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Nearly $100M in Support: Bethel Family Foundation Fuels the Next Chapter of BMRC
The Orland Bethel Family Foundation, a powerful supporter of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, has committed an additional $53.5 million to expand the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC). The gift, which brings giving from the Bethel family to nearly $100 million in the last five years, will grow the center’s research, innovation and training efforts.
“Orland Bethel is changing the landscape of what we know about musculoskeletal disease and supporting critical work that will lead to better treatments,” said Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel. “This gift will improve the lives of countless individuals who suffer pain and limited mobility. I cannot thank Orland enough for his partnership and generosity.”
The strategic gift will create three endowed professorships, launch an award program for mid-career researchers and thought leaders, improve recruitment and retention of key BMRC leaders, develop a commercialization-focused curriculum, connect researchers with venture capital and better couple the BMRC with industry leaders to ensure it is producing the researchers and leaders most in demand inside and outside of academia.
“This multifaceted gift will transform the BMRC into not only a leader in research and training, but also a powerful economic engine for the region, attracting investment and creating new companies,” said Anantha Shekhar, the John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine and senior vice chancellor for the health sciences at Pitt. “The BMRC is already at the forefront of global discovery; it will soon be the leader in commercialization in the field of treating musculoskeletal disease and improving patient outcomes through personalized medicine.”
Read more at PittWire here.
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UPMC-PittOrtho AAOS Alumni Reception - RSVP Today!
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UPMC-PittOrtho Alumni Reception
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Jolie Restaurant
324 Julia Street
New Orleans, LA, 70130
This reception is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, faculty, and friends while enjoying an evening together in New Orleans. We would be delighted to see you and hear about your continued accomplishments.
RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/yCrWqYFApA
Please RSVP by February 23.
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Up to $7,500 Available With 2026 P.O.D Awards - Apply Now!
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Applications for 2026's PITT Orthopaedics Development (P.O.D.) Awards are due March 2, 2026.
Click here to apply.
The P.O.D. Award can be utilized to support endeavors in leadership, education, academia, research, new innovations or community outreach. The P.O.D. Awards are a testament to our commitment to fostering excellence and continuous growth within our PittOrtho community.
Awards of up to $7,500 are available.
Questions? Residents please contact Kate Gaunt (gauntkm@upmc.edu) for questions or concerns.
Faculty members please contact Lisa Arrisher-Brown (arrisherlm@upmc.edu) for questions or concerns.
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Congratulations to Dr. Tomo (Tommy) Ono on being selected as an AOSSM–JSOA International Research Fellow for 2026–2027.
In addition to this honor, Dr. Ono was part of the team that brought home the 2025 AOSSM Playmaker Grant. The winning project, “Dislocation- and Surgery-Induced Plasticity of the Glenoid Track,” was led by orthopaedic sports medicine fellow Dr. Tomoya (Tommy) Ono, with Dr. Jonathan Hughes serving as senior author and presenter.
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Dr. John R. Fowler Appointed Co-Director of the UPMC/Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Pittsburgh Hand Surgery Fellowship
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is pleased to announce that Dr. John R. Fowler has been appointed Co-Director of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Hand Surgery Fellowship Program, effective immediately.
Dr. Fowler has served as an Associate Director of the fellowship since 2019, working closely with Dr. Mark E. Baratz, current Fellowship Director, and Dr. Robert J. Goitz, Associate Director. His longstanding dedication to education, clinical excellence, and program development has made him an integral leader within the fellowship structure.
Drs. Fowler and Baratz will work in partnership to support the fellows, guide curriculum evolution, and continue strengthening the fellowship’s national reputation.
Dr. Fowler has already taken on significant leadership within the program, including active involvement in planning this year’s fellowship interviews and leading morning hand conferences.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Fowler on this well-deserved appointment.
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UPMC-PittOrtho Honors Legacy of Dr. Dana Mears
Dr. Mears died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on December 24, 2025, at the age of 85.
Dr. Mears earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He earned a PhD in Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge and later received his medical degree from Oxford University. Dr. Mears completed his internship at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford England and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Residencies were completed at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford England and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He served as an orthopedic surgeon at UPMC Shadyside for 32 years.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mears held 18 patents, authored three books, and edited numerous journals. He was a true pioneer in the field of orthopedic surgery, particularly in minimally invasive hip and knee surgeries, which have become the standard practice worldwide. Dr. Mears was also at the forefront of medical robotics, developing techniques and devices that allowed patients to return to their daily activities more quickly.
Dr. Mears' legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the advancements he brought to orthopaedics. He will be greatly missed.
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