A Medical Device Daily

Zimmer Holdings (Warsaw, Indiana) reported that it has become the founding supporter of a new entity, created by the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA; Rosemont, Illinois), to provide funding for post-graduate orthopedic fellowships and residency programs, beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year.

The new, independent entity, called OMeGA Medical Grants Association (OMeGA), will receive and analyze funding requests before making grants to educational institutions or programs.

Zimmer will have no role in selecting the recipients of its funding, but it will be permitted to allocate its donation among one or more specialty or sub-specialty areas that the company wishes to support. These funding areas may include Adult Reconstruction/Arthroplasty; Shoulder and Elbow; Spine; Trauma; Sports Orthopedic Surgery; Pediatric Orthopedics; Foot and Ankle; Orthopedic Oncology; Hand and Upper Limb Surgery; and Residency/Educational Resources.

The board of directors of OMeGA will be selected using criteria that require individuals to meet rigorous standards of independence; only those who have no current ties to the orthopedic industry and who have received no remuneration from the orthopedic industry in the past two years will be eligible to serve as directors.

The board will establish review panels comprised of individuals who are qualified by their education and experience to evaluate education programs in various sub-specialties and who satisfy OMeGA's conflict of interest standards. These independent review panels will be responsible for applying objective criteria to consider grant applications, subject to continued oversight by the board of directors.

Zimmer makes orthopedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants and related surgical products.