The world is less brilliant today. We are sad to share the news that the founder of Operation Walk, Dr. Dorr passed away this morning. He was an inspiration to all of us at WOGO. He was an avid supporter of our team and an incredible mentor for many in Orthopaedics. We will proudly carry on his legacy and continue to restore mobility through joint reconstruction surgeries for those who would not otherwise be able to receive these life changing surgeries.

Love and hugs from our team to yours,
WOGO
Women Orthopaedist Global Outreach

I am at a loss for words…..

He was a gift from God with all his greatness. His heart and soul was filled with a kindness he shared completely. He gave back in a way that not many could ever accomplish to help those in need along with all those who for years have been by his side.

I for one am so grateful not only to have known Dr. Dorr but that he gave me the second chance of mobility.
God bless Dr. Lawrence Dorr. May he rest in peace among the Angels.

In life, not only do events shape our lives, but so do individuals. All people who come and go in our lives either have a negative, or positive impact. Around 2003 was the year my life changed all for the better. I was attending one of the largest Orthopedics meetings in the nation, Current Concepts in Orlando, Florida. On one of my breaks from lecture, I approached a vendor booth which caught my eye. A medical mission groups based out of Los Angeles called Operation Walk. Jeri Ward ran the booth and we sparked up a conversation about the organization. I asked her how I could get involved, and she said I would have to discuss this with Dr. Dorr. Unbeknownst to me, I said, “who is Dr. Dorr.?” Fate is a wonderful thing, and to my good luck, he happened to walk by. Jeri quickly pointed and said, “there he is, go talk with him”.

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When: Jan 10, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Please click this link to join the session.

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International numbers available here.

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.

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– Mary Ellen Sieben, OR Director. Operation Walk Los Angeles

One of the many things I loved about Dr. Dorr was his leadership. He had many ideas about patient care, surgical techniques, pain control, implant design and giving back. Then he built a team whom he helped guide to implement these ideas and have them come to fruition.

He had the utmost respect for other healthcare professionals- true, you had to earn it, but once you had it, you had the autonomy to do your job, which let him do his job. He was the type of leader you absolutely wanted to do your best for and everyone on the team strived for that. I think you can see this in his patient outcomes, the number of excellent surgeons he sent out into the world, and the creation of Operation Walk.

Though his passing is so very sad, I know in my heart that he is so proud of all the strong team leaders he mentored to carry on a seek improvement in joint replacement – and we will!

Jeri Ward, Executive Director. Operation Walk Los Angeles

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Operation Walk Founder Dr. Lawrence Dorr. There will be many tributes to him over the coming months, but I would like to take a moment at the end of a most difficult year to tell you about Dr. Dorr, “The Man”.

I met him in 1983 when he joined Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedics in Inglewood, CA. I was a new R.N. at Centinela Hospital. His reputation preceded him. It was drilled into us that he was a powerful joint replacement surgeon, and that he was a tough task master. He wanted everything to be just great for his patients. I heard him before I saw him. His booming laugh echoed the halls as he exited the elevator and walked onto the ward with Dr. Clarence Shields. He came around and met all the nurses and Physical Therapists, giving us ideas on what his vision was for developing a joint replacement program.

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– By Dr. Roberto Balsameda

The Board of Directors and the Members of the Cuban Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology mourn the death on the night of December 27th, of the eminent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Douglas Dorr, MD, in the city of Los Angeles, California.

It was in this city where he developed his professional activity and stood out as an organizer of arthritis and osteoarthritis surgery, treating incapacitating gait conditions.

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