Lawrence Douglas Dorr, M.D. passed away peacefully December 28, 2020, at 1:10 AM. He was 79 years old. Dr. Dorr was born in Storm Lake, IA to Everett and Evelyn Dorr. He spent his early life in Iowa- something that made him very proud. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. He met the love of his life, Marilyn Dorr, at the “Airliner” in Iowa City and they were married in Iowa City, IA in 1966. Larry and Marilyn built a happy and successful life while he attended Graduate school (Pharmacology) and then Medical School at University of Iowa. He served his Internship at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. Dorr served his country as Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Medical Corps, Camp Pendelton, CA and Jacksonville, FL from 1967-1971. He then completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at LAC+USC Medical Center before starting his fellowship along with Dr. Alan Inglis in joint replacement under Dr. Chitranjan Ranawat at The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York from July 1976-July 1977. Dr. Ranawat was his mentor and hero and they remained friends for life .Dr. Dorr became a Board Certified Orthopedic surgeon in 1978 and started his career in Los Angeles at LAC-USC Medical Center and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey as an attending surgeon. From the beginning of his career he never shied away from the most difficult problems patients faced with their hips and knee joints, and specialized in many early developments in joint replacement surgery success. He was also an was an avid writer, publishing hundreds of peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and books on the practice of total joint replacement. His unique combination of surgical talent, innovation, and scientific impact helped steer the field for over five decades.
Dr. Dorr is a Founder of The Knee Society and The Hip Society and a member of many orthopedic Associations. He was a Founder of AAHKS (American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons). He founded The Bone and Joint Institute in Los Angles in 1999, and The Arthritis Institute in 2001, making Los Angeles an international destination for joint replacement. Beyond his professional impact, his commitment to his patients was unparalleled- his patients came from across the USA and internationally as his reputation grew. He personally trained over 100 clinical and research Fellows who remain active in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
In 1996 he had the idea of starting a nonprofit organization called Operation Walk to provide free joint replacement for people in underserved countries and here in the USA. He Founded the organization and pulled together teams of surgeons, doctors, nurses and physical therapists who all donated their time to operate 60-100 patients a year, and to educate local health care professionals in countries such as Cuba, China, Nepal, Philippines, El Salvador, Tanzania, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Vietnam. He encouraged other orthopedic surgeons in the USA to develop spin off teams to help serve the overwhelming need for Operation Walk’s assistance. This organization has now operated over 13,000 people abroad and here in the USA. Operation Walk will carry on his legacy, as he firmly implanted its roots in the hearts of the volunteers, his colleagues and partners such as Zimmer Biomet, Johnson and Johnson, MAKO, Cardinal Health, and Medline.
He retired from Keck Medical Center of USC in June 2019 and set forth to write his fifth book, which was about Operation Walk, and enjoying golf with friends and spending time with Marilyn.
Dr. Dorr’s credential, accolades, professional affiliations are too numerous to list, but some of which he was most proud are; The Lawrence and Marilyn Dorr Chair in Orthopedics at University of Iowa, his Distinguished Alumni Awards from Cornell College (2003) and UI Carver College of Medicine (2006), Humanitarian Award from American Academy of Orthopedic surgeons (2005), Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Iowa Orthopedic Society (2007), AAHKS Humanitarian of the Year Award (2017), and Honorary Member of the Cuban Orthopedic Society (2019).
He was internationally renowned, having touched the lives of people in so many countries. Operation Walk, and his own practice, did not just help people to walk again, but gave individuals hope and the ability to live their best lives.
Dr. Dorr’s friends and colleagues are too numerous to name. His Annandale Family was so important to him. His “work” family was expansive and crushed by his loss. Jeri Ward, Mary Ellen Sieben, Rudy Costales, Mike Smith, Jim Morris and Patricia Ward, all worked with him for over 30 years, and are committed to carry on his legacy. We all learned from him. He did not mince words, demanded the absolute best care for his patients, then had trust in us that we would give our best. He made everyone around him a better person.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn Dorr of Pasadena, CA, his sons Mike Dorr, wife Tiffany and Grandson Hunter from Pasadena, CA and Randy Dorr from Salt Lake City, UT, his beloved daughter Kristina Dorr residing in Granada Hills, CA, grandson Hunter Dorr of Pasadena, CA., brothers David Dorr of St. Louis, MO and Jim Dorr of Azuza, CA, his many cousins in Iowa, and his Godchildren Katie Callaghan, Josh Brouillette and Andrea Boiardo He also leaves behind his ferocious dog, Bogey.
The heavens prepared for his entrance this month with the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn, the Cold Moon, and one heck of a rainstorm over Los Angeles on the night he passed. An unusual “double rainbow” brilliantly lit the sky on the morning of the 28th. He was a force of nature and he will be missed.
Services are pending. Information can be found on this website. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to Operation Walk Los Angeles.