The William N. Levine Endowed Lecture in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
"Past, Present and Future of Shoulder Arthroplasty–My 30 Year Odessey!"
Pascal Boileau, MD – 2025-2026 Lecturer
Founder, Institut de Chirurgie Reparatrice–Locomoteur & Sport (ICR Nice, FR)
Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology
Past President, European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder & Elbow (ESSSE/SECEC)
Friday, April 17, 2026 / 6:30-7:40am ET
Professor Pascal Boileau is a world-renowned French orthopedic surgeon whose innovative techniques and prosthetic designs have fundamentally reshaped modern shoulder surgery. Based in Nice, France, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the evolution of shoulder reconstruction and arthroplasty over the last three decades.
Dr. Boileau is perhaps best known for his pioneering work in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA). He was instrumental in refining the biomechanics of the procedure, developing the BIO-RSA (Bony Increased-Offset) technique to improve clinical outcomes and reduce complications like scapular notching. Additionally, he created the Instability Severity Index Score (ISIS), a globally adopted clinical tool used to determine the most effective surgical path for patients with recurrent shoulder dislocations.
After serving as the Chairman of Orthopedics at the Pasteur 2 Hospital and Vice-Dean of the Medical School in Nice, he founded the Institut de Chirurgie Réparatrice (ICR) in 2021. His leadership extends internationally as a former President of the European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and the Elbow (SECEC).
A prolific researcher and educator, Dr. Boileau has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles and is a multi-time recipient of the prestigious Neer Award. He also hosts the biennial Nice Shoulder Course, an essential international summit for surgeons dedicated to advancing shoulder science.
Past Lecturers
Louis U. Bigliani, MD
- November 14, 2019 – Inaugural Lecturer
Dr. Louis U. Bigliani is the former Frank E. Stinchfield Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the former Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Bigliani is also the former Chief of the Center for Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Medicine at Columbia University, and is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in shoulder surgery. In 1998, Dr. Bigliani was appointed President of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and in 2008 became the 121st President of the American Orthopaedic Association, the oldest orthopedic organization in the world.
In 1972, Dr. Louis Bigliani received his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He then went on to complete his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the New York Orthopaedic Hospital of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1977. Following his residency, he held the position of Chief Resident and completed a fellowship in Shoulder and Implant Surgery. Dr. Bigliani also completed his mentorship under the direction of Dr. Frank E. Stinchfield and Dr. Charles S. Neer, II, the “father of modern shoulder surgery.”
During his sixteen years as Chair of Orthopedic Surgery (1998-2014), Dr. Bigliani served as President of the Medical Board of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (2008), and was President and Chairman of the Board of ColumbiaDoctors, the faculty practice of Columbia University Medical Center (2011-2014).
A prolific author with more than 200 published journal articles, 80 book chapters, and 175 abstracts, he lectures extensively on topics in shoulder surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Bigliani continued the tradition of innovation through the development of new and streamlined surgical techniques. He has made major advances in the treatment of rotator cuff tears, nerve injuries, and shoulder arthroplasty. Dr. Bigliani is married to Dr. Anne Krementz; they have two daughters, Anne-Louise and Suzanne, and three grandchildren.
Evan L. Flatow, MD
- June 24, 2021 – Working with Industry: Profit and Perils
Evan Flatow, MD, is President of Mount Sinai West and a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Flatow received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed a surgical residency at Roosevelt Hospital and an orthopaedic residency and fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Flatow spent 11 years on the faculty of Columbia before joining Mount Sinai in 1998.
At Mount Sinai, Dr. Flatow has established an internationally renowned shoulder service, with particular interest in minimally invasive fracture repair, arthroscopic repair, arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, and shoulder replacement. He has pioneered in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesiology, the use of regional blocks so that that shoulder operations may be performed without general anesthesia. One of his most significant contributions has been the development of a comprehensive shoulder replacement system, which is widely used by shoulder surgeons around the world.
Dr. Flatow has received numerous honors and awards, including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon's Neer Award, the organization's highest award for shoulder research, which he has won four times. He has helped to train many of the nation's leading shoulder surgeons, has chaired or served on the faculty of most of the major national shoulder courses, and has been a sought-after speaker in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. He has written five books and over 170 articles and book chapters.
Joseph P. Iannotti, MD, PhD
- 2022 Distinguished Lecture
Joseph Iannotti is currently Professor of Surgery CCLCM at CWRU and Lang Family Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chief of Staff, Chief Academic and Innovations Officer Cleveland Clinic Florida. He is past chairman of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chair of Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Institute at the Cleveland Clinic 2000 - 2018.
Dr. Iannotti received his MD from Northwestern University in 1979, completed his Orthopaedic Residency training at the University of Pennsylvania in 1984, and received a PhD in cell biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987.
Dr. Iannotti’s clinical and basic science research program focuses on innovative treatments for tendon repair and tendon tissue engineering, prosthetic design, software planning and patient specific instrumentation.
Dr. Iannotti has published three textbooks and has authored over 380 original peer reviewed articles, review articles and book chapters. He is a three time recipient of Charles Neer Research Award, the Cleveland Clinic 2011 Sones Award for Innovation and Cleveland Clinic Life time Achievements Award for Innovation in 2019.
Gilles Walch, MD
- 2023-2024: 40 Years of Shoulder Arthroplasty: From Neer to Blueprint
Professor Gilles Walch is a towering figure in French orthopedics and is widely considered one of the most influential shoulder surgeons in medical history. Based in Lyon, France—the heart of the renowned "Lyonnaise Orthopedic School"—his clinical observations and technical innovations have set the global standard for treating complex shoulder pathologies.
Dr. Walch’s career is defined by a rigorous, analytical approach to surgical outcomes. He is a primary architect of the Aequalis shoulder prosthesis family, which revolutionized anatomic and reverse total shoulder replacement. Among his most enduring contributions is the Walch Classification of the arthritic glenoid, a system used by surgeons worldwide to categorize bone wear and guide implant selection.
He was also a pioneer in refining the Latarjet procedure for shoulder instability and was among the first to describe "internal impingement" in overhead athletes. His work on the role of the biceps tendon and the subscapularis has fundamentally changed how surgeons approach rotator cuff repairs.
A former President of the European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and the Elbow (SECEC) and the French Society of Orthopedic Surgery (SOFCOT), Dr. Walch has mentored generations of surgeons. He co-founded the Centre Orthopédique Santy, a premier destination for sports medicine and joint reconstruction.
With over 300 peer-reviewed publications and several definitive textbooks to his name, his academic reach is vast. Through his "Journées de l’Épaule" (Lyon Shoulder Events), he has fostered a global community dedicated to the precise, evidence-based advancement of shoulder science.
Gerald R. Williams, Jr., MD
- 2024-2025: Innovation in Shoulder Surgery: Past, Present, and Future
Gerald R. Williams, Jr., MD, is a preeminent American orthopedic surgeon and a foundational figure in modern shoulder and elbow reconstruction. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he serves as a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and is a senior member of the world-renowned Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.
Dr. Williams is recognized for his mastery of complex shoulder procedures, including anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair, and treatment for shoulder instability. His contributions to the field extend beyond the operating room into prosthetic design and clinical research. He was a key developer of the Global Shoulder Arthroplasty System, one of the most widely used anatomical shoulder replacement systems in the world, which focused on restoring natural patient anatomy.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Williams has held the highest leadership positions in his specialty, including:
- President of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) (2014–2015)
- President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) (2016–2017)
As a dedicated educator, he has mentored hundreds of residents and fellows, many of whom have become leaders in orthopedics themselves. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters, focusing on improving surgical outcomes and patient safety.
A recipient of the prestigious Neer Award, Dr. Williams is celebrated not only for his technical skill but also for his commitment to advancing the professional standards of orthopedic surgery on a national and international scale.
The Distinguished Lecture in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, in honor of William N. Levine, MD, was established thanks to a generous gift from K. Daniel Riew, MD, and Mary K. Riew.