The ORS International Section of Fracture Repair (ISFR) Lifetime Achievement Award proudly honors highly accomplished individuals who have throughout their career demonstrated and promoted the highest values of the ORS ISFR (collaboration, diversity, mentorship, innovation, scientific excellence) in their leadership, service, education, and professional relationships.
This prestigious award honors an investigator who has established themselves as a cutting-edge researcher and/or clinician scientist in the areas of fracture repair, bone regeneration, bone biology, or trauma.
Congratulations to the 2026 ORS ISFR Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Emil Schemitsch, MD
Dr. Emil Schemitsch is the Richard Ivey Chair of the Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Distinguished University Professor, Western University and Head of the Department of Surgery for London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. A University of Toronto graduate in Medicine, Dr. Schemitsch completed his orthopaedic training at the University of Toronto. To broaden his clinical exposure, he trained at the University of Washington and Harvard University. Dr. Schemitsch has received international recognition for his research efforts including the North American traveling fellowship and the ABC traveling fellowship as well as designation as a Fellow of International Orthopaedic Research (FIOR) and a Fellow of the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association (FIOTA). Dr. Schemitsch is the Past-President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA), and Canadian Arthroplasty Society (CAS). Dr. Schemitsch is Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of OTA International and an Executive Editor of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Dr. Schemitsch has been a senior member of the Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society and his program of research in musculoskeletal trauma and arthritis has led to more than 690 publications in top journals.
Overview
The ORS International Section of Fraction Repair (ISFR) will honor an accomplished researcher and/or clinician scientist in fracture repair, bone regeneration, bone biology, or trauma. The winner will have demonstrated collaboration, diversity, mentorship, innovation, scientific excellence in their leadership, service, education, and professional relationships.
Nominee Criteria
The nominee:
- Must be an ORS member and ISFR (Section) member in good standing
- Has demonstrated over their career in basic, translational, or clinical research in the areas of of fracture repair, bone regeneration, bone biology, or trauma
- Has demonstrated and exemplified innovation, collaboration, and mentorship during their career
Nominations
Self-nominations will not be accepted.
A single letter of nomination (more than one signatory is acceptable) as fits the nominee criteria above and acceptable welcome to be submitted from all ORS members at all career stages (e.g. students).
Submission Package
Submission package must include:
- A single letter of nomination (more than one signatory is acceptable), with special emphasis on the nominee’s substantive impact on the field of of fracture repair, bone regeneration, bone biology, or trauma.
This letter should address the following:
- Overall impact on the field (including scientific excellence, clinical advancement and mentoring)
- Innovation
- Collaborative nature (national and international)
- Engagement in fostering diversity and inclusion
- A recent CV/Bio-sketch of the nominee in support of the nomination letter.
Selection of the Award Recipient
The selection of the Award recipient will be made by a committee consisting of ORS ISFR members, approved by the ORS ISFR Officers. Reviewers are not eligible to be nominated for the award and must remove themselves from award deliberations if they have submitted a letter of support for any of the applicants.
Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria, which should be explicitly addressed in the nomination letter:
- Overall impact on the field (including scientific excellence/clinical practice and mentoring)
- Innovation/Translation
- Collaborative nature (national and international)
- Engagement in fostering diversity and inclusion
