scrubbed for the very first ever knee replacement in 1963 which sadly was a dismal failure.
After that I worked in a wide variety of hospitals up and down the UK, doing joint replacements in many of them as the procedure gained ground, ultimately working at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in London.
I also ran a national Orthopaedic Study Days for some years, teaching theatre nurses about orthopaedic procedures and associated anatomy.
I was a Registered Nurse in the UK for almost 60 years and did have an Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate but sadly this ceased to exist when the nursing register underwent a massive restructuring in 1975.
Other than many published articles, I have also written a book of orthopaedic surgery ("A Compendium of Orthopaedic Surgery") specifically aimed at theatre nurses but which was also purchased by doctors, radiographers, physiotherapists and ward staff. I had copies of it sold as far abroad as the Channel Islands and the Falklands!
To maintain my knowledge for BoneSmart and my registration, I regularly attended hip and knee conferences and meet and converse with many surgeons from across the globe who, it may surprise you to learn, are invariably very much aligned with the 'BoneSmart Way'!
I also worked as an occupational health advisor/nurse and regularly got to advise/support patients who had hip or knee replacements until 2016 when I finally retired to spend even MORE time on the forum! I retired from BoneSmart in 2019.
As far as the forum activities go, I was a member of the moderating team on a large forum for about 3 years, ultimately becoming the training manager for 150 staff and thereby learned a great deal about administrating a forum from a top level.
I had knee replacements in 2009 and 2015 and have since had shoulder surgery 2016 and 2017.
Jamie, my co-admin:
For a while I was doing it single handedly but then decided to take on a moderator and invited Jamie to join me. Initially she was to just stand in for me for a couple of weeks when I had my knee done but she stepped up to the plate so well, we decided to keep her! She has been a great choice, bringing a caring, intuitive yet common sense value to the forum. She is a wonderful asset and is greatly valued by the rest of the team, especially me!
Jamie had a long career as a civilian administrator in the military and has an extensive knowledge of US governmental schemes, benefits and health issues. Jamie also attends hip/knee conferences from time to time. She has had both knees replaced.
Forum Staff who can all be seen in here The staff of the forum
Moderators:
First was Jaycey (2 hip replacements) and later referee54 (bilateral knee replacements) was added to the team towards the end of 2009.
They had been members for some time and shown a commitment to the forum in terms of staying around to help and encourage other members. They have both been a great asset to the forum. Jaycey has had two hip replacements and has worked in hospital administration in the UK and referee54 (Tim) had a bilateral knee replacement and apart from being a teacher and a referee, is kept busy coaching his kids!
Later two more joined us in the form of skigirl (2 knee replacements) and bottomshollow, (2 knee replacements and a hip!) so both have experience to share.
Poppet had a hip replacement and provides us with nutritional advice but sadly passed away in February 2017. She is still missed.
The Forum Advisors:
There came a time that we decided to appoint a group of forum advisors to help us adjudicate in reports and other such problems and the current advisors. They have no moderating powers but help to keep us on the level and rule out any bias when we come to dealing with reports and action on problem members as well as being a presence on the forum. An essential aspect of moderating a forum. All have had joint replacements and also possess a variety of skills such as personal trainer and physical therapist.
Others you will see in the Forum Leaders list are administration and the back-room guys:
BoneSmart CEO who is Mark Sacaris
BoneSmart Technical Director who is Mike Szuch
Evolution of BoneSmart:
As for BoneSmart, in 2010 it underwent a massive upgrade of the forum, the main site, and the clinic locator. Upgrades are being added constantly.
We plan even more upgrades to continue to develop the forum. Exciting times!
So he set to work developing an organistation called BoneSmart with a dream to provide totally unbiased and neutral information to prospective hip and knee replacement patients. Pretty soon he had the BoneSmart.org website up and running with some excellent information.
The Board of Directors:
Next came FARM, the Foundation for the Advancement in Research in Medicine where surgeons can meet and discuss various issues. This provided the basis for our board of directors who provide back-up and specialist input.
Here am I with Richard Warner and three of the directors;
Front is James Buchanan (hip surgeon) and me, back, Richard Warner, Rocco Pitto (hip surgeon) and Ian Clarke (research scientist).
The BoneSmart Forum:
Finally, late in 2005, the forum was set up. It ran for about 3 years doing very little when I stumbled upon it and saw its potential. I also noticed there was little professional input so I emailed the admin (Richard Warner!) and asked if they would mind me providing comments here and there. Well, it seemed they had been aware of the need for some professional governance on the forum and had asked a doctor or two but no interest. They thought of having a nurse but didn't know how to go about finding one with the right credentials and experience in the subject but also in managing a forum! They told me that when they got my email they saw it as an answer to a prayer!
You might like to know the following about me:
I trained 59-62 at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and worked for 2 years (a long time in those days!) in the orthopaedic theatre there. The N&N was significant as that was the place where Ken McKee and John Watson-Farrar were working on the very first modern concept of a hip replacement. McKee also dallied with knee replacements and I scrubbed for the very first ever knee replacement in 1963 which sadly was a dismal failure.
After that I worked in a wide variety of hospitals up and down the UK, doing joint replacements in many of them as the procedure gained ground, ultimately working at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in London.
I also ran a national Orthopaedic Study Days for some years, teaching theatre nurses about orthopaedic procedures and associated anatomy.
I was a Registered Nurse in the UK for almost 60 years and did have an Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate but sadly this ceased to exist when the nursing register underwent a massive restructuring in 1975.
Other than many published articles, I have also written a book of orthopaedic surgery ("A Compendium of Orthopaedic Surgery") specifically aimed at theatre nurses but which was also purchased by doctors, radiographers, physiotherapists and ward staff. I had copies of it sold as far abroad as the Channel Islands and the Falklands!
To maintain my knowledge for BoneSmart and my registration, I regularly attended hip and knee conferences and meet and converse with many surgeons from across the globe who, it may surprise you to learn, are invariably very much aligned with the 'BoneSmart Way'!
I also worked as an occupational health advisor/nurse and regularly got to advise/support patients who had hip or knee replacements until 2016 when I finally retired to spend even MORE time on the forum! I retired from BoneSmart in 2019.
As far as the forum activities go, I was a member of the moderating team on a large forum for about 3 years, ultimately becoming the training manager for 150 staff and thereby learned a great deal about administrating a forum from a top level.
I had knee replacements in 2009 and 2015 and have since had shoulder surgery 2016 and 2017.
Jamie, my co-admin:
For a while I was doing it single handedly but then decided to take on a moderator and invited Jamie to join me. Initially she was to just stand in for me for a couple of weeks when I had my knee done but she stepped up to the plate so well, we decided to keep her! She has been a great choice, bringing a caring, intuitive yet common sense value to the forum. She is a wonderful asset and is greatly valued by the rest of the team, especially me!
Jamie had a long career as a civilian administrator in the military and has an extensive knowledge of US governmental schemes, benefits and health issues. Jamie also attends hip/knee conferences from time to time. She has had both knees replaced.
Forum Staff who can all be seen in here The staff of the forum
Moderators:
First was Jaycey (2 hip replacements) and later referee54 (bilateral knee replacements) was added to the team towards the end of 2009.
They had been members for some time and shown a commitment to the forum in terms of staying around to help and encourage other members. They have both been a great asset to the forum. Jaycey has had two hip replacements and has worked in hospital administration in the UK and referee54 (Tim) had a bilateral knee replacement and apart from being a teacher and a referee, is kept busy coaching his kids!
Later two more joined us in the form of skigirl (2 knee replacements) and bottomshollow, (2 knee replacements and a hip!) so both have experience to share.
Poppet had a hip replacement and provides us with nutritional advice but sadly passed away in February 2017. She is still missed.
The Forum Advisors:
There came a time that we decided to appoint a group of forum advisors to help us adjudicate in reports and other such problems and the current advisors. They have no moderating powers but help to keep us on the level and rule out any bias when we come to dealing with reports and action on problem members as well as being a presence on the forum. An essential aspect of moderating a forum. All have had joint replacements and also possess a variety of skills such as personal trainer and physical therapist.
Others you will see in the Forum Leaders list are administration and the back-room guys:
BoneSmart CEO who is Mark Sacaris
BoneSmart Technical Director who is Mike Szuch
Evolution of BoneSmart:
As for BoneSmart, in 2010 it underwent a massive upgrade of the forum, the main site, and the clinic locator. Upgrades are being added constantly.
We plan even more upgrades to continue to develop the forum. Exciting times!
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