In the first quarter of 2026, multiple orthopedic surgeons were honored for their work and research.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list.
1. Stefano Sinicropi, MD, was named the Top Spine Surgeon of the Year 2026 by the International Association of Top Professionals. Dr. Sinicropi, president and CEO of the Midwest Brain and Spine Institute in Stillwater, Minn., was recognized for his work in the field and expertise in motion-preserving spine surgery.
2. Johnny Huard, PhD, received the Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics. Dr. Huard is chief scientific officer and director of the Linda & Mitch Hart Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colo. His research spans nearly 30 years and includes the identification of muscle-derived stem cells and their paracrine signaling role in tissue regeneration.
3. Dana Covey, MD, a retired U.S. Navy Medical Corps officer, received the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Clinical Research Award. Dr. Covey is a clinical professor at the University of California San Diego. He was recognized for research on military trauma care that helped reduce battlefield mortality through innovations such as improved vehicle design, early use of tourniquets and the implementation of damage-control orthopedics.
4. Kelsey Collins, PhD, earned the New Emerging Experts in Translational Science Award for her work on the role of adipose tissue in osteoarthritis. Dr. Collins’ translational research challenges the notion of osteoarthritis as purely a “wear and tear” disease and points to systemic metabolic and inflammatory pathways, including leptin signaling, as contributors to joint damage and pain.
5. Erica Taylor, MD, earned the 2026 AAOS Impact Award for her work to expand access to orthopedic care in the U.S. Throughout her career she’s mentored hundreds of students and early-career surgeons. Dr. Taylor also founded a national leadership consortium that supports clinicians and healthcare leaders to strengthen orthopedic workforce and care delivery. She is a hand surgeon at Duke Health in Durham, N.C.
6. Gregory Mundis, Jr., MD, earned the AAOS 2026 Humanitarian Award for his work in the U.S. and abroad. He has led medical missions in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and he’s trained surgeons to continue the work. He also provides opportunities for clinical fellows to serve on at least one medical mission trip during their training. Dr. Mundis is a professor of orthopedic surgery at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego.
7. Kristy Weber, MD, earned the 2026 William W. Tipton, Jr., MD, Leadership Award and is the first woman to receive the honor. Dr. Weber served as the first woman president of the AAOS Board of Directors in 2019 and has served as a leader with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance. With the AAOS she advanced governance reform, strengthened organizational structure, and helped launch a new strategic plan. Dr. Weber is an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
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