Anton Bowden, PhD
Michael A. David, PhD
Tracy Boakye Serebour, MBBS
Tanvir Faisal, PhD
Michael Friedman
Irina Heggli, PhD
Honey Hendesi, PhD
Chun Man Lawrence Lau, PhD
Nesa Milan, MD
Ke Song, PhD
Slaine Art A Thairneanaiche Chaimbeul, DVM
Meet Your ORS Ambassadors
Ready to get connected? ORS Ambassadors are your local link to the global orthopaedic research community! Explore who is representing your region and reach out to them directly to learn how you can get involved, stay informed, and build your network.
Looking to engage in person? Check out upcoming local events and networking opportunities. Your next collaboration could be just around the corner. [See what’s happening near you]
Chair of the ORS Ambassadors
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Brigham Young University
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
I fell in love with biomechanics as a result of a senior design project and just kept finding more to love as I dug deeper into orthopedic biomechanics and medical device design. More specifically, I like working on hard problems that have the potential to positively impact the health and well-being of others.
Three words how others describe you: Kind, Patient, Eclectic
Favorite quote: “Creativity is intelligence having fun” – Attributed to Albert Einstein
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
The ORS has been my research home for almost 15 years, and I love the great interdisciplinary science, the networking, and the honest and open feedback on my research. Through the ORS I have found collaborators, mentors, and lifelong friends.
Associate Chair of the ORS Ambassadors
Research Instructor
Department of Orthopedics, Colorado Program for Musculoskeletal Research
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
I chose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research because of my athletic and engineering background, coupled with my passion for science, math, and the human body. Stemming from my athletic-related joint injuries, I became fascinated with applying engineering principles to solve biological problems in musculoskeletal research, particularly by using histology, non-invasive imaging, and machine learning. Once I realized how far our field’s research had advanced with so many unknowns remaining, I became dedicated to developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for musculoskeletal diseases.
Three words how others describe you: Collaborative, Inquisitive, Persistent
Favorite quote: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
Since the junior year of my undergraduate degree, ORS has played a critical role in my scientific journey. Over the years, ORS has supported my research and communication growth while fostering new relationships and career opportunities. Moreover, attending ORS-sponsored events at the annual conference and virtually has meaningfully impacted my career and broadened my network of colleagues.
DPhil Student
Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences
University of Oxford
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
Sports have always fascinated me, particularly the movement and the limits of the human body. That led to my interest in the musculoskeletal system. After seeing friends and athletes get ACL injuries, I became curious about the cellular and molecular landscape of injured knees, and how injuries and surgery timing affects recovery and long-term degeneration of the joint. A better understanding has given me a deeper appreciation for the knee biomechanics and molecular landscape as well as ACL reconstruction surgeries. This blend of personal interest, scientific curiosity, and clinical relevance is why I love musculoskeletal research and why I’m driven to find ways to improve care and recovery.
Three words how others describe you: Passionate, Bold, Energetic
Favorite quote: “Even if you’re not ready for the day, it cannot always be night.” – Gwendolyn Brooks
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
I’ve been fortunate to make meaningful connections through attending meetings. I have found mentors, collaborated on projects, and had the opportunity to present my research. I am deeply grateful for this platform and the opportunities it has opened for me. I hope to give back to this community and contribute in a way that helps it continue to thrive.
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
My journey to this field is a kind of serendipity. My first postdoctoral research on hip fracture risk assessment at the University of Manitoba, and the next one on cartilage and knee mechanics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (former Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), changed my research career path to musculoskeletal research. My involvement in this area grew more intense as a faculty, and I became more fascinated to see that there is a lot to contribute to improve human health. My scientific and engineering background, training, and most importantly my growing desire to understand musculoskeletal disease and its mitigation pursue me to continue a career in musculoskeletal research.
Three words how others describe you: Hardworking, Motivated, Humble
Favorite quote: “I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.” – Marie Curie
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
ORS became instrumental primarily for my research career when I started attending annual meetings, but later it has become a place for meeting great minds and for professional networking. I meet old friends and make new friends in the world of musculoskeletal research, which is definitely very important to me and others should consider as well.
Instructor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Orthopaedics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
I was drawn to musculoskeletal research because of its interdisciplinary nature, combining cell biology, biomechanics and imaging. The more I research the field, the more I realize that unraveling the complexities of low back pain—the world’s most disabling condition – could transform patient care. I am driven by the challenge of developing better diagnostic tools and treatments that have the power to improve the quality of life for so many people.
Three words how others describe you: Enthusiastic, driven, innovative
Favorite Quote: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
The ORS has played a pivotal role in my career, providing a platform where I can connect with dedicated individuals who are committed to improving the well-being of patients. I’m inspired by the society’s commitment to advancing musculoskeletal science and its collaborative spirit. Through the ORS, I’ve found invaluable mentorship, engaged in meaningful networking, and participated in initiatives that are truly changing the landscape of patient care. The encouragement and feedback from this community has been instrumental in shaping my research and professional growth.
Research Instructor
Department of Orthopedics
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
Going through medical school, I discovered how the musculoskeletal system underpins every movement we make and how restoring its function can give people their independence back. I was fascinated that bones are such a dynamic tissue. I began my PhD investigating osteoblast biology, and my postdoctoral training took me even deeper into skeletal regeneration—exploring how bone adapts, heals, and communicates with the rest of the body. This trajectory solidified my commitment to advancing musculoskeletal research so that more people can move freely and live fully.
Three words how others describe you: Passionate, Meticulous, Peaceful
Favorite quote: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.” – Henry Ford
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
I have met the most brilliant researchers and heard the most fascinating scientific ideas at the ORS annual meetings. I have found friends and collaborators in this community, while I was given an opportunity to tell others about my story and my passion.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Joint Replacement Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
The University of Hong Kong
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
I became interested in studying joint replacement and arthritis, possibly as it relates to my family members’ condition. During the process, I became increasingly fascinated with orthopedic biomechanics, implant design and all those pathomechanisms. I like to work on something that can benefit lots of people.
Three words how others describe you: Thoughtful, Passionate, Wise
Favorite quote: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
The ORS has been known to me since I was a junior resident, and I love the great interdisciplinary science, the networking, and the intersection with clinical research and basic science. Through the ORS I have found collaborators, mentors, and lifelong friends.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
The musculoskeletal system is, to me, the most elegant example of biology in motion, a perfect intersection of structure, function, and adaptation. I grew up under the persistent stress of living in a war-endemic region, where injury was common but proper care was scarce. A close family member’s permanent disability due to the absence of orthopaedic care left a mark on me, not just emotionally, but intellectually. I wanted to understand why muscle sometimes fails to recover, and how we can make it heal better. Muscle biology captured my imagination. It’s a system constantly responding to mechanical, metabolic, and pathological stress, and its regenerative capacity is both powerful and fragile. As an aspiring clinician-scientist, I’m driven by the belief that deep biological insight can directly inform better clinical care. By understanding the mechanisms of muscle degeneration and regeneration, we can fundamentally change how we treat injury, aging, and disease.
Three words how others describe you: Hardworking, Motivated, Humble
Favorite quote: ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) – Archimedes
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
ORS has provided me with a vibrant scientific community, mentorship, and visibility for my research. Through meetings programs, and initiatives, I’ve been able to connect with leading scientists and clinician-researchers, learn cutting-edge approaches, and share my own work in a supportive, rigorous environment. ORS has helped me grow not just as a researcher, but as part of a community working to transform musculoskeletal health.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Why did you choose to pursue a career in musculoskeletal research?
When I was an undergraduate, I did not know what I could do with my Biomedical Engineering major, so I asked myself what kind of science around my department interested me the most. I learned that some labs study orthopaedic biomechanics to help prevent and treat injuries that hurt some of my favorite soccer players and thought, ‘I can work on this!” That’s how I walked through the door into musculoskeletal research. Then over the years, I realized it’s not just my favorite athletes that need better musculoskeletal care, but really everyone – including my parents who are so often bothered by knee, hip, and shoulder problems. My work can help the people I care about move and live better, that’s why I decided to stay in this career path.
Three words how others describe you: Meticulous, Kind, Humble
Favorite quote: “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
How has ORS become an instrumental part of your career?
I attended my first ORS meeting in 2019 and was impressed right away by the high-quality research happening here. I was nervous on my first day there wondering if I could “keep up” with this research community, but my concern quickly disappeared as the meeting went on. I realized that my ORS peers, colleagues, and mentors are incredibly welcoming, friendly, open-minded, collaborative, and helpful while maintaining strong scientific passion, dedication, and diligence at the same time. ORS is simply a great place to learn what I need to know about musculoskeletal research, develop scientific skills, build a professional network, and share research updates. It became an easy decision for me to join the ORS, attend the annual meetings each year, and serve as an ORS Ambassador when I was invited to this opportunity.
