A legend has gone to heaven.
My two OpWalk trips with Dr. Dorr and the team were the greatest times of my life and the brightest and most life-changing. He was a light in this world and my heart goes out to all that he was close to and all that loved him. He changed this world for the better and I am honored and humbled to have been able to serve on his Operation Walk missions.
A great mentor, a living legend and superhero in my heart, and my English teacher….
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about Dr. Dorr passing away on the Operation Walk Facebook on 12/29. In my heart, Dr. Dorr is a giant, legend, and superhero.
In a year full of loss, this has hit me the hardest.
Dr. Dorr and Operation Walk led me to a career in orthopedics. His legacy lives on through the thousands of lives he has improved through his generosity, my life included.
I will never forget all he’s done for me!
Dr. Dorr, thank you for shaping me into the person I am today.
I will cherish being your right and left hand in the OR for 18 years. Forever grateful to my mentor.
I will miss you, Papa Dorr.
More than a week ago, we lost our co-founder, Dr. Lawrence Dorr. His CV is pages long; his accomplishments in and contributions to the field of orthopedics fill history books.
Twelve years ago, almost to the day, Total Joint Orthopedics was born. The idea was simple: our surgeon founders wanted exceptional implants with intuitive instrumentation that any surgeon could use, with one caveat: implants would be donated for use with Operation Walk and other charitable entities.
It all started for me in October 1992. Dr Dorr had the greatest influence on my professional career. I am thankful for how he and Jeri Ward taught me to care for patients as I began my career as a physical therapist at USC. I am grateful for the hundreds of friends I have made as a result of his team and Operation Walk. I am thankful for the opportunities given to travel the world to teach and treat patients and by “multiplier effect”, their families.
It is always my goal to have his spirit and vigor represented with each and every patient I treat. Never dull, never grew tired of treating patients, loved his family and his country, literally changed the lives of tens of thousands of people either directly or indirectly through his surgery or education/mentorship.
Fearless
Visionary
Demanding (of self and others )
Compassionate
Leader
Skilled
Funny
And the list goes on…
I am certain I would not be the healthcare provider or teacher I am today if not for his stewardship and passion. Fight on!
I was fortunate to have met Dr. Larry Dorr on several occasions. He led our team on our inaugural mission trip to Nicaragua in 2003. There were also encounters while attending Operation Walk Leadership meetings in California over the last 15 years.
Most recently, while manning the Operation Walk booth at the AAHKS meeting in Dallas, TX in 2019, Dr. Dorr stopped by to check on us and chat.
His smile is what I will always dwell on.
Not only infectious, his broad grin conveyed approval, enthusiasm, encouragement and exuberance.
Many have dreams and ideas, Dr. Dorr turned his vision into a reality.
He taught me so much and I will be forever grateful that I got to meet and work with him. He had the heart of a lion and will continue to be a huge inspiration to me.
His loss will be felt around the world.
Love and condolences to his family.
A mentor, a leader and a father. You taught me about cigars, wine, and the important things: people, teamwork, patient care, surgery, having a routine, not fixing what isn’t broken.
Gone, but you still live on in all of us who have had the grace and good fortune to learn from you.
For those of us in Orthopaedics, we thank you for your innovations of cancellous titanium, partially coated anatomic stems, bone type, computer and robotic surgery, and the spinopelvic relationship, amongst the many. These innovations have improved so many lives.
I will do my best to make sure your legacy of Operation Walk lives on.
Compassion, and what it meant, was a topic talked about at the supper table and taught in the Des Moines parsonage home of the Rev. M. Everett Dorr and Evelyn Dorr, the parents of Lawrence D. Dorr.
Hearing as a youth that giving a helping hand to those in desperate need would be the most powerful thing he could ever do shaped in large part the life of Lawrence Dorr and took him to a distinguished, influential career in medicine and recognition as an internationally renowned orthopedic surgeon.
