The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons announced the recipients of its 2026 awards at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting last month in New Orleans, recognizing excellence and outstanding achievement in orthopaedics.

Kristy L. Weber, MD, FAAOS, has been awarded the 2026 William W. Tipton, Jr., MD, Leadership Award, becoming the first woman to receive the honor. The Tipton Leadership Award honors AAOS Active Fellows or Candidate Members who demonstrate outstanding leadership benefiting the orthopaedic community, patients, and the American public.

A nationally and internationally recognized leader, Dr. Weber served as the first woman president of the AAOS Board of Directors in 2019 and has held leadership roles within the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance. During her AAOS presidency, she advanced governance reform, strengthened organizational structure, and helped launch a new strategic plan. She has built and led high-performing, multidisciplinary sarcoma programs at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania, earning national recognition for clinical excellence and research, including the Kappa Delta Award.

Beyond orthopaedics, Dr. Weber recently pursued climate and environmental initiatives in medicine, and she continues to champion diversity and mentorship as president of the Perry Initiative Board of Directors. Her work has been recognized with awards for professionalism and advancing women in medicine, underscoring her lasting impact on the field.

AAOS Second Vice President Elizabeth G. Matzkin, MD, FAAOS, said, “Throughout her career, Dr. Weber has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the field of orthopaedic surgery for patients, colleagues, and future generations of leaders. Her leadership is not defined by rhetoric but by meaningful action. She has devoted countless hours in service roles and leadership positions, consistently working to strengthen the culture of orthopaedics and to expand opportunity for women and underrepresented minorities. With Dr. Weber, there are no empty words or promises — only sustained impact.”