January 18, 2022

At Washington University Orthopedics, excellence in research is a driving force of our mission. Training and mentoring the future leaders of our field is crucial to its continued advancement and success. Farshid Guilak, PhD, has an impressive commitment to both current research and the mentoring of new investigators in the pursuit of independent orthopedic research careers.

Dr. Guilak has been named the 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Mentoring Award by the Orthopedic Research Society (ORS). This award celebrates his exceptional achievement in mentorship and advocacy on behalf of new orthopedic research investigators. “Awardees are honored for excellence in promoting the scientific and professional development and the advancement to independent research careers of new investigators, who are of diverse personal and professional backgrounds.”

The ORS will honor Dr. Guilak during the ORS 2022 Annual Meeting in February.

 “There is something incredibly special about these mentoring awards," Dr. Guilak shares about his fifth mentoring award. "It means so much that our trainees would go out of their way to do this.  It has been a very difficult year but this type of recognition lets us realize what our jobs are really about.”

Dr. Guilak learned he was nominated by two separate groups for this award; one nomination by past trainees and a second nomination from several junior colleagues. He also received the Postdoctor Society mentoring award last year. 

"My philosophy for mentoring is fairly simple: their success is my success.  I think it is very important to realize that every mentee is different, and to mentor them individually. A critical part of our lab is to set up a culture where I am not the only mentor, and the entire group is helps each other whenever they need it."

Learn more about exciting research at Washington University Orthopedics, and why patients choose WashU Ortho for their care.