June 24, 2016
Dr. Richard Gelberman received the American Orthopedic Association (AOA) 2016 Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award at the annual AOA Conference in Seattle, Washington. This is a prestigious award that recognizes a distinguished leader who has had an extraordinary impact on orthopaedic clinical care, education, research, and leadership.
Dr. Gelberman served as the department chairman of Washington University Orthopedics for 18 years and developed a clinical, academic, and educational powerhouse. In 2008, Dr. Gelberman received the AOA Distinguished Clinician Educator Award, and under his guidance Washington University Orthopedics developed as a national leader in orthopaedic resident education. A superb clinician and surgeon, he established and led an outstanding hand fellowship program. Dr. Gelberman has over 200 peer reviewed publications, and has had continuous NIH funding for more than 30 years. Under his direction, the Washington University Orthopedics research program became and remains the highest NIH funded Orthopaedic program in the United States. Dr. Gelberman has served as President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, President of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and he has been a member of the Institute of Medicine since 2003.
His contributions as a surgeon, educator, scientist, administrator, leader, and most importantly as a mentor are truly extraordinary. Dr. Gelberman epitomizes excellence, and has served as a role model for a generation of leaders.