Rick Wilkerson, DO, received the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2018 Humanitarian Award at the AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans for nearly three decades of work serving underserved populations worldwide, Lakes Business News reports.
Here are four things to know.
1. Dr. Wilkerson is a board certified orthopedic surgeon at Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons in Spencer, Iowa. He received his medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa.
2. Dr. Wilkerson specializes in hip arthroscopy, sports medicine and joint replacement. He has been involved with Health Volunteers Overseas and the International Medical Corps. He has made annual trips to Iraq, starting a total knee replacement program for Iraqis and performing more than 1,500 TKRs. He also sponsored eight Iraqi orthopedic surgeons in his private practice for postgraduate training; they lived with Dr. Wilkerson's family during their time in the U.S.
3. With HVO, he trained surgeons, treated patients, created orthopedic training programs and taught medical students in Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Uganda and Cambodia.
4. In 2011, Dr. Wilkerson and his wife Barbara Wilkerson, NP, established the nonprofit organization Love Takes Root to support child welfare across the globe.
More articles on orthopedics:
Orthopedic surgeon to know: Dr. Richard Angelo of Joint Life Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Dr. Michael Oberlander presents on orthopedic telerehab at HIMSS 2018: 5 things to know
Orthopedic oncologist Dr. James Wittig joins Atlantic Health System leadership: 3 insights