J. Robert Gladden Society

The J. Robert Gladden Society (JRGOS) has evolved from roots in the African-American orthopaedic community. A group of concerned members of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) have worked with the leadership in the AAOS to advance the ideals of ethnic and gender diversity in our profession. The society emphasizes education and the development of the practice of culturally competent medicine. The goal is to eliminate ethnic disparities in health care. Simply stated, the JRGOS stresses the need for minority orthopaedic surgeons to work collaboratively to address important patient and educational concerns. The JRGOS is housed with twenty-two other orthopaedic specialty societies at the headquarter office of the AAOS in Rosemont, Illinois. In the future the JRGOS will continue to support activities as they relate to education of surgeons and patients, health care policy and medical research.

The mission of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS) is to increase diversity within the orthpaedic profession and promote the highest quality musculoskeletal care for all people. The JRGOS is a pluralist multicultural organization designed to meet the needs of under-represented minority orthopaedic surgeons and to advance the ideals of excellent musculoskeletal care for all patients with particular attention to underserved groups.