Orthopedic surgeons are no longer the highest-paid medical specialty in the U.S., with plastic surgeons on average taking home a larger salary each year, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2021."

Physician-owned BayCare Clinic broke ground on a $35 million medical complex that will house an orthopedic and sports medicine clinic in Green Bay, Wis., local news channel Fox 11 reported May 6.

Susan Bukata, MD, has been named chair of the department of orthopedic surgery at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health, according to a May 6 release.

Orthopedic surgeon Matthew Levine, DO, of Atlanta-based Resurgens Orthopaedics has been named the medical honoree of the Arthritis Foundation's 2021 Walk to Cure Arthritis Georgia, according to a May 5 release. 

Construction is picking up momentum in orthopedics. Here are 12 orthopedic practices that opened or announced new locations in the past month:

Mark Getelman, MD, of Van Nuys, Calif.-based Southern California Orthopedic Institute, was named the Arthroscopy Association of North America president for 2021-2022.

CMS extended the comprehensive care for joint replacement model through December 2024 for hospitals in the mandatory reporting regions.

Understanding how to navigate payer relationships is critical for orthopedic practices to succeed. Three surgeons spoke to Becker's Spine Review on the biggest challenges they see with payers. 

Here are six orthopedic surgeons who joined new practices or gained new titles in April:

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons pledged $100,000 to support research from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Surgeons seeking leadership roles may have to rethink their communication styles, according to Steven Barnett, MD, CMO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Orange County, California.

The pandemic has shifted the orthopedic industry tremendously. Six orthopedic leaders spoke with Becker's Spine Review on their solutions to ensure orthopedic success in the coming years:

Consolidation continues in orthopedics, with two more mergers involving orthopedic practices announced in April:

Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health is wrapping up development of a $28 million hospital in Leadville, Colo., which will bring orthopedic and general surgery to the area, the Leadville Herald Democrat reports.

Cincinnati-based UC Health named Michael Archdeacon, MD, the next CEO of its physician group, according to a Cincinnati Business Courier report.

Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, a physician-owned orthopedic practice based in Des Plaines, has expanded its pediatric orthopedic services to more locations with its portfolio of four pediatric orthopedic surgeons and one pediatrician.

Here are 10 orthopedic surgeons to know:

Thomas Throckmorton, MD, has been appointed editor-in-chief of OrthoInfo.org, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' patient education website.

Irving, Texas-based healthcare company Legent Health submitted plans to build an orthopedic and spine surgical hospital near Delray Beach, Fla., in partnership with local surgeons, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Construction is on track for ThedaCare's $144 million orthopedic and spine center in Appleton, Wis., the Waushara Argus reported April 21.