Naperville Resident Named to "Young & Aspiring Association Professionals' Class of 2003

ROSEMONT, IL—Naperville resident Matthew K. Smith was recently named one of six "Young & Aspiring Association Professionals' for 2003 by Association Trends newspaper.

Since 1998, the Bethesda, MD-based newspaper has honored those association professionals who, at the ages of 40 or younger, already have made a notable name for themselves as effective association professionals and leaders. Many of today's young executives are past recipients, making the honor very sought-after in the national association community. Recipients are nominated by association CEOs, other association professionals or friends of the association community.

Smith currently serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand in Rosemont. His responsibilities at the Hand Society include management of the society's public relations activities—most recently the society's campaign to increase the public awareness of the orthopaedic specialty of hand surgery. The campaign, titled "The Choice is in your Hands,' is built around two public service announcement videos that are airing nationwide on network and cable television.

For more information about the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and its free "Find a Hand Surgeon' service offered to the general public, please visit: www.HandCare.org.

The mission of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand is to advance the science and practice of hand surgery through education, research and advocacy on behalf of patients and practitioners.

The field of hand surgery deals with both surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that may take place in the hand or upper extremity (from the tip of the hand to the shoulder). Hand surgeons can set fractures, provide appropriate nerve care, treat common problems like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, reattach amputated fingers, create fingers for children born with incompletely formed hands, and help people function better in their day-to-day lives through restoring use of their fingers, hands, and arms.
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