Dr. Jonathan F. Dickens COL, MC, USAR and Eoghan Hurley, MD, members of the Duke Orthopaedic Surgery team, along with their military orthopaedic colleague, Dr. Matthew T. Provencher, MD, MBA, CAPT MC USNR (Ret.), have been honored with the 2025 Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award for their groundbreaking work in understanding and treating anterior shoulder instability in U.S. military personnel. This prestigious award acknowledges their significant contributions to advancing clinical care, surgical techniques, and treatment options, particularly emphasizing the impact of their research on military personnel.
The Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award is the highest research honor in orthopaedic surgery. It is a testament to the transformative power of clinical research and innovation in improving patient care worldwide. This is the 3rd award for the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Team.
Their research, which has lasted 25 years, has profoundly shaped the field of orthopaedics, offering worldwide guidance on treating anterior shoulder instability. The team’s research focus has notably impacted several areas of shoulder instability treatment, including the role of bone loss, athlete management, risk factors for recurrence, return to play guidance, and the development of improved options to treat shoulder instability. The guidelines and treatment developed by this team are now considered by many to be the gold standard for shoulder stabilization, enabling military personnel and athletes, in general, to recover more quickly and effectively, with better long-term outcomes.
The award celebrates the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team of professionals committed to advancing patient care. Among the co-authors recognized are Dr. Jonathan F. Dickens, MD, MC, USAR, a professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and program director for the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Duke, and Dr. Eoghan T. Hurley, MBBCh, PhD, MSc, a third-year resident at Duke. Their expertise and invaluable contributions were crucial to the success of the research. Together, they have impacted clinical and surgical decision-making, benefiting military and civilian populations.
At Duke Orthopaedic Surgery, we are incredibly proud of our sports medicine team’s achievements and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of orthopaedics.