2024 Educator of the Year Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Medical Education

Milton ‘Chip’ Routt, MD, an esteemed orthopedic trauma surgeon, has been honored with the prestigious AO North American Jeff Mast Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Routt’s selection for this accolade underscores his remarkable commitment to instructing physicians across all stages of their careers.

With an impressive record of teaching over 193 courses and serving as a lecturer with AO North America since 1990, Dr. Routt has left an indelible mark on the field. His scholarly endeavors, including numerous peer-reviewed articles and insightful book chapters, further attest to his dedication to advancing medical education.

Renowned for his unwavering dedication to patient care and his fervent enthusiasm for teaching, Dr. Routt embodies the essence of a distinguished physician-surgeon and inspirational educator.

Chaitanya Mudgal, MD, a distinguished orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and arm care, has been named the esteemed AO North America Jesse Jupiter Educator of the Year. Dr. Mudgal’s selection for this prestigious award underscores his exceptional commitment to educating physicians at every stage of their professional journey.

With an impressive body of work that includes over 100 peer-reviewed papers, more than 20 book chapters, and an extensive portfolio of over 350 presentations, Dr. Mudgal has made significant contributions to the field of orthopedic education. His leadership roles as faculty and Chairman at AO courses across the United States, Latin America, Davos, and India further exemplify his dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues worldwide.

W. Bradley Jacobs, MD, a prominent spine surgeon, has been honored as the AO North America John France Educator of the Year. Dr. Jacobs’ receipt of this esteemed award underscores his exceptional dedication to educating physicians at every stage of their professional development. Specializing in spinal oncology, including stereotactic spinal radiosurgery and surgical interventions for spinal deformities, Dr. Jacobs has demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing clinical care in his field. His research endeavors encompass a wide range of clinical studies, particularly focusing on spinal cord injury, where he actively participates as either a Principal Investigator or Co-investigator in numerous clinical trials.

Stephen MacLeod BDS, MD, FACS, ABOMS, FRCS, an esteemed CMF surgeon, has been named the AO North America Brian Alpert Educator of the Year. Dr. MacLeod’s selection for this prestigious honor highlights his exceptional dedication to educating physicians across all stages of their professional journey.

With a strong commitment to research, postgraduate training, and education, Dr. MacLeod has made significant contributions to the field. His numerous publications and presentations of original research at national and international meetings underscore his commitment to advancing the knowledge and practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Practicing full-scope oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. MacLeod’s clinical interests span reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial trauma, and benign bone pathology. Notably, he is deeply involved in faculty development and the training of surgeons in non-technical skills, further enhancing the quality of surgical education and patient care.

Dean Richardson, DVM, a distinguished Veterinary surgeon specializing in equine orthopedic trauma, has been honored with the AO North America Alan Ruggles Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Richardson’s selection for this esteemed recognition underscores his exceptional commitment to educating veterinarians at every stage of their professional journey.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Dr. Richardson has dedicated himself to teaching AO veterinary courses worldwide after completing his internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive involvement in the AO community includes serving on the AONA Board of Directors, the AONA-VET Education Committee, and the AO VET-TK committee. Moreover, Dr. Richardson's contributions extend to reviewing extensively for Foundation research grants, further enhancing the quality of veterinary education and research.