A Note from Operation Walk’s Chairman of the Board, Dr. John Callaghan

Starting out of the Blocks Fast! We haven’t lost a Step!

It has been over two years since the unexpected passing of Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, founder of Operation Walk. Dr. Dorr founded Operation Walk in 1994 to provide free joint replacements for people in underserved countries around the globe and in the United States. He started a movement with Operation Walk Los Angeles that has grown to over twenty chapters through the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Operation Walk has provided over 15,000 joint replacements to underserved patients.
Dr. Dorr and I started a relationship in 1984 where initially he was my mentor, then trusted colleague, and very soon after that, a dear friend. I was able to watch him firsthand create Operation Walk LA. His skills not only as a gifted surgeon who pioneered efficient, safe and innovated joint replacement with excellent reported outcomes, but also as a tremendous leader and organizer in all the United States joint replacement organizations; the US Hip Society, US Knee Society and, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons were used to create his brain child Operation Walk which he had envisioned. He and his veteran team led by Jeri Ward and Mary Ellen Sieben developed a process that has been replicated across the country and internationally because of their diligent development of how to succeed with such a daunting process of delivering high quality care of a difficult technology, joint replacement surgery, which had never been performed in these countries.

Many times when the founder of an organization dies the organization dies on the vine. Marilyn Dorr and I always knew in the back of our minds that if Dr. Dorr would ever have an untimely death, I would step in and make sure Dr. Dorr’s legacy would endure into perpetuity. Everything was so well organized by Dr. Dorr, the well-oiled machine led by Jeri Ward and Mary Ellen Sieben and now Ava Baldwin as our awesome administrator, a diligent board, led by Dr. Paul Gilbert, and most importantly all of you, Operation Walk’s loyal and generous donors over so many years. I can honestly assure you, we have not missed a step.
Even when Covid hit we were planning on how we would execute our first trip to Guatemala in 2021, our second trip to Cuba in 2022 and now are preparing to go to Tanzania in August of 2023.

Our preparation allowed us to accomplish our missions safely and efficiently in Guatemala and Cuba and anticipate the same in Tanzania. We continue to have strong support from our Angels (Luncheon on April 26) and our Gala (Oct. 7 this year) which have been successful even in the Covid crises. As other humanitarian organizations have had to fold or markedly decrease their efforts, Operation Walk LA has not missed a step! The spirit of Dr. Lawrence Dorr will continue to carry on especially with all our loyal donors’ support. Our one request is that you talk with your friends to join us in continuing the mission to provide free hip & knee replacements to those underserved populations around the globe and at home.

Sincerely,

John J. Callaghan, MD

John J. Callaghan, MD, FAOA, the Lawrence and Marilyn Dorr Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa, was recognized for his personal achievement and broad contribution to orthopaedics with the 2020 Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award. An acknowledged leader both nationally and internationally, Dr. Callaghan has extensively contributed to the areas of orthopaedic education and research. He has led as principle investigator of grants from OREF, the National Institutes of Health, and the Veterans Administration.

His extensive leadership roles have included Secretary for The American Orthopaedic Association, ABOS officer, President for the International Hip Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the Hip Society, the Knee Society, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, and the Iowa Orthopaedic Society. Dr. Callaghan is the recipient of numerous awards, including The American Orthopaedic Association’s Distinguished Clinician Educator Award in 2013.

During his virtual acceptance speech, Dr. Callaghan acknowledged the mentors who have advised and guided him along the way. He reflected upon a common question over the course of his career: why he decided to spend the time, energy, and passion contributing to various organizations across the orthopaedic profession. “The answer is simple,” he explained. “We are privileged to practice in one of the most innovative and dynamic areas of medicine in general and surgery, specifically. To maintain that position and to advance our field even further requires continual pursuit of research and education.”