Dr. Hornicek Named Fellow of Orthopaedic Research Society

Francis Hornicek, M.D., Ph.D., director of orthopaedic oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been honored as a fellow of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) in recognition of his many contributions to sarcoma care and research.

ORS Fellows are longstanding members of the organization who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership, substantial achievement, expert knowledge, and significant contributions to the ORS and the field of musculoskeletal research. Dr. Hornicek has been active in the society for more than 30 years.

“I look forward to continuing to advance national and international sarcoma research as an ORS Fellow,” said Dr. Hornicek, who also serves on the Sylvester Clinical Research Advisory Board, the Scientific Steering Committee, and the Academic Advisory Council.

Dr. Hornicek was honored at the ORS 2022 meeting in Tampa, Florida, where he moderated a session on “New Approaches and Insights into the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Tumors.” He was also nominated to the ORS Innovation Network, which facilitates collaborations among researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to bring innovative techniques and devices to orthopaedic practice.

For more than four decades, Dr. Hornicek has authored multiple scholarly articles on the molecular biology of sarcomas, surgical techniques, and related topics in orthopaedic oncology. During the past several years, the potential use of nanoparticles to deliver therapies for sarcoma tumors has been a particular research interest. Dr. Hornicek has submitted a grant application with Pratim Biswas, dean of the University of Miami College of Engineering, to further study this novel treatment modality.

After completing his residency at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Hornicek began his distinguished academic career on the Miller School faculty. Along with providing surgical and medical care to sarcoma patients at the Miller School, he worked to improve the quality and safety of the University of Miami’s tissue bank, one of the nation’s first. He served on the board of the American Association of Tissue Banks for ten years, including a term as president, during which he led the creation of national safety standards regarding the use of tissues in transplants.

Dr. Hornicek has also been a professor at Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief of the Musculoskeletal Oncology Service. A world leader in orthopaedic oncology and the treatment of chordoma, he is closely involved with the Chordoma Foundation and established the Stephan L. Harris Chordoma Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Hornicek served most recently as chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles before rejoining the Miller School in March 2021.

“Sylvester’s leadership in sarcoma care and research is in keeping with its role as a National Cancer Center-designated institution,” said Dr. Hornicek. “Sarcoma is a rare disease, and our work here can make a difference to these cancer patients and their families.”

Tags: Department of Orthopaedics, Dr. Francis Hornicek, Orthopaedic Research Society, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center