Volunteer Voices: Spotlight on Carol Ittig
Carol Ittig, MBA, FACMPE provides our Volunteer Voice today. Carol serves as Administrator at Children’s Orthopaedic and Scoliosis Surgery Associates, LLP in St. Petersburg, Florida. AAOE extends appreciation to Carol for her dedicated service on the Membership Council – and for sharing these insightful takeaways with us.
Which AAOE member benefit or resource do you utilize most often and why? "The Collaborate Community and the annual Medicare RVU files are invaluable resources.
But, even more so, I rely on the relationships I’ve built with other members over the years. In this profession, we wear so many hats—it’s impossible to be an expert in everything. Having a strong network of peers I can reach out to for guidance is essential."
Why are you enthusiastic about the orthopedic practice profession? "Working in a sub-specialty like pediatric orthopedics helps minimize some of the administrative “noise” other specialties face, especially those related to Medicare programs that don’t add value. Not having to focus on initiatives like MIPS allows us to direct our energy toward more meaningful work. For instance, we recently launched a research department—something we wouldn’t have had the bandwidth for if we were bogged down with unnecessary administrative tasks."
What experiences or encouragement about serving as an AAOE volunteer would you like to share with your peers? "My service on the AAOE Membership Council feels purposeful, collaborative and rewarding. Back when I first joined AAOE, I was fortunate to have Debi Mitchell as my mentor. Debi generously gave her time and wisdom – helping me identify and build upon my strengths and guiding me to better understand the “why” behind so much of what we do. She explained things in multiple ways until they truly clicked. That experience made a lasting impact, and it’s why I’m passionate about making sure every new member feels welcome and understands how their AAOE membership can be meaningful to their career journey. I invite you to take the next step and volunteer with AAOE: aaoe.net/volunteer."
Thank you, Carol, for your leadership, time and valuable insights!