2026 JRGOS Claudia L. Thomas, MD Award

The J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society is pleased to announce Toni M. McLaurin, MD as the recipient of the 2026 JRGOS Claudia L. Thomas, MD Award.

This award honors individuals who exemplify the legacy of Claudia L. Thomas, MD, the first African American woman to become an orthopedic surgeon in the United States and the first African American woman certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

Toni M. McLaurin, MD the 2026 JRGOS Claudia L. Thomas, MD Award Recipient

Dr. McLaurin is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Chief of Orthopedics at NYC Health Hospitals-Bellevue, and a member of the Trauma Division at NYU Langone Orthopedics, where she specializes in post-traumatic reconstruction and deformity correction.

Dr. McLaurin is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Medical School, completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Michigan State University, and fellowship training in orthopedic trauma at Emory University. Dr. McLaurin holds a master’s degree in medical informatics from Northwestern University School of Professional Studies.

Dr. McLaurin is a former Member-at-Large of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Board of Directors, and active in the Orthopedic Trauma Association, the Gladden Society, and AO Trauma. Widely recognized for her excellence in teaching and mentorship, she has devoted her career to resident education and to advancing and celebrating inclusion in orthopedic surgery.