Milwaukee, WI (September 15, 2022) – During the 57th SRS Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) announced the recipient for the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award was Michael McMaster, MD, DSc, FRCS. The SRS Lifetime Achievement Award honors a member for distinguished service to the Society, as well as significant contributions to spinal deformity care.
Dr. McMaster was the chief surgeon and founder of the Scottish National Spine Deformity Service based in Edinburgh, treating all children with spinal deformities from Scotland. His major interest, and the subject of his research and publications, was in the early diagnosis, progression, and management of congenital deformities of the spine. He is the author of multiple publications and book chapters on spinal deformities.
In 2014, the Spine Deformity Journal published a bibliometric review of the world literature and found that his paper on “Congenital Scoliosis” was 31 in the top 100 most-cited classic articles on spine deformity surgery.
His early orthopedic training was at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital England, the Rheumatoid Foundation Hospital Finland, and laterally as an orthopaedic fellow and associate orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic USA.
In 1976 he developed the spine deformity service at the Princess Margaret Rose Orthopedic Hospital Edinburgh. In 2001 he was awarded the King James IV Professorship from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and in 2011 received a Doctorate in Science from the University of Edinburgh, both based on his work in spine deformity surgery.
Dr. McMaster was nominated for this honor by several of his peers. Some of the many glowing quotes from his nominations include:
“Michael McMaster, M.D. is a giant in spine surgery. He has to be the greatest spine surgeon from Scotland. He has taught us more about congenital scoliosis than all others combined.”
“I hold him in the greatest respect, and I would strongly support his nomination. I have known him for many years and consider his contribution to scoliosis knowledge to be very considerable.”
“His research and clinical experience in this field significantly improved knowledge regarding congenital deformities.”
“Michael McMaster is more than worthy of this nomination and his name as recipient of this prestigious Award will fit perfectly alongside previous eminent Spinal Surgeons that have received this exceptional honour.”
Read more about Dr. McMaster in our 57th Annual Meeting program.
About Scoliosis Research Society
The Scoliosis Research Society is a non-profit, professional organization, made up of physicians and allied health personnel. Our primary focus is on providing continuing medical education for health care professionals and on funding/supporting research in spinal deformities. Founded in 1966, SRS has gained recognition as the world's premier spine deformity society. Please visit www.srs.org for further information. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.