Former AOFAS Executive Director Receives Women’s Leadership Award
Rosemont, Ill. (May 12, 2022) - Lousanne “Zan” Lofgren of River Forest, Illinois, was named the 2022 Career Impact Award recipient by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society® (AOFAS). The award recognizes Lofgren’s outstanding contributions to foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery as the executive director for AOFAS from 2005-2016. 
"Being the first non-surgeon selected for the Women’s Leadership Career Impact Award is a great honor for me," said Lofgren. "I am proud of the growth and success achieved through the partnership of AOFAS leaders and the Society’s great staff. Together, we expanded member engagement, supported new education and research opportunities, and developed initiatives that have strengthened the Society and the foot and ankle orthopaedic specialty."
In 2005, AOFAS became a self-managed organization after many years under an association management company. Lofgren was selected as the Society’s first in-house executive director. Under her leadership, the AOFAS hired new in-house staff, grew membership by 37%, doubled attendance and revenue for the Annual Meeting, and transitioned Foot & Ankle International, the official journal of AOFAS, to a new publisher and increased revenue.
In addition to her AOFAS role, Lofgren served as executive director of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation. She expanded corporate and member giving, increased funding for resident scholarships and research grants, and traveled to Vietnam nine times to coordinate logistics for the Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam.
"I can think of no other woman who has impacted foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery more than Zan Lofgren," said foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon Naomi N. Shields, MD, from TruOrtho in San Antonio. "She has touched each member of AOFAS, staff, interested medical students, residents, and industry supporters. She helped grow AOFAS into the powerhouse that it is today."
Lofgren holds a bachelor’s degree in organization behavior from Northwestern University and earned her Certified Association Executive Credential in 2000. Prior to joining the AOFAS, Lofgren worked for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for 21 years. She is currently the executive director of the PROMIS Health Organization in Chicago.
The Women’s Leadership Awards are presented as part of the AOFAS Women’s Leadership Initiative, established in 2018 to support and encourage women in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery. Funding for the Women's Leadership Initiative is provided by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, supported by a grant from Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
About Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons
Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consist of four years of medical school, five
years of postgraduate residency, and a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists care for patients of all ages, performing reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treating sports injuries, and managing foot
and ankle trauma.
About the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation
The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), is a 501(c)(3) organization that advances the AOFAS mission to improve lives through exceptional orthopaedic foot and ankle care. Through its funding of humanitarian endeavors, educational outreach programs, and innovative research, the Foundation enhances foot and ankle care for patients around the world. For more information visit the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation online at aofas.org/foundation.
Contact:
Jessica Dornfeld
Email: jdornfeld@aofas.org