Awards
 The Western Orthopaedic Association is honored and privileged to create the Lifetime Achievement Award in the name of Dr. Blair Filler. The Western Orthopaedic Association Lifetime Achievement Award proudly honors those special individuals who have throughout their career demonstrated and promoted the highest values of the WOA in their leadership, service, education, and professional relationships. Dr. Blair Filler epitomizes these, values through his tireless commitment to orthopedic research and education, and his longstanding leadership and service within local, regional, and national organizations including the AAOS and WOA.
Young Investigator Award
The Young Investigator Award was established in 2012, and is presented to the three top papers by orthopaedic surgeons under the age of 45 who, if at an academic institution, are assistant professors or clinical instructors. WOA has created these awards in recognition of young investigators' efforts to advance the science of orthopaedic surgery through research and mentorship.
2016 Winners
Derek F. Amanatullah, MD, PhD
Obesity Is Associated With Early Total Hip Revision For Aseptic Loosening
Ariel Palanca, MD
The Scandanavian Total Ankle Replacement: Patient Outcomes At 15 Year Follow-Up
Kathryn Schabel, MD
Vitamin D Deficiency In Patients With Osteoarthritis Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty
2015 Winners
Reza Firoozabadi, MD, MA
The Hyperextension Varus Bicondlyar Tibial Plateau Fracture
Geoffrey Marecek, MD
Use Of A Defined Surgical Approach In The Debridement Open Tibia Fractures
Hamed Yazdanshenas, MD
Treatment And Post-Surgery Functional Outcome Of Spaghetti Wrist
2014 Winners
Julius A. Bishop, MD
Conventional Versus Virtual Radiographs of the Injured Pelvis and Acetabulum
Reza Firoozabadi, MD, MA
Risk of Spermatic Cord Injury During Anterior Pelvic Ring and Acetabular Surgery: An Anatomical Study
Ran Schwarzkopf, MD, MSc
Patients’ Willingness to Contribute to Cost of Novel Implants in Total Joint Arthroplasty
2013 Winners
Raffi S. Avedian, MD, Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Redwood City, CA
The Effect of Anti-Rotation Pins on Stability of the Bone Prosthetic Interface of a Novel Compressive Osseointegration Implant Used for Limb Salvage Surgery: A Biomechanical Study with Clinical Outcomes
John G. Costouros, MD, Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Redwood City, CA
Inhibition of Chondrocyte and Synovial Cell Death Following Exposure to Commonly Used Anesthetics
Reza Omid, MD, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Biomechanical Comparison of the Lower Trapezius Transfer versus Latissimus Dorsi Tendon Transfer for Irreparable Massive Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears
2012 Winners
Ivan Cheng, MD, Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Functional Assessment of Acute Local versus Distal Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells Following Spinal Cord Injury
Kenneth Hunt, MD, Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Surgical Treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy With or Without Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfer
Brian Feeley, MD, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center/University of California at San Francisco
Evaluation of Akt/mTOR Activity in Muscle Atrophy and Fatty Infiltration After Rotator Cuff Tears in a Rat Model
Lloyd Taylor Award
 Dr. Taylor was born in Millerton, Oklahoma on March 30, 1916. He received his B.S. degree in 1936 from Oklahoma State University, and his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1941. He was a Infantry Officer in the United States Army prior to attending medical school, and after his internship at the General Surgery Central Dispensary and Emergency Hospital in Washington, D.C., he was recalled for active service in the United States Medical Corps. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. During that period, he became the second highest decorated field medical officer in World War II. His decorations include the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Upon returning home, he continued his education and career in the United States Army Medical Corps. In 1949, at Walter Reed, Dr. Taylor was the Project Officer in establishing a formal Armed Forces Orthopaedic Residency Training Program. Following this, he was responsible for the training of many military orthopaedic surgeons and ended his distinguished career in education in the military, as Chief of the Training Program at Letterman Army Hospital.
Colonel Taylor retired from the Army in 1962 after his last post as Chief of Staff at the United States Army Hospital at Fort Ord, California. His retirement from the Army was probably prompted by his deep love of teaching younger men orthopaedic surgery, for this aspect was not part of his new Command. After retirement, it was less than two years before he was made the Director of the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Training Program, and once again was involved with his passion, orthopaedic education. He held the post until just two months before his death. The outstanding quality and record of the men he trained, both in the Army, and in civilian life, speaks for the unselfish devotion that Dr. Taylor gave to their educational needs.
2016 Winner
Philip J. York, MD
Previous Lumbar Fusion Poses Risk For Postoperative Total Hip Instability
2015 Winner
Jason H. Ghodasra, MD, MSCI
The Effect Of RhBMP-2 In A Novel, Non-Instrumented Extremity Nonunion Model
2014 Winner
Megan Kuba, MD
One Brace, One Visit: Treatment of Distal Radius Buckle Fractures in Children with a Removable Wrist Brace and No
Follow-Up Visit
2013 Winner
Scott Montgomery, MD
A Novel Osteogenic Oxysterol Compound For Therapeutic Development To Promote Bone Growth: Activation Of Hedgehog Signaling And Osteogenesis Through Smoothened Binding
2012 Winner
Tom Chao, MD, University of California, Irvine
Blockade of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 After Traumatic Nerve Injury Offers a Novel Treatment for Improving Functional Recovery
Vernon Thompson Award
 In the course of evolution of the WOA, through the efforts of Vernon Thompson, MD, the Residents Orthopedic Surgery Program began to receive recognition. In 1952, he established a competitive program in which residents from the western states submitted original works to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Dr. Thompson was affiliated with Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA.
Dr. Thompson was keenly interested in teaching and the education of young physicians. He felt they should be recognized by allowing them time to present on the program. Four papers were permitted initially. There are now up to six papers presented each year. Each resident is given a monetary honorarium to help to defray the expense of the meeting. This portion of the WOA program remains to the remembrance of Dr. Thompson's dedication and efforts.
2016 Winner
Nathan Moroski, MD
Curcumin's Modulatory Effects on Inflammation In Animal Model Of Tendon Healing
2015 Winner
Alexandra Stavrakis, MD
A Novel Antibiotic Coating In Preventing Periprosthetic Infection
2014 Winner
Jared Niska, MD
Controlled Release of Vancomycin and Tigecycline from an Orthopaedic Implant Coating Prevents Staphylococcus
Aureus Infection in an Open Fracture Animal Model
2013 Winner
Jared A. Niska, MD
Tigecycline And Rifampin Combination Therapy Have Increased Efficacy Against An Experimental Staphylococcus Aureus Prosthetic Joint Infection
2012 Winner
Daniel G. Kang, MD, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
The Effect of Pedicle Screw Hubbing on Pullout Strength in the Thoracic Spine
Harold and Nancy Willingham Award
 C. Harold Willingham, MD graduated from William and Mary College then went on to attend Baylor Medical School. He completed his Orthopaedic Residency at the University of Michigan. After completing his residency he went on to serve as the Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Ft. Huachuca Army Hospital, before entering private practice.
Dr. Willingham is a long-time member of WOA. He was WOA President in 1991 and served on the Board as Secretary for a number of years as well as Treasurer. In addition he has served on numerous Committees and was Chairman of several of them.
Dr. Willingham is a long time resident of Tucson, AZ. He has been married to his wife Nancy for over 50 years and has two children and five wonderful grandchildren. The Willinghams made a contribution to the WOA Endowment Fund for Resident education to be named the Harold and Nancy Willingham Award.
2016 Winner
Kent T. Yamaguchi, MD
Proximal Tibia Anterior Closing Wedge Osteotomy Effects On ACL Force
2015 Winner
Ryan Fader, MD
Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Versus Autograft: 12 Month Results In Isolated Canine Knee Defects
2014 Winner
Duy Phan, MD
Do Patients with Income-Based Insurance Have Access to Total Joint Arthroplasty?
2013 Winner
Timothy B. Alton, MD
Spinal Epidural Abscesses: Risk Factors, Medical Vs Surgical Management, A Retrospective Review Of 128 Cases
2012 Winner
Kevin D. Martin, DO, William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Arthroscopic Basic Task Performance in Shoulder Simulator Model Correlates With Clinical Shoulder Arthroscopy Experience
Sanford and Darlene Anzel Award
 This award was established to honor Dr. Sandy Anzel, whose passion for Orthopaedics was evident to those associated with the Orthopaedic Training Program at the University of California, Irvine, as well as the broader community which he served tirelessly as the President of the COA, WOA, and as a Trustee on the Board of OREF and the Ortho PAC. His mentoring and nurturing of generations of young Orthopaedists, both in training and in practice, encouraged many he touched to emulate his example.
2016 Winner
Sanjum Samagh, MD
Digital Radiography In Total Hip Arthroplasty: Technique And Clinical Results
2015 Winner
Christopher Bui, MD
Biomechanical Stability Of Glenohumeral Bipolar Bone Lesions After Soft-Tissue Repair
2014 Winner
Joseph W. Galvin, DO
Infection Rate of Intramedullary Nailing Following Temporizing External Fixation in Closed Fractures of the Femoral
Diaphysis
2013 Winner
Calvin C. Kuo, MD
Biomechanical Demands On Posterior Fusion Instrumentation During Lordosis Restoration Procedure
2012 Winner
Joel C. Williams, MD, University of California Davis
A Biomechanical Comparison of Plate Fixation and Calcium Phosphate Cement for Distal Femoral Metaphyseal Defects
WOA/OREF Resident Awards
2016 Winners
Joseph W. Galvin, DO
Critical Findings On MR-Arthrogram In Posterior Shoulder Instability
Andrew R. Jensen, MD, MBE
Fibroadipogenic Progenitor Cells Cause Fatty Infiltration In Murine Rotator Cuff Tears
Luke T. Nicholson, MD
Knee Sepsis Following Suprapatellar Medullary Nailing Of Open Tibia Fractures
2015 Winners
Pascual Dutton, MD
What Is The Most Effective Technique To Stabilize Patients On The Operating Table During Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)?
Paul M. Lichstein, MD
Static Spacers For Periprosthetic Knee Infection: Inferior Flexion To Articulating Spacers?
Calvin Schlepp, MD
Radiographic Predictors Of Posterior Wall Fracture Instability
2014 Winners
Seth H. Criner, DO
Immediate Weight Bearing as Tolerated After Locked Plating of Fragility Fractures of the Femur
Michael Githens, MD
Local Versus Distal Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells Following Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Natalie L. Leong, MD
In Vivo Evaluation of Electrospun Polymer Grafts for ACL Tissue Engineering
2013 Winners
Joshua S. Griffin, MD
What Is The Impact Of Age On Reoperation Rates For Femoral Neck Fractures Treated With Closed Reduction Percutaneous Pinning And Hemiarthroplasty?
Orrin I. Franko, MD
Functional Significance Of Distal Brachioradialis Tendon Release: A Biomechanical Study
Philipp Leucht, MD
Comparison Of Cup Position And Limb Length In Primary THAs Performed Through The Anterior Supine And Posterolateral Approaches
2012 Winners
Jared A. Niska, MD, University of California Davis
Daptomycin and Tigecycline Have a Broader Effective Dose Range than Vancomycinas Prophylaxis Against a Surgical Implant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection
Rosanna Wustrack, MD, University of California at San Francisco
Change in Physical Activity One Year After Lumbar Decompression With or Without Fusion - Is It Correlated to Self-Reported Outcome Scores?
Adam Bevevino, MD, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Incidence and Morbidity of Concomitant Spine Fractures in Combat Related Amputees
Poster Awards
2016 Winners
First Place
Steven D. Donohoe, MD
CT Scan In Management Of Ankle Fractures Involving The Posterior Malleolus
Second Place
Tim Wang, MD
The State Of Musculoskeletal Education In California Medical Schools: A Comprehensive Analysis
Third Place
Derek F. Amanatullah, MD, PhD
Elevated Body Mass Index Is Associated With Early Total Knee Revision For Infection
2015 Winners
First Place
Edward Cheung, MD
Blumensaat-Epiphyseal Containment Of The Knee (BECK): A New Radiological Tool For Determining Patellar Height
Second Place
Lauren Hackney, MD
Distal Femur Compressive Osseointegration: Intermediate-Term Outcomes In Oncologic Patients
Third Place (Tie)
Dustin Schuett, DO
Functional Results of Transfemoral versus Through-Knee Amputation in Combat Injured Patients
Geoffrey Konopka, MD, MPH
Intramedullary Fixation Of Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures: A Retrospective Study Of Standard Versus Cephalomedullary Nailing
2014 Winners
First Place
Megan Kuba, MD
Second Place
Cory A. Collinge, MD
Third Place
Alan L. Zhang, MD
2013 Winners
Tied for First Place
Mitchell McDowell, DO
A Comparison Of Various Contemporary Methods To Prevent A Wet Cast
And
Steven Nishiyama, DO, PhD
An In Vitro Characterization Of Splash Displacement In Different Lavage Systems And Effectiveness Of Lavage Shield
Third Place
Jason Jancosko, DO, MP
Magnetic Resonance Arthrography Assessment Of The Superior Labrum Using The BLC
2012 Winners
First Place
Julius A. Bishop, MD
Open Reduction and Intramedullary Nail Fixation of Closed Tibia Fractures
Second Place
Bryon D. Hobby, MD
Prevention of Post-Operative Osteopenia Using IV Pamidronate: A Pilot Study
Third Place
P. Douglas Kiester, MD
Tether Location in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis by 3-D CT Analysis
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