Arlington – October 15, 2026 -- The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) has named Kenneth G. Saag, M.D., M.Sc., North American Editor-in-Chief of Osteoporosis International (OI) for a five-year term starting Dec. 15, 2026.
Saag will serve alongside Professor René Rizzoli, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the journal's European office. The two will set editorial direction with the journal's editors, Editorial Review Board, authors, reviewers and publisher. Saag will also oversee Archives of Osteoporosis in collaboration with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
Saag brings 35 years of research and more than 440 peer-reviewed manuscripts to the post
His work spans clinical trials, population-based epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, implementation science and rehabilitation science. He co-authored BHOF's Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis and was first author of three studies on osteoporosis therapies in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Saag is professor of medicine and director of the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He served as president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, now BHOF, from 2016 to 2018, and as president of the American College of Rheumatology. He was also senior deputy editor of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Saag leads a $13 million PCORI-funded trial across more than 20 sites
The pragmatic trial, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, is conducted with BHOF and examines post-fracture management strategies. It is expected to enroll more than 2,000 patients with fragility fractures.
Saag will target AI, reproducibility and open-access requirements at the journal
In the role, Saag will oversee peer review and content development for the North American office, select and supervise editors and Editorial Review Board members, identify emerging areas of importance and support timely manuscript review. His stated priorities include maintaining scientific rigor and integrity, broadening international and multidisciplinary participation, and encouraging publication of high-impact research. He also intends to address artificial intelligence, research reproducibility and evolving open-access requirements.
A committee appointed by the BHOF Board of Trustees ran an independent search process, overseen by the committee's chair, to select him.
Felicia Cosman exits after a decade as North American Editor-in-Chief
Cosman held the role since 2016. BHOF President Thomas F. Koinis, M.D., said her leadership contributed to the journal's strength and international standing.
Osteoporosis International is a joint initiative of BHOF and IOF and is published by Springer Nature.