Milwaukee, WI (September 22, 2021) – During the 56th SRS Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO USA, the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) announced Kenneth MC Cheung, MD as the Walter P. Blount Humanitarian award winner.
The Walter P. Blount Award is given to an individual who has provided outstanding service for those with spinal deformities, through their generous actions out of a sense of service to larger social and professional goals.
Kenneth MC Cheung, MD is internationally recognized for his work on intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain. He is part of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists working on understanding the cause of degenerative disc disease (DDD) and ways to prevent it.
He is a global leader in the treatment of spinal deformities. Prof. Cheung and his group have published extensively on a new method of assessment of flexibility of the spine using the “fulcrum bending” technique. Since its original description in 1997, the technique has been adopted as the standard by nearly 50 percent of spine surgeons around the world.
In addition, Prof. Cheung carried out a first-in-man clinical trial using a novel magnetically controlled growing rod for scoliosis correction in young children. The work was published in Lancet in 2012, and received global press coverage. It also won the faculty’s research output prize that year.
He has been a visiting professor and speaker on multiple occasions to international meetings. He has published 14 book chapters and 300 publications in top scientific and spine journals, including Lancet, American Journal of Human Genetics, Arthritis and Rheumatism, Biomaterials, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Spine.
“It is clear to me that not only has Ken led by example in his years of service for the SRS, but he has also given back his time and skills to the greater need of society, especially in countries where these are much needed” wrote Kenny Kwan, BMBCh(Oxon), FRCSEd, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong in his letter of recommendation. “His generous actions have benefited many Cambodian patients and surgeons, and have cultivated a strong influence in those who work around him. I believe he is a well-deserved recipient of this Award.”
Read more about Prof. Cheung in our 56th 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.