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New orthopaedic department head plans to improve education

William Grana arrives at UA with 32 years of orthopedic

Dr. William Grana, UA's new head for the department of orthopaedic surgery, has big plans for the young department.

The department, which was previously a section of the University of Arizona's department of surgery, became independent in June 1999. Grana was named head of the department on May 1.

Grana said orthopedics has become a large field and so a separate department was created to increase research capacity.

"Orthopedics is no longer a surgical specialty where you care for broken bones," Grana said. "There are about eight sub-specialty areas which don't have full-time coverage."

Grana said an added benefit of being a separate department is control over revenue generated by faculty in the department of orthopaedic surgery.

"Having departmental status means we can run our own finances and have financial control over the dollars the department generates," Grana said. "Orthopedics tends to generate a good number of dollars in terms of practice, and if we can't control that the physicians on the faculty aren't happy."

Grana said he plans to hire new faculty and also improve students' education. Grana said currently, residents learn from their experiences and their curriculum needs structure.

"I would like to improve the curriculum to the point when there is an organized way residents get exposure to the information," Grana said.

Prior to coming to the University of Arizona, Grana was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma and was president of a private orthopedic practice in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Barbara Weiss, clinical practice administrator for the department of orthopaedic surgery, said Grana will benefit the new department with his national experience.

"He (Grana) is bringing a good deal of practical experience in orthopedic science," Weiss said. "He has an understanding of national issues and a real vision for the future of orthopedic science at the University of Arizona."

Grana said he is excited about living in Tucson and he is enthusiastic about his new position at the UA.

"I've looked at jobs for four years trying to plan a change in my professional life," Grana said. "I think this is a good job because the school is young, and the college has a good reputation."