ORG BIRN, University of California-San Diego Title BIO M.D., University of Chicago, 1953. Fellowship, National Foundation for Infantile paralysis, 1954-1955. Residency, University of Chicago, 1954-1958. Chairman, Department of Orthopaedics, 1970-1996. Chairman, Faculty Council SOM, 1984-1985. Acting Dean, SOM 1986-1988. Chairman, San Diego Division of the Academic Senate, University of California, 1991-1992. Nicolas Andry Award, 1965. Kappa Delta Award, 1968, 1986, 1987. Award for distinction in sports medicine research, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, 1983. Bristol-Myers/Zimmer Award for Distinguished Achievement in Orthopaedic Research, 1989. The Alumni Distinguished Service Award, The University of Chicago, 1992. Alumni Distinguished Service Award, UCSD, 1997. Founding Co-Editor, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 1981-1992. Gill Memorial Lecturer, Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society, 1990. Member, NIH Applied Physiology and Bioengineering Study Section, 1973-1977. Member, VA Merit Review Board for Rehabilitation Engineering R&D, 1979-1982/Chairman, 1982. Member, AAOS Steering Committee on Strategies for Development of an Arthritis Institute at the NIH, 1982-1983. Chairman, Ad Hoc Review Committee Advisory to NIH on NIADDK Musculoskeletal Disease Program Priorities, 1984. Member, NIH National Arthritis Advisory Board, 1985-1989/Chairman 1988-1989. Merit Review Board for Surgery, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1990-1993. Secretary-Treasurer Societe Internationale de Recherche Orthopedique et de Traumatologie (SIROT), 1992-1998/ President 200-2002. Local Arrangements Secretary, SICOT International Meeting, San Diego meeting, 2002. Merit Award NIH (Method to Extend Research in Time) 1988-1999. Honorary MD Degree, University of Gothenberg, 1995. President, Academic Orthopaedic Society, 1994-1995. Chairman, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Awards Committee, 1980-1990. Member, Board of Trustees LA Orthopaedic Hospital, 1999 -. Chairman NIH RO3 Award Study Section 1998 - 2000.
Research Interests:
Connective tissue pathophysiology; stress-related effects of connective tissue; ligament and tendon healing, role of integrins in ligament repair, biomechanics of fibroblast cells; application of antifibrotics to problems of reperfusion and problems in orthopaedics requiring control of excessive fibroblast proliferation such as epidural fibrosis post laminectomy, arthrofibrosis and tendon adhesions post laceration and repair; osteochondral shell grafting of cartilage defects.
Selected Publications:
Chu, C.R., Convery, F.R., Akeson, W.H., and Meyers, M. Biological knee arthroplasty with use of fresh osteochondral shell allografts. Scientific Exhibits 1997. Lee, J. , Harwood, F. L. Akeson, W.H. and Amiel, D. Growth factor expression in healing rabitt medial collateral anterior cruciate ligaments. Iowa Orthop. J. 18:19-25, 1998 Hart, R.A., Akeson, W.H., Spratt, K. and Amiel, D. Collagen fibril diameter distributions in rabbit anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments: Changes with maturation. Iowa Orthop J. 19:66-70. 1999. Kobayashi, K., Healey, R.M., Sah, R.L., Clark, J.J., Tu, B.P. , Groomer, R.S., Akeson, W.H., Moriya, H. and Amiel, D. Novel method for the quanitative assesment of cell migration: A study on the motility of rabbit anterior cruciate and medial ligament cells. Tissue Engineering, Vol 6, Jan 1, 2000. Akeson, W.H. Current status of cartilage grafting. West J. Medicine, 168: Epitome No. 2, Feb. 1998 Waters, S.N., Massie, J.B., Amiel, D., Akeson, W.H. A role for antifibrotics in the prevention of epidural fibrosis. Proceedings of the 46th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. March 12-15, 2000.