Rick Sumner, PhD, Mary Lou Bell McGrew Presidential Professor for Medical Research and chairperson of the Department of Cell & Molecular Medicine within Rush Medical College, was honored by the Orthopaedic Research Society on Feb. 15, when he was named a 2021 fellow during the society's virtual annual meeting.
Sumner joined the society in 1984 and has served in a variety of roles including president in 2017-18.
The ORS works to accelerate musculoskeletal discovery to improve health through research, education, community and advocacy. The society strives to cultivate a diverse, inclusive and engaged ORS community by increasing access and opportunity. Its goals include increasing awareness and understanding of the burden of musculoskeletal conditions and the impact of research.
ORS Fellows are selected by the ORS Board of Directors and represent longstanding members of the ORS who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership, substantial achievement, expert knowledge and significant contributions to the ORS, its governance, and the field of musculoskeletal research. Fellows are thought leaders and experts in their respective disciplines and serve as role models in the ORS community and in the field of musculoskeletal research exemplifying the core values of the Society.
Sumner’s research interests focus mainly on bone regeneration as related to orthopedic implants, understanding how bone matrix maturation contributes to bone quality, and the role of bone in osteoarthritis. Among his achievements, Sumner and his colleagues have discovered biomarkers — detectable molecules in body fluid or tissue that are a sign of a health condition — that may help predict hip replacement failure.
