The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons honored Richard E. Grant, MD, with the society's Diversity Award.
The award recognizes AAOS members who have made a commitment to diversity among orthopedic professionals and patient populations. Here are five things to know about Dr. Grant:
1. Dr. Grant spent his 30-plus year career working with residents and empowering minority students to succeed in orthopedics. He educated more than 60 minority and female residents between 1988 and 2001 as the chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
2. While at Howard, Dr. Grant accepted more female residents than any other program in the country and the residency program's American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery passage rate increased immediately.
3. Throughout his career, Dr. Grant used his experience as a resident at the United States Air Force Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, implementing a military-based, disciplined approach and structure to the residency program. More than 90 percent of his residents completed and passed a post residency fellowship in nearly every orthopedic subspecialty.
4. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Grant served on the AAOS Diversity Advisory Board and was the first African-American president of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, where he advised the board to become more inclusive toward women and minority representatives who want to serve.
5. Dr. Grant is an attending orthopedic surgeon and on the faculty full time in the department of orthopedics at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, focused on total joint arthroplasty and sickle cell disease-related osteonecrosis.
"Dr. Grant is a pioneer and changed the perception that women could not become orthopedic surgeons because of the physicality of the profession," said Rinelda M. Horton, MD, who received training from Dr. Grant. "He promoted diversity and encouraged forward thinking while embracing individuals of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds."