Professor Reinhold Ganz is First Recipient of Dominik C. Meyer Award

Professor Reinhold Ganz, M.D., chairman emeritus at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and an innovator in hip surgery, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Dominik C. Meyer Award (Meyer Award).

“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Ganz. “Throughout my career, I have been driven to overcome the shortcomings of the available treatments of hip conditions. The opportunity to help find improvements that can increase surgical success makes my research worthwhile. The focus has always been to help to achieve better results and higher quality of care for our patients.”
 
Given by the ResOrtho Foundation, Ganz received the award for his unique contributions to musculoskeletal health. His research led to methods allowing the hip joint to be opened during surgery so damage can be repaired. The ability to safely dislocate the hip during surgery has been a game-changer in orthopaedic surgery, making it possible to repair cartilage and bone without total hip replacement.
 
Professor Ganz’ career is a testament to the pursuit of ideas once thought impossible and his dedication to improve treatments for countless patients. He defined the concept of early onset osteoarthritis in 2008 and persevered through his research to reverse—or dramatically limit—this disease through new surgical approaches. He invented the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy that preserves blood supply and musculature, while correcting structural hip deformities and range of motion. Longitudinal 20-year follow up of patients who underwent this procedure has shown it to be highly advantageous in restoring mobility for younger patients. It is considered the preferred treatment by many in the orthopaedic field. His work in osteoarthritis also led to identify the condition of femoacetabular impingement, commonly known as bone spurs, and to develop treatment for the condition in partnership with his colleagues. 
 
Professor Ganz chaired the University of Bern’s Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery and was full professor from 1981 to 2004. Since then, he has served as a hip surgery consultant at the university and at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich. He is a valuable resource to institutions and surgeons throughout the world. He is a past-president of the International Hip Society and received the King Faisal Prize, known as the Nobel Prize of the Arab World, in 2010.
 
The Meyer Award honors transformative discoveries, innovations, and disruptive advancements in musculoskeletal medicine. The award is bestowed every three years on living persons whose achievements have shifted the paradigm for orthopedic treatment across the world. An international panel of experts, including representatives from the AAOS, ResOrtho, European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Swiss Orthopaedic Association, and Australian Orthopaedic Association, selected Professor Ganz for the award.
 
‘’Professor Ganz’ work inspires others in our profession to consider new and novel treatments based on careful, well-designed research. He was selected for the Meyer Award because he exceeded every criteria required, and because the concepts and techniques he developed resulted in life-changing hip surgeries for patients. His discoveries give patients the ability to preserve the hip joint and reverse the progression of bone and musculoskeletal disoders,” said AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, M.D., FAAOS.
 
The Meyer Award commemorates the late Professor Dominik C. Meyer, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon from the Balgrist University Hospital. Professor Meyer was internationally renowned for his research and clinical expertise in shoulder surgery.

With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. It provides education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals best treat patients. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues, and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.