West Point Surgeon Honored with Award Encouraging Women in Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
Rosemont, Ill. (October 1, 2020) – Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon Laura K. Dawson, DO, from West Point, New York, received the 2020 Career Development Award from the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society® (AOFAS). One of two Women’s Leadership Awards presented by the Foundation, the Career Development Award supports the professional aspirations of early- and mid-career female orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. Dr. Dawson accepted her award at AOFAS at Home, the Society’s virtual annual meeting, on September 11, 2020.
Dr. Dawson received her medical degree from Kansas City University in Missouri, and performed her orthopaedic surgery residency at Texas Tech University Health Service Center and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in Texas. In 2012, she completed a foot and ankle orthopaedic fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Dawson currently serves as the United States Corps of Cadets Senior Medical Officer and orthopaedic surgeon at Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, New York. She is also a team physician for the United States Military Academy. Prior to entering the medical field, Dr. Dawson had more than 15 years of experience in the military and received five awards for exemplary service.
“Being nominated and selected for this award is an honor, rewarding, and humbling coming from an organization filled with such incredibly talented and compassionate female (and male) leaders,” said Dr. Dawson.
Dr. Dawson joined AOFAS in 2012 and is a member of the AOFAS Research Committee. Throughout her career she has presented her research at numerous orthopaedic meetings and published several articles in scientific journals.
“Dr. Dawson has an impressive military pedigree and is an excellent role model for all of our members who may feel, at times, like an underdog,” said Thomas H. Lee, MD, AOFAS Past President. “She is well published, active within our society, and most importantly, a great surgeon.”
The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation established the Women’s Leadership Initiative, which includes the Women’s Leadership Awards, in 2018 to recognize and encourage current and future female leaders in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery. Funding for the 2020 Women's Leadership Initiative is provided by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, supported in part by a grant from Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
About Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons
Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consist of four years of medical school, five years of postgraduate residency, and a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists care for patients of all ages, performing reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treating sports injuries, and managing foot and ankle trauma.
About the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation
The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), is a 501(c)(3) organization that advances the AOFAS mission to improve lives through exceptional orthopaedic foot and ankle care. Through its funding of humanitarian endeavors, educational outreach programs, and innovative research, the Foundation enhances foot and ankle care for patients around the world. For more information visit the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation online at aofas.org/foundation.
Contact:
Christie Petrucci
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Office: 847-430-5127
cpetrucci@aofas.org