Gregory W. Stocks receives 2023 AAHKS Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, Humanitarian Award

Houston, TX – On Friday, November 3, during the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting, Gregory W. Stocks, MD, was presented with the prestigious 2023 Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, Humanitarian Award. Since 2019, Dr. Stocks has had the privilege of working with Walk Strong, a non-profit organization committed to creating sustainable total joint replacement programs for underserved communities. He brings state-of-the-art, FDA approved, low-cost implants to surgeons and hospitals that provide humanitarian care for patients in need in Mexico, South America, the Caribbean and Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Kenya.

During his earlier work in the Middle East and then in Africa, Dr. Stocks noticed that access to hip and knee replacement surgeries was very limited for two reasons – the relatively high cost of implants and access to surgeons with adequate training to perform these operations. Because of these barriers, Walk Strong began.

This award recognizes Dr. Stocks’ efforts to create a model to provide high-quality, low-cost implants and train local surgeons who work at appropriate charity hospitals to meet the needs of low- and middle-income countries. This same model is currently being developed in Kenya. These low-cost implants are significantly improving the local population and hospitals by providing life-changing operations with no financial loss.

“We are proud to recognize Dr. Stocks for his humanitarian efforts,” said Eric Becker, CEO at Texas Orthopedic Hospital. “Dr. Stocks embodies our commitment to changing and improving lives worldwide. We are honored to have him on our team.”

“Our profession and organization are fortunate to have selfless leaders like Dr. Stocks who care for patients in need regardless of where they reside,” said AAHKS President Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS. “I congratulate Dr. Stocks for achieving this incredible milestone in his illustrious career.” Dr. Stocks graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He is fellowship-trained in bone and joint research and major joint reconstruction.

The Lawrence D. Dorr, MD Humanitarian Award recognizes AAHKS members who have distinguished themselves by providing humanitarian medical services and programs with a significant focus on musculoskeletal diseases and trauma, including the hip and knee, in the United States or abroad.

Find more information on the Lawrence D. Dorr, MD Humanitarian Award.