The mission of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS) is to increase diversity within the orthopaedic profession and promote the highest quality musculoskeletal care for all people.

The JRGOS boasts the largest membership of black orthopaedic surgeons in the world. Our members include surgeons from every orthopaedic subspecialty along with many orthopaedic department chairpersons and program directors. Become a member and support the Gladden Society’s mission to increase diversity within the orthopaedic profession and promote the highest quality musculoskeletal care for all people.

JRGOS Board Statement Regarding the Supreme Court Decision on Dobbs v. Jackson

The J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society respects the privacy of the physician-patient relationship and believes that patients and their doctors should have the freedom to exercise shared decision making in all aspects of their medical care, including reproductive health. The Gladden Society is also wary of any policy that restricts access to healthcare, because these restrictions disproportionally affect patients of color in a negative way. We stand with organizations who reject judicial interference in the physician-patient relationship.

In the News

Watch: A rebel with a cause: As a mentor and a leader, this Black orthopedic surgeon fights to diversify his field

Orthopedic surgeons pride themselves on fixing things. Can they fix their own field’s lack of diversity?

The whitest specialty: As medicine strives to close its diversity gaps, one field remains a stubborn outlier

Making a Difference Through Mentoring

Only 1.9% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons are black. Through multi-faceted mentoring programs, the Gladden Society is cultivating the next generation of underrepresented orthopaedic surgeons. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or are a medical student, or resident seeking an orthopaedic mentor, visit our mentoring page for more information.

Mentoring

Ending Orthopaedic Health Care Disparities

Through advocacy and clinical research, the Gladden Society has educated orthopaedic surgeons from all cultures on how to improve the quality of musculoskeletal care and address many of the unconscious biases present in the care of orthopaedic patients. It is the goal of the Gladden Society to eliminate health care disparities in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.