NORTH COUNTRY ORTHOPAEDIC & SPINE SURGEON 
INDUCTED INTO ACADEMY 

March 2008

Watertown , New York --- Bruce L. Baird, M.D., staff orthopaedic and spine surgeon at North Country Orthopaedic Group, was recently inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  The Academy is the largest medical association for orthopaedic specialists; Dr. Baird was one of 675 new members inducted.

To become a member, a physician must have completed medical school plus at least five years of specialty study in an accredited orthopaedic residency program.  In addition, he must be board certified, which means he must pass a comprehensive oral and written exam that evaluates his understanding of orthopaedics and its application in daily practice.

 “Becoming a fellow demonstrates my commitment to my profession and patients. It is the culmination and validation of thousands of hours of training in orthopaedics,” comments Dr. Baird. “I plan to do my best to provide for the orthopaedic needs of those living in the North Country .”

“Academy membership and board certification are not required to practice medicine in New York State , but we do require it to practice at North Country Orthopaedic Group,” states Perry T. Shuman, MD, group president.  “We require all of our physicians to be board certified and active in their respective academies – it is important to us. We want to be assured that our physicians have the experience and up-to-date skills necessary to provide quality patient care.”

Dr. Baird specializes in disorders of the neck and back. He received his medical degree from the New Jersey Medical School , Newark , New Jersey and completed both his orthopaedic training and spine fellowship at Upstate Medical University , Syracuse , New York . He is a member of several professional organizations including the North American Spine Society and the American Medical, New York State Medical and Jefferson County Medical Societies. In addition to his duties as an orthopaedic surgeon at North Country Orthopaedic Group, he is a staff physician at Samaritan Medical Center , Lewis County General Hospital and at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse .

North Country Orthopaedic Group specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, and nerves.  Its clinical staff, which comprises specialists in orthopaedics, sports medicine and rehabilitation, provides 70,000 outpatient visits each year for problems ranging from sprains, dislocations and broken bones, to arthritis, back pain and foot and ankle injuries. The group has offices in Watertown and Lowville.

For further information on those services provided by North Country Orthopaedic Group,

please call the Watertown office at 782-1650 or the Lowville office at 376-5163. Additionally, information is posted on the group’s website at www.ncortho.com.

 BACK TO NEWS RELEASES MAIN PAGE