Since the establishment of the UBC Faculty of Medicine in 1950, the Department of Orthopaedics at UBC has evolved from modest beginnings into a highly respected institution renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and patient care.
UBC Orthopaedics timeline
The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery was established in 1951 within the Department of Surgery, one year after the founding of the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Frank P. Patterson Jr. and Dr. Kenneth Morton led the division until 1984, when it was elevated to department status. Dr. Robert McGraw became the first department head, followed by Dr. Clive Duncan, Dr. Bassam Masri, and Dr. Kishore Mulpuri, the current head of the Department of Orthopaedics.
- 1950
UBC Faculty of Medicine
established in 1950
- 1951
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
established 1951
- 1984
Department of Orthopaedics
established 1984
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1951–1984
The early years of UBC Orthopaedics were marked by visionary leadership and foundational achievements. Under Dr. Frank P. Patterson Jr., the newly formed division laid the groundwork for education, research, and clinical innovation—setting the stage for transformative milestones such as the first hip replacement surgery at Vancouver General Hospital. Orthopaedic surgeons operated out of the Vancouver General Hospital Heather Pavilion until 1959, when they moved to the newly constructed Centennial Pavilion.
- JAN 01, 2020
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery est. 1951
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- 1951
Dr. Frank P. Patterson Jr.
Head, 1951–1973
- 1973
Dr. Kenneth Morton
Head, 1973–1984
- 1984
The case for a separate Department of Orthopaedics 1984
Beginnings and Breakthroughs
Dr. Frank P. Patterson Jr. Era (Division Head 1951–1973)
Orthopaedics was initially created in 1951 as a division within the Department of Surgery, led by Dr. Frank P. Patterson Jr.
The new division focused on training students, developing a residency program, recruiting faculty, and establishing a research program that encompassed both clinical and basic sciences. Dr. Patterson served as the head of the orthopaedic surgery division until 1973 and later became the head of the Department of Surgery in 1976.
Throughout his career, he received numerous honours, including the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from UBC in 1990.
Dr. Robert McGraw performed the first hip replacement surgery in 1967, following a year-long travelling fellowship with the Canadian Arthritis and Rheumatism Society
Following the establishment of the division, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) achieved several milestones in orthopaedics, including the first-ever hip replacement surgery performed by Dr. Robert McGraw in 1967. This groundbreaking procedure followed Dr. McGraw’s year-long travelling fellowship with the Canadian Arthritis and Rheumatism Society, where he studied the latest developments in arthritis surgery to bring back to British Columbia.
Growth and Vision
Dr. Kenneth Morton Era (Division Head 1973–1984)
In 1973, Dr. Kenneth Morton succeeded Dr. Patterson as head of the orthopaedic surgery division. During his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Vancouver General Hospital in the early 1950s, Dr. Morton founded the Bone Tumour Registry. He was appointed to the UBC Faculty of Medicine in 1957.
Dr. Morton founded the Bone Tumour Registry as one of the first residents at Vancouver General Hospital.
His leadership fostered long-lasting and productive relationships with the BC Cancer Agency and the Department of Anatomy. Dr. Morton is also known as the “father” of the sub-specialty system, which later evolved into divisions within the Department of Orthopaedics.
One of Dr. Morton’s most significant contributions was his advocacy for establishing orthopaedics as a separate department. As the division grew, clear distinctions became apparent between orthopaedic surgery and other divisions, particularly with orthopaedics offering both non-surgical treatments and rehabilitation alongside surgical procedures. Additionally, the orthopaedics division served a wider age range than the other divisions in the Department of Surgery.
As division head, Dr. Morton led UBC Orthopaedics in becoming the first independent department of orthopaedics in Canada, a status it still holds today.
The Fight for Departmental Status
In the pivotal year of 1984, Dr. Morton and Dr. McGraw ignited a conversation that would reshape orthopaedics in Canada with their compelling book, “The Case for a Separate Department for Orthopaedics.” Their proposal quickly sparked interest in Canada and the United States, but it was met with skepticism from the Dean of Medicine at UBC. The Dean formed a committee from various university groups to assess the proposal.
As the committee met, enthusiasm grew among its members, leading them to unanimously recommend that Orthopaedics be granted departmental status. However, the Dean, not yet convinced, requested the committee to reconvene for further investigation. When the committee gathered again, their conviction only deepened—they believed that Orthopaedics truly deserved departmental status. Still, the Dean remained opposed to granting Orthopaedics this designation.
With summer fast approaching and the pressure mounting, the division members recognized that they had to act quickly. Under the leadership of Dr. Brian Day, the entire division of orthopaedics rallied together to attend the annual meeting to approve new MD graduates in anticipation of a crucial agenda item for new business. Traditionally, this gathering had drawn only a handful of faculty members, but this time felt different; it was a pivotal moment.
When the Dean entered the Instructional Resource Centre Hall, he was taken aback by the sight of a packed room, filled with passionate supporters. It was a powerful show of solidarity! A motion was proposed during new business and met with overwhelming support, culminating in a historic vote that led to the establishment of the UBC Department of Orthopaedics.
This groundbreaking achievement marked the birth of Canada’s very first and, to this day, only independent department of orthopaedics.
Department of Orthopaedics, established 1984
The establishment of the UBC Department of Orthopaedics in 1984 marked a significant milestone in Canadian medical history. Born from years of visionary leadership and innovative clinical achievements, it proudly became—and still is—the only independent orthopaedics department in Canada. Under the dynamic leadership of its first head, Dr. Robert McGraw, the department set out on an ambitious journey, significantly enhancing education, research, and global orthopaedics care initiatives, building on the legacy of transformative procedures like the first hip replacement at Vancouver General Hospital.
In 1996, the department relocated to the new Laurel Pavilion, which became the Jim Pattison Pavilion in 2000. In 2006, it moved to its current home in the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre at 2775 Laurel Street at Vancouver General Hospital.
With an unwavering commitment to global outreach and inclusive initiatives, the department continues to champion a vision of pain-free mobility for all, leading the way in orthopaedic excellence and transforming lives along the journey.
- 1984
Department of Orthopaedics est. 1984
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- 1984
Dr. Robert McGraw
Head, 1984–1996
- 1996
Dr. Clive Duncan
Head, 1996–2007
- 2007
Dr. Bassam Masri
Head, 2007–2020
- 2020
Dr. Kishore Mulpuri
Head, since 2021
- JAN 01, 2020
Innovations in Orthopaedics
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Emergence and Leadership
Dr. Robert McGraw Era (Department Head 1984–1996)
With the establishment of the new department in 1984, Dr. McGraw was appointed the first department head. During his tenure as an orthopaedics faculty member, Dr. McGraw performed over 10,000 operations and taught more than 100 orthopaedic surgeons how to conduct hip replacements. He also received 22 awards and honours, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.
In 1984, Dr. Robert McGraw became the first Head of Canada’s only academic Department of Orthopaedics.
As the department continued to grow, divisions began to shift. Dr. Robert Meek founded the Division of Orthopaedic Trauma at UBC, marking it as the first standalone clinical and academic orthopaedic trauma unit in Canada.
Dr. Robert Meek founded the Division of Orthopaedic Trauma at UBC, the first standalone clinical and academic orthopaedic trauma unit in Canada.
In 1995, Dr. John Steeves founded the Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (CORD) with support from Rick Hansen and then-UBC President Dr. David Strangway. In 2002, CORD became ICORD—the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries.
Innovation and Global Reach
Dr. Clive Duncan Era (Department Head 1996–2007)
In 1996, Dr. Clive Duncan was appointed head of the university and hospital Departments of Orthopaedics. The following year, the Division of Orthopaedic Engineering Research was established under Dr. Thomas Oxland. This new division was formed to foster collaboration between researchers in mechanical engineering and orthopaedics, contributing significantly to areas such as spine, spinal cord, knee, hip, and shoulder biomechanics.
Under Dr. Thomas Oxland, the Division of Orthopaedic Engineering Research was founded in 1997 as a pioneering hub for interdisciplinary orthopaedic research.
The new millennium ushered in global orthopaedic initiatives, building on the work of Dr. Shafique Pirani with clubfoot in Uganda in 1999. The department’s global programs expanded with the Uganda Sustainable Clubfoot Care Project (USCCP), the Sustainable Clubfoot Care in Bangladesh (SCCB), and the Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopaedic Program (USTOP).
Founded in 2004, the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility—now the Centre for Aging SMART—was created to support people affected by aging or disability in living well.
The Centre for Aging SMART—formerly known as the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility—was established in 2004. The center, located at 2635 Laurel Street at VGH, focuses on developing innovative Solutions for Mobility, Activity, Rehabilitation, and Technology (SMART) to help individuals living with the effects of aging or disability enjoy a high quality of life.
Learn about the Division of Orthopaedic Research and its evolution, from the Duncan era to present-day.
Modernization and Inclusion
Dr. Bassam Masri Era (Department Head 2007–2019)
Dr. Bassam Masri, a leader in joint replacement research, became the head of the university and hospital Departments of Orthopaedics in 2007 after previously serving as the Head of the Division of Lower Limb Reconstruction and Oncology at UBC.
Dr. Masri established the Complex Joint Clinic and the Arthritis Surgical Assessment Program.
During his leadership, Dr. Masri established the Complex Joint Clinic and the Arthritis Surgical Assessment Program, and collaborated with the BC Ministry to reduce wait times for joint replacements. His tenure also saw the opening of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre in 2008, which serves as a hub for ICORD and multidisciplinary spine research.
Dr. Masri helped secure funding for two major research hubs: the Centre for Hip Health (now the Centre for Aging SMART) and ICORD housed in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre.
In 2008, Dr. Kelly Lefaivre joined the faculty, becoming the first woman to practice orthopaedics at VGH and the first woman in Canada to work as a full-time adult orthopaedic trauma surgeon. The department has since created the Women in ORTHopaedics (WORTH) program to empower young women in the orthopaedic field through hands-on workshops and mentorship.
Engagement and Evolution
Dr. Kishore Mulpuri Era (Department Head, since 2020)
In 2020, Dr. Kishore Mulpuri became the fourth and current Head of the Department of Orthopaedics. A former president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, Dr. Mulpuri is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at BC Children’s Hospital.
The UBC Ortho READI Committee was formed in 2021 to advance respect, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in orthopaedics.
Under Dr. Mulpuri’s leadership, the Department of Orthopaedics established the Respect, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) committee in 2021 to lead efforts in anti-racism and anti-discrimination.
The department also published its current strategic plan for 2023-2028, which focuses on achieving pain-free mobility for all. The strategic plan outlines the goals of providing an exemplary orthopaedic teaching and learning experience, making insightful discovery through groundbreaking research in orthopaedic healthcare, and providing a fully engaged and integrated clinical practice.
UBC Global Orthopaedics (UBC GO) was formally established in 2024 to advance international initiatives that began with Dr. Pirani’s work on clubfoot in Uganda in 1999.
In 2024, UBC Global Orthopaedics (UBC GO) was formally established to support international initiatives that date back to Dr. Shafique Pirani’s work on clubfoot in Uganda in 1999. Dr. Jeff Potter became the first director of the program. UBC GO initiatives include the Hip Hope Network, Rural & Indigenous Health, Spinal Cord Injury Nepal, Sustainable Ponseti Clubfoot Care, and the Uganda Sustainable Trauma Orthopaedic Program
Launched in 2024, UBC Orthopaedics Mentorship & Wellness fosters growth, connection, and wellbeing among faculty, staff, and learners.
The UBC Orthopaedics Mentorship & Wellness Initiative was launched in 2024 to support faculty, staff, and learners, empowering each member to reach their full potential. During this time, the department also created new awards for faculty and staff, as well as research awards for early-career faculty, to recognize and support the contributions of department members at all stages of their careers.
40 Years of Orthopaedic Leadership
In 2024, the Department of Orthopaedics at UBC marked its 40th anniversary. The 2025 Ortho Update featured presentations from notable figures in the department, reflecting on its journey and honouring this significant milestone. The panel highlighted key advancements and individuals who shaped the department’s identity from its early foundation to the present.
As the department reflects on its history and looks to the future, its mission remains clear: pain-free mobility for all.
