Each year, AOA members select two renowned peers for special recognition. During the AOA Annual Leadership Meeting, recipients are presented with these awards that honor personal achievement and contributions to orthopaedics.
Fostering Leadership Through Recognition
2020 AOA Award Winners
John J. Callaghan, MD, FAOA
Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics
About Dr. Callaghan
John Callaghan, MD, FAOA is the Lawrence and Marilyn Dorr Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from Loyola University. He completed his residency at the University of Iowa and a fellowship in hip surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery. After serving in the Army at Walter Reed Medical Center, he was on the faculty of Duke University before returning to the University of Iowa where he practiced for 28 years.
Dr. Callaghan’s contributions to many of the orthopaedic organizations in which he has been a member were recognized by his election to the office of president on the local level (Iowa Orthopaedic Society), regional level (Mid-America Orthopaedic Association), national level (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Hip Society, Knee Society, and Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation), and internationally (International Hip Society), in addition to being an officer of The American Orthopaedic Association and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
In the area of education, Dr. Callaghan has been on the faculty of over 35 Orthopaedic Learning Center surgical skills courses, participated in more than one hundred instructional course lectures, and received the Distinguished Educator Award from the AOA. He has been principle investigator of grants from the OREF, NIH, and VA Administration. He and his research team has received award recognition from the OREF, the Hip and Knee Society, and the Orthopaedic Research Society. In addition, Dr. Callaghan has 450 peer-reviewed publications. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Hip Society for his education and research contributions to the field of hip surgery. He is presently Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Arthroplasty.
His philanthropic contributions include an Endowed Chair at the University of Iowa and a major donor status at the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, the American Orthopaedic Association and many other orthopaedic organizations.
Terrance D. Peabody, MD, FAOA
Distinguished Clinician Educator
About Dr. Peabody
Dr. Peabody is the Edwin Warner Ryerson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He also provides care for patients at Lurie Children’s Hospital and is a member of the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center.
Dr. Peabody previously served on the faculty of the University of California, Irvine from 1991 to 1993 and the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine from 1994 to 2011. He was formerly the Simon and Kalt Families Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of the Section of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Chicago. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his residency training at the University of California, Irvine, and his fellowship at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Peabody is past-president of The American Orthopaedic Association, former Chair of the AOA Academic Leadership Committee and Vice-President of the Orthopaedic Residency Committee of the ACGME. He currently serves as a senior director of the ABOS. Dr. Peabody’s research and clinical expertise focus on the treatment of benign and malignant bone and soft-tissue tumors including limb salvage surgery and functional restoration for adult and pediatric patients. A well-published investigator, Dr Peabody has authored multiple journal articles and book chapters and served as on the editorial board of several publications. Other than musculoskeletal oncology, his professional interests include challenges related to resident and fellow education and the development of a national curriculum around the implementation of a competency-based training program. He and his wife Jane are the proud parents of four children and one grandchild.
Awards Criteria for Selection
Annually, the AOA Distinguished Clinician Educator Award recognizes an AOA member as an exceptional orthopaedic clinician educator. The award emphasizes the critical role that clinician educators play within academic health centers, where state-of-the-art educational programs demand faculty time devoted to training medical students, graduate students, residents and other health professionals.
Awardee Criteria may include:
- Received Teacher of the Year (or equivalent) from residency program, medical school, university or professional society
- Held leadership positions in national and/or international organizations with a focus on education (including representing orthopaedics in organizations such as AAMC, AMA, RRC, COA, ORS, ABOS, AOA and AAOS)
- Chaired educational committees at home institution or professional organization
- Acted as a mentor to other orthopaedists locally or nationally and/or internationally
- Has contributed to orthopaedic education nationally and/or internationally
- Trainees (students, residents and fellows) in academics both nationally and internationally
- Pursued further education training through courses, workshops, faculty development, or participated in an educational fellowship program
- Achieved a sustained record of significant scholarly activity in education
- Has authored original books, papers and chapters related to education
- Record of sustained involvement in graduate medical education programs such as:
- Program director
- CORD leadership
- ACGME
- RRC
- ABOS
- AOA
- AAOS
Current members of the Executive Committee are not eligible to be considered for the Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award and/or the Distinguished Clinician Educator Award while they are serving on the Executive Committee.
Annually, the AOA Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award recognizes an AOA member’s personal achievement and broad contribution to the orthopaedic specialty by confronting issues or challenges in the profession. The award emphasizes leadership, impact on patient care, and clinical or basic science research.
Awardee Criteria
Achieved pre-eminence or noted as an authority in:
- Clinical practice
- Educating other orthopaedists
- Orthopaedic research
- Other meritorious service to the profession of orthopaedics
- Contributions that have changed or influenced the art and science of orthopaedics
- Lifetime contributions to the field of orthopaedics
- Contributions to the international scope of orthopaedics
- Contributions that extend beyond bench research
Current members of the Executive Committee are not eligible to be considered for the Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award and/or the Distinguished Clinician Educator Award while they are serving on the Executive Committee.
AOA Awards Hall of Fame
2020 Award Winner:Â Dr. Terrance D. Peabody, MD, FAOA
2019 Award Winner:Â J. Lawrence Marsh, MD, FAOA
2018 Award Winner:Â Ann E. Van Heest, MD, FAOA
2017 Award Winner: Daniel J. Berry, MD, FAOA
2016 Award Winner: Robert J. , MD, FAOA
2015 Award Winner:Â Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, FAOA
2014 Award Winner: James O. Johnston, MD, FAOA
2013 Award Winner: John J. , MD, FAOA
2012 Award Winner: Peter J. Stern, MD, FAOA
2011 Award Winner: Russell F. Warren, MD, FAOA

2010 Award Winner: Andrew J. , MD, FAOA
2009 Award Winner: Jesse B. Jupiter, MD, FAOA
2008 Award Winner: Richard H. Gelberman, MD, FAOA


2007 Award Winner: Augustus A. White, III, MD, FAOA
2006 Award Winner: Frank Frassica, MD, FAOA

2005 Award Winner: Michael A. Simon, MD, FAOA

2004 Award Winner: J. Leonard Goldner, MD, FAOA

2003 Award Winner: Frank C. Wilson, MD, FAOA

2002 Award Winner: William F. Enneking, MD, FAOA
2020 Award Winner: John J. Callaghan, MD, FAOA
2019 Award Winner: Peter J. Stern, MD, FAOA


2018 Award Winner: William H. Harris, MD, FAOA

2017 Award Winner: Dan M. Spengler, MD, FAOA

2016 Award Winner: Richard H. Gelberman, MD, FAOA
2015 Award Winner: Marc F. Swiontkowski, MD, FAOA
2014 Award Winner: Sigvard Hansen, MD, FAOA

2013 Award Winner: Gary E. Friedlaender, MD, FAOA

2012 Award Winner: Stuart L. Weinstein, MD, FAOA

2011 Award Winner: James D. Heckman, MD, FAOA

2010 Award Winner: James R. Urbaniak, MD, FAOA

2009 Award Winner: Franklin H. Sim, MD, FAOA
2008 Award Winner: Roby C. Thompson, MD, FAOA
2007 Award Winner: Harlan C. Amstutz, MD, FAOA

2006 Award Winner: C. McCollister Mac Evarts, MD, FAOA

2005 Award Winner: Reginald R. Cooper, MD, FAOA

2004 Award Winner: Albert B. Ferguson, MD, FAOA

2003 Award Winner: Ignacio V. Ponseti, MD, FAOA
