DAVID L. HELFET, M.D. was born in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa on June 17, 1947. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town, receiving a BSc in Biochemistry with honors, followed by Medical School, where he received a M.B.CH.B. degree in 1975. Internship and Surgical Residency were completed at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, S.A. (1 yr) and at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, MD., followed by Orthopaedic Residency also at Johns Hopkins University (3 yrs), then fellowships at the University of Bern, Insel Hospital (1981) and at UCLA (1981-82). He was Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1/82 - 6/86), Associate Professor and Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of S. Florida School of Medicine/Tampa General Hospital (7/86-6/91) and at the Cornell University Medical College (7/91 - 6/98). He is currently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director of the Combined Orthopaedic Trauma Service at both the Hospital for Special Surgery and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He has published and lectured extensively on Orthopaedic Trauma but especially on Fractures of the Pelvis and Acetabulum and has been the recipient of many honors, awards and visiting lectureships including the Presidential Guest and Watson-Jones Memorial Lecture of the British Orthopaedic Association in 1994. He has served on several committees of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the AO/ASIF Foundation (currently the Chair of AO Documentation and Publishing), AO North America and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery among others. In addition, Dr. Helfet has been extensively involved in the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, including as President (1998-1999) and is still on its Board as a past President.