Trainee awards highlight innovation in sustainability, digital health, trauma outcomes, and clinical decision-making
SAN FRANCISCO – May 12, 2026 — Scientific discussion and academic exchange defined the 70th LeRoy C. Abbott Society Scientific Program and 57th Verne T. Inman Lectureship, held May 7–8 at the William J. Rutter Center at the UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center. Approximately 150 faculty, trainees, alumni, and visiting colleagues gathered for the department’s annual research meeting.
Outgoing UCSF Orthopaedic chief residents presented their research at the 2026 Inman Abbott Scientific Program, highlighting a wide range of scholarly work across the department. From left to right: Jeffrey Kwong, MD, MS; Chris Stewart, MD; Ryan Halvorson, MD; Edgar Garcia-Lopez, MD; Alicia Asturias, MD; Syed Ali, MD; and Katherine Woolley, MD. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
The Inman Abbott Scientific Program remains a cornerstone of UCSF Orthopaedics’ academic mission, bringing together generations of surgeons to share research, mentor trainees, and highlight emerging directions in musculoskeletal care.
“This meeting reflects what we value most — curiosity, rigor, and a shared commitment to improving patient care through discovery,” said C. Benjamin Ma, MD , Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF. “The work presented here shows how our trainees are not just participating in the future of orthopaedics, they are actively defining it.”
Keynote speakers at the 2026 Inman Abbott Scientific Program included Kevin Bozic, MD, and Leesa Galatz, MD, MBA, who delivered remarks on leadership, innovation, and the future of orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Galatz is pictured on stage during her presentation. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
Keynote lectures were delivered by Kevin Bozic, MD MBA , Chair of Orthopaedics at The University of Texas at Austin, and Leesa Galatz, MD, MBA , Chair of Orthopaedics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Both speakers addressed the evolving landscape of academic orthopaedics, emphasizing leadership in clinical innovation, systems-based care, and integration of research into surgical practice.
This year’s presentations reflected a rapidly evolving field, with studies spanning environmental sustainability in surgical care, patient engagement in digital health systems, trauma outcomes, and the integration of artificial intelligence tools into clinical workflows.
2026 Inman Abbott Research Award Recipients
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First Place was awarded to Katherine Woolley, MD , for “The Environmental Impact of Short Stay Total Shoulder Arthroplasty,” which examined sustainability considerations in surgical care. |
Second Place was awarded to Ryan Halvorson, MD , for “Who Reads the After Visit Summary? Characterizing Digital Engagement and Physician Cost in a Large Urban Healthcare System,” exploring patient engagement in digital care environments. Dr. Halvorson also received the Poster Award for “Orthopaedic Surgeon and Cross-Specialty Utilization of an LLM-Based Clinical Decision Support Platform,” highlighting the expanding role of AI-based tools in clinical decision-making. |
Third Place was awarded to Douglas Saeks, MD , for “The Impact of Timing from Injury to Amputation on Patients,” focusing on timing and outcomes in complex trauma. |
