July 13, 2018 - TCO

TCO Dr. Chris Coetzee named AOFAS president

Twin Cities Orthopedics physician J. Chris Coetzee, MD, MBChB, was named president of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the AOFAS announced today in a news release. In addition to his role as president, Dr. Coetzee will serve on the Board of Directors of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation.

As president of the 2,200-member Society, Coetzee will continue the mission of advocating for patients on local and national levels to ensure they receive the best and most appropriate orthopedic foot and ankle care. He will also continue the AOFAS tradition of providing outreach to communities in need through the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation. One of Coetzee’s other priorities during his one-year term is ensuring that orthopedic residents are involved in the Society early on during their medical training.

“We still live in uncertain times. Belonging to an organization like the AOFAS helps me channel the uncertainties of today into creative solutions for tomorrow,” Dr. Coetzee said. “I am looking forward to continuing collaboration with peers from all over the world to work toward our goals of improved patient care, education and outreach.”

Dr. Coetzee previously served as program chair of the 2014 AOFAS Annual Meeting and has chaired for several other AOFAS committees. He is an assistant editor of the AOFAS peer-reviewed journal Foot & Ankle International and a reviewer for other orthopedic journals.

Dr. Coetzee earned his medical degree from University of Pretoria School of Medicine in South Africa and performed his orthopedic residency at University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. He also completed a fellowship in foot and ankle orthopedics at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in addition to a trauma fellowship in Davos, Switzerland. Dr. Coetzee practices at TCO’s Eagan – Viking Lakes and Edina – Crosstown locations.