Renowned orthopedic surgeon Lawrence Dorr, MD, died on Dec. 28, according to The New York Times. He was 79 years old.
Dr. Dorr became a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in 1978 and was a leader in the field, is the founder of the Knee Society, the Hip Society and the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He also launched the Bone and Joint Institute and the Arthritis Institute in Los Angeles.
In 1997, Dr. Dorr founded one of the most successful orthopedic nonprofit organizations, Operation Walk, which continues today. The organization provides free joint replacements for people in need across the U.S. and abroad. The organization has provided more than 13,000 procedures to people in need.
Throughout his career, Dr. Dorr also focused on education and trained more than 100 clinical and research fellows. He also designed prosthetic knee and hip replacements. He authored several articles and books.
Dr. Dorr retired from Keck Medical Center of USC in June 2019.
Dr. Dorr's legacy lives on through several honors, including the Lawrence and Marilyn Dorr Chair in orthopedics at the University of Iowa. He earned the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.