Orthopaedic Research Society

In 1940, the Research Committee of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, chaired by Dr. Alfred R. Shands,[8] conducted a survey of its members which indicated that over 180 members were conducting some type of research.[9] This finding prompted several musculoskeletal investigators to express the desire for having a forum to present and share their work.[10] Dr. Phillip D. Wilson, a member of the Academy, along with several others, met in San Francisco and proposed the idea of starting an organization focused solely on musculoskeletal research. This idea gained unanimous support from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at their Annual Meeting in 1951.[9]

In 1952, the first meeting of the founding members of the ORS took place. At this first meeting, Dr. Philip D. Wilson created a draft constitution and set of by-laws for the fledgling society.[11] It was determined that the purpose of the society was to "encourage and coordinate investigation and research in basic principles or clinical problems related to the special field of Orthopaedic Surgery."[10] Due to the unexpected death of Dallas B. Phemister, MD, who had agreed to take on the role of chairman, the formal organization of the society was delayed.[9]

1954 marked the first official meeting of the group at the Palmer House in Chicago under the Chairmanship of Wilson.[11] At this first meeting there were twenty-nine people in attendance. Cultivating the relationship between clinicians and scientists while providing them with opportunities to come together and share ideas was the driving factor in establishing the society. "The close relationship of between clinicians and basic scientists would help ensure the prominent role of orthopaedic surgeons in delivering care to patients with injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system," explained Eugene R. Mindell,[12] MD who served as president of the ORS from 1972–1973.[11]

The ORS continues to grow and evolve. Membership has grown to more than 4,100 members from across the globe.[13] Once a role only held by surgeons, in 1982 the ORS elected Van C. Mow as the first PhD president. Currently, Presidents are elected from each of the three disciplines represented in the membership: clinicians, biologists, and engineers.

The ORS's 2022 - 2025 strategic plan (ORS2025) focuses on advancing musculoskeletal research and discovery to improve health. ORS2025 outlines four approaches to overcome musculoskeletal limitations in the world. The first approach is through research to strengthen the ORS as a hub for musculoskeletal research, and to increase its impact. Second, the ORS employs education to empower current and future ORS members to succeed in a dynamic research community. Third, the society relies on community work to increase its members access to research opportunities, and to cultivate diversity and engagement. Last, advocacy has been the cornerstone of the ORS's efforts in increasing awareness of musculoskeletal problems worldwide, highlight the impact of musculoskeletal research, and the importance of funding.

Previous ORS presidents at the ORS 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans

2021     Peter Amadio, MD (current)

2020     Susan Chubinskaya, PhD

2019     James Iatridis, PhD

2018     Gloria Matthews, DVM, PhD

2017     Rick Sumner, PhD

2016     Farshid Guilak, PhD

2015     Mathias P.G. Bostrom, MD

2014     Mary B. Goldring, PhD

2013     Joan E. Bechtold, PhD

2012     Theodore Miclau, MD

2011      Brian Johnstone, PhD

2010     Clare M Rimnac, PhD

2009     Regis O’Keefe, MD, PhD

2008     David B. Burr, PhD

2007     Alan J. Grodzinsky, PhD

2006     Joshua J. Jacobs, MD

2005     Christopher H. Evans, PhD

2004     Steven A. Goldstein, PhD

2003     Stephen Trippel, MD

2002     Edward Puzas, PhD

2001     Thomas Brown, PhD

2000    Gunnar Andersson, MD, PhD

1999     Linda J. Sandell, PhD

1998     Dwight T. Davy, PhD

1997     Richard A. Brand Jr., MD

1996     Adele L. Boskey, PhD

1995     Thomas A. Einhorn, MD

1994     Gary E. Friedlaender, MD

1993     Bruce Caterson, PhD

1992     Timothy M. Wright, PhD

1991     Richard D. Coutts, MD

1990     Theodore R. Oegema, PhD

1989     Joseph A. Buckwalter, MD

1988     Dennis R. Carter, PhD

1987     Victor Goldberg, MD

1986     Jack L. Lewis, PhD

1985     Savio L-Y Woo, PhD

1984     Joseph M. Lane, MD

1983     Nelson S. Mitchell

1982     Van C. Mow, PhD

1981     Larry Rosenberg, MD

1980     Michael G. Ehrlich, MD

1979     Clement B. Sledge, MD

1978     Roby C. Thompson, MD

1977     Carl T. Brighton, MD

1976     Richard W. Stauffer, MD

1975     Richard Cruess

1974     Reginald Cooper

1973     Harlan Amstutz

1972     Eugene Mindell

1971     Melvin Glimcher

1970     Patrick Kelly

1969     Henry Mankin

1968     C.A.L Basset

1967     R.R. Calondruccio

1966     O. Donald Chrisman

1965     Michael Bonfiglio

1964     Paul H. Curtiss

1963     Jonathan Cohen

1962     Wukkuan F. Enneking

1961     Robert A. Robinson

1960     Ignacio V. Ponseti

1959     Robert D. Ray

1958     C. Howard Hatcher

1957     Charles H. Herndon

1956     Philip D. Wilson

1955     J. Albert Key

1954     Paul C. Colonna

The ORS is organized into smaller communities of specific research fields related to orthopaedics, and the musculoskeletal system.[16] Each section of like minded-peers promotes the interests of its members through various opportunities including, newsletters, social media outlets, etc.

The ORS includes the following seven sections:

• ORS International Section of Fracture Repair.
• ORS Meniscus Section. This group serves to highlight the significant interest on the meniscus by providing meeting and online venues for presentation and discussion of the latest research on the meniscus.
• ORS Orthopaedic Implants Section. The ORS is the most important research platform to bring together experts from various disciplines to foster the multidisciplinary interaction which is required to improve the quality of the implants, ensure that new implants are adequately tested at the pre-clinical stage, that implants are introduced carefully to the orthopaedic market and that the clinical outcome is appropriately registered.
• ORS Preclinical Models Section. This groups promotes education, collaboration, development, refinement, and critical evaluation of pre-clinical models of orthopedic disease and injury and to provide resources accessible to ORS members conducting animal studies.
• ORS Strategies in Clinical Research Section
• ORS Spine Section. This section advances spine research and related sciences so as to improve patient care through basic, translational, and clinical research.
• ORS Tendon Section. The group promotes and provides an interactive forum for education, collaboration, professional development, and strengthen scientific exchange in the ORS membership and tendon research community.

The ORS's mission and vision statement for the year of 2025 highlights the importance of building connections and collaborations among various musculoskeletal research societies worldwide.[19] For over 30 years, the ORS has been a member of various international societies to advance global orthopaedic research. In 1992, the ORS, Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society, European Orthopaedic Research Society, and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association launched the Combined Meeting starting an alliance among orthopaedic societies to advance and promote basic, translational, and clinical musculoskeletal research globally. Today, the ICORS includes other international societies including Australia/New Zealand ORS, British ORS, Korean ORS, and the Taiwanese ORS.[20][21]

The ORS has been a member of other societies including AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons),[22] NIAMS Coalition (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases),[23] OREF (Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation),[24] Research!America,[25] and USA Bone and Joint Initiative.[26]

• Awards and Recognition Committee (ARC). The ARC's will review awards and select awardees; foster cross discipline collaborations and communications; support other activities and projects as designated by the ORS Board of Directors.
• Ethics Committee. The Committee assists in the review of ethical issues and questions raised by officers, board members, committees, the editorial board, sections, members, and staff.
• Finance Committee. The Finance Committee provides financial oversight for the Society, including budgeting and financial planning, financial reporting and monitoring accountability policies.
• Nominating Committee.
• Publication Advisory Board. The Publications Advisory Board shall oversee the operations of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research (JOR), assist the co-editors in matters related to editorial policies, and advise the Orthopaedic Research Society Board of Directors concerning the operations of the journal. JOR's Mission Statement: The Journal of Orthopaedic Research is the forum for the rapid publication of high quality reports of new information on the full spectrum of orthopaedic research including life sciences, engineering, translational and clinical studies.

Hosted by the ORS Scientific Communications Committee, the goal of the ORS Photo Competition is to use images to highlight musculoskeletal research.[30]

Hosted by the ORS Scientific Communications Committee, ORS Member Fred Nelson, MD creates a Basic Science Tip of the Week which, in their nature, highlight the mechanical or biochemical development that affect current basic science applications in medicine and surgery. Additionally, they highlight current terms and concepts that may appear on resident examinations (e.g.,OITE) and provide a glimpse into future developments that might come into clinical practice in the future.

Conducted by the ORS Scientific Communications Committee, these Interviews introduce investigators from the ORS community which consists of 4,300 members representing over 48 countries including biologists, engineers, clinicians, surgeon-scientists, orthopaedic surgeons, veterinarians, and those in the field of musculoskeletal science and orthopaedic care.