Steven J. Meyer, MD, Receives 2022 AAHKS Humanitarian Award
For Immediate Release
November 29, 2022
Rosemont, IL – On Friday, November 4, during the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting, Steven J. Meyer, MD, was presented with the prestigious 2022 Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, Humanitarian Award. Through Dr. Meyer’s organization STEMM (Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministry), he has provided more than 1,000 free surgeries, imported over $5 million dollars of equipment and spent countless hours educating healthcare professionals.
This award recognizes his leadership in medical mission trips to remote Maasai villages providing healthcare to totally isolated people groups and introducing TJA to the county of Tanzania. STEMM was founded in in 1996, and since its conception, the philosophy of the organization has been to provide aid to persons of extreme poverty regardless of color, creed, gender or religion. A large focus has been to educate impoverished children and provide orphan care, humanitarian relief, medical services and training, agricultural improvement and community development, which includes feeding 5,500 children school lunches daily.
“Dr. Meyer is a true advocate for the people of Tanzania, especially the orphans. I’ve witnessed his relentless drive and dedication personally. After a 24-hour flight home from Africa, and with no hesitation, immediately resuming his clinical duties to balance responsibilities with his partners, all to remain devoted to his trips to Tanzania. Dr. Meyer’s care for the people of Tanzania is not a theoretical experience, but a real one,” says Brian D. Johnson, MD, a partner and friend of Dr. Meyer.
Dr. Meyer graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Kentucky, Shriner’s Hospital. He is fellowship trained in general orthopaedics and pediatric orthopaedics.
The AAHKS Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, Humanitarian Award recognizes AAHKS members who have distinguished themselves by providing humanitarian medical services and programs with a significant focus on musculoskeletal diseases and trauma including the hip and knee in the United States or abroad.
Nominations for the 2023 AAHKS Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, Humanitarian Award are now being accepted through June 5, 2023, at www.AAHKS.org/Humanitarian.
About the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
Established in 1991, the mission of AAHKS is to advance hip and knee patient care through education, advocacy, research and outreach. AAHKS has a membership of over 4,600 surgeons and other hip and knee health care professionals.
