AAOS 2025: Dr. Wilford K. Gibson Named First Vice President

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) named Virginia orthopedic surgeon Wilford K. Gibson, M.D., first vice president at its annual meeting this week in San Diego.

In this leadership role, Dr. Gibson will help shape the AAOS’ strategic initiatives and educational efforts, positioning him to assume the presidency in 2026.

“I am deeply honored to serve the AAOS,” Dr. Gibson said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to advancing orthopedic care, advocating for patients and mentoring the next generation of surgeons. This role presents a tremendous opportunity to continue those efforts and support the AAOS’ mission of providing the highest quality of musculoskeletal care.”

Dr. Gibson’s service to the AAOS spans more than a decade with numerous leadership roles, including chairing the Board of Councilors (BOC) from 2014-2015 and chairing the AAOS Advocacy Council from 2017 to 2021. A passionate advocate for advancing orthopedic care and patient outcomes, he also served on AAOS’s Political Action Committee (Orthopaedic PAC) for nearly a decade and was honored as the AAOS 2022 Congressional Ambassador of the Year.

A Career Rooted in Service

Dr. Gibson’s journey as a leader in orthopedic care began during his military service. After completing a surgical internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), he was deployed aboard the U.S.S. Nassau for operations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. His service earned him the Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, and Navy “E” and sea service ribbons.

Following his return to NMCP for orthopedic residency, Dr. Gibson pursued advanced training as a Navy orthopedic fellow at Tampa General Hospital in Florida and later led the orthopedic trauma service at NMCP.

Advancing Patient Care

As a recognized leader in his field, Dr. Gibson served as chief of the Division of Orthopedics at Eastern Virginia Medical School from 1994-2001, where he continues to teach future generations of physicians and surgeons. His leadership within the Virginia Orthopaedic Society earned him both the society’s 2014 President’s Award and 2015 Career Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since transitioning to civilian practice, Dr. Gibson has been a partner at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, where he focuses on patient specific hip and knee replacements, robotics, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Gibson also serves as a volunteer team physician for Old Dominion University football and basketball teams.

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Gibson holds academic roles as an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed advanced fellowship training in AO/ASIF pelvis and acetabulum surgery at LA County-USC Medical Center.

With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health, providing comprehensive education to help orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals best treat patients. The AAOS is the source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.