SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Virginia orthopaedic surgeon Wilford K. Gibson, MD, FAAOS, was named first vice president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors. In this leadership role, Dr. Gibson will help shape the AAOS’ strategic initiatives and educational efforts, positioning him to assume the presidency in 2026. His position was announced at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
“I am deeply honored to serve the AAOS,” said Dr. Gibson. “Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to advancing orthopaedic care, advocating for patients and mentoring the next generation of surgeons. This role presents a tremendous opportunity to continue those efforts and support the AAOS’ mission of providing the highest quality of musculoskeletal care.”
Dr. Gibson’s service to the AAOS spans more than a decade with numerous leadership roles, including chair of the Board of Councilors (BOC) from 2014-2015 and chair of the AAOS Advocacy Council from 2017-2021. A passionate advocate for advancing orthopaedic care and patient outcomes, he also served on the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (Orthopaedic PAC) for nearly a decade and was honored as the AAOS 2022 Congressional Ambassador of the Year.
A Career Rooted in Service
Dr. Gibson’s journey as a leader in orthopaedic care began during his military service. After completing his surgical internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), he was deployed aboard the USS Nassau for operations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. His service earned him the Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, and Navy “E” and sea service ribbons.
Following his return to NMCP for orthopaedic residency, Dr. Gibson pursued advanced training as a Navy orthopaedic fellow at Tampa General Hospital in Florida and later led the orthopaedic trauma service at NMCP.
Advancing Patient Care
As a recognized leader in his field, Dr. Gibson served as chief of the Division of Orthopaedics at Eastern Virginia Medical School from 1994-2001, where he continues to teach future generations of physicians and surgeons. His leadership within the Virginia Orthopaedic Society earned him both the society’s 2014 President’s Award and 2015 Career Lifetime Achievement Award.
Since transitioning to civilian practice, Dr. Gibson has been a partner at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, where he focuses on patient specific hip and knee replacements, robotics and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Gibson also serves as a volunteer team physician for Old Dominion University football and basketball teams.
In addition to his private practice, Dr. Gibson holds academic roles as an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed advanced fellowship training in AO/ASIF pelvis and acetabulum surgery at LA County-USC Medical Center.
About the AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level best treat patients daily. The AAOS is the source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.
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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
