2019 Plenary Sessions

Opening Session
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Guest Speaker: Staff Sergeant Johnnie O. Yellock II

Johnnie Yellock was born into a military family. In April of 2007, the 22-year-old chose to continue his family’s tradition of service and enlisted in the Air Force Special Operations Command as a Combat Controller. On his second deployment in July of 2011, Johnnie was on mounted patrol in eastern Afghanistan. He was on the outside of his tactical vehicle when it hit and detonated an improvised explosive device, or IED. Exposed directly to the blast, Johnnie’s feet and ankles sustained a heavy blow. Johnnie was ultimately taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he spent the next three years recovering from his injuries and multiple bone infections. He endured 30 surgeries to save his legs and was fitted with an Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis, or IDEO brace, on both legs. The IDEO, developed in the Center for the Intrepid, returns functionality to patients with nerve and muscle loss below the knee, by storing energy and restoring capabilities that an injured ankle cannot perform. Johnnie has been able to return to all of the activities he did before, including skydiving and scuba diving. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Medal for his actions. “To have been able to keep my legs was a direct result of research available to the surgeons,” he says. “Ongoing research will further improve the effectiveness and availability of life-changing procedures.”

Gloria Matthews, DVM, PhD, ORS President 

Presidential Address

CAVU: Ceiling and Visibility Unrestricted – Your Ascent to Greatness
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Keynote Speaker: Major Dan Rooney, USAF

“CAVU” is a fighter pilot term to describe the perfect flying conditions. Major Rooney’s captivating stories from his personal journey demonstrate a path to achieving CAVU in your life. He inspires and challenges us to become our best self. Clearly identifying strategies to help you climb to the highest levels in your life professionally and personally. From fairways to supersonic fighter jets his life lessons act as incredible force multipliers for his audience. His high speed – low drag delivery pushes the envelope of human emotion. You will leave the room a better person with a vector to achieve greatness.

Major Dan “Noonan” Rooney is a fighter pilot with 3 combat tours in Iraq, a PGA Golf Professional, and the founder of the Folds of Honor. He has served as the motivational speaker for two U.S Ryder Cup teams and is a frequent guest with FOX News. A decorated military aviator, Major Rooney is currently stationed at Tyndall AFB Florida as a member of 301st Fighter Squadron. He is a two-time recipient of the Top Gun award and has received many decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-terrorism Medal, and Air Expeditionary Medal. Major Rooney is the driving force behind Folds of Honor, which raised over $100 million and awarded over 13,000 scholarships to the family members of KIA or disabled soldiers. For his service and patriotism—Rooney was presented the White House’s “Presidential Volunteer Service Award” by President George W. Bush, the Air National Guard’s “Directors Service Award” and the Ellis Island “Medal of Honor.” He was honored at The Masters Invitational with the “William D. Richardson Award” for his outstanding contributions to golf and received the PGA of America’s first-ever “Patriot Award.” He has been recognized as one of People Magazine’s “Heroes of the Year,” Money Magazine’s “Hero of the Year” and ABC World News Tonight’s “Persons of the Year.” Rooney founded The Patriot, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Patriot is home to the Folds of Honor Foundation headquarters. Major Rooney is the author of A Patriot’s Calling – Living Life Between Fear and Faith and the proud father of five daughters.

Collaborations
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Stryker/ORS Women’s Research Fellowship Recipient

Force and Motion Foundation/ORS Young Scientist Travel Grant Recipient

JOR Excellence and Early Career Awards

ON Foundation/ORS Kick-Starter Grant Recipients

ON Foundation Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jeff Karp, B.Eng., PhD

Innovation Inspired by Nature

The ON Foundation is dedicated to advancing orthopedic tissue regeneration, often inspired by nature. ON and ORS are happy to present Dr. Jeff Karp, B.Eng., PhD.

When developing technologies to solve medical problems, often one encounters significant hurdles, that at times seem insurmountable. Overcoming these hurdles requires new ways of thinking. One approach is to turn to nature for inspiration. Millions and millions of years of research and development at our fingertips, and all we need to do is look outside to the amazing creatures that inhabit our planet. This talk will explore medical technologies being developed that harness lessons from nature for inspiration, from creatures such as geckos, spider webs, jellyfish, porcupine quills, snails, to spiny headed worms.  Another approach is radical simplicity — the art and discipline of reducing a problem to its essence. This tool has been harnessed to develop a new skin care approach that is advancing towards global market adoption, and therapeutic strategies to combat inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis that are advancing towards clinical studies.

Dr. Jeff Karp is a Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Principal Faculty at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and an affiliate faculty at the Broad Institute and at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (where he teaches to HST and MIT-Sloan business school students). His work spans the fields of drug delivery, medical devices, stem cell therapeutics, and tissue adhesives. He has published >100 peer-reviewed papers (with >14,000 citations), has given >250 national and international invited lectures, and has >100 issued or pending national/international patents.

ORS Debate:
Dysfunctional Biology Rather than Mechanics
is the Primary Cause of Degenerative Disc Disease
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Moderator:
Mauro Alini, PhD, AO Foundation

Arguing For the Motion:
Makarand Risbud, PhD, Thomas Jefferson University

Arguing Against the Motion:
Dawn Elliott, PhD, University of Delaware

Closing Session
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

New Investigator Recognition Awards (NIRA)

ORS Research Section Awards

James Iatridis, PhD, Incoming President

ORS Presidential Inauguration & Address