Who We Are

The mission of Operation Walk USA is to encourage and enable joint replacement surgeons to restore mobility and improve quality of life for uninsured patients in the United States who suffer from disabling arthritis of the hip or knee.

Impact of Operation Walk USA since its inception (2011-now)

  • 945

  • $26,100,000

  • 21 States

    25 Hospitals

    55 Surgeons

    72 Patients

Arthritic disease is the most common cause of disability in the U.S., affecting approximately 48 million Americans, or more than 21 percent of the adult population. The debilitating pain of end-stage hip or knee degenerative disease often makes working, or completing even the simplest of daily tasks, excruciatingly painful or impossible.

Hip and knee replacement surgeries are the most cost-effective and successful of all orthopaedic procedures, eliminating pain and allowing patients to resume active, productive lives.

While more than one million hip and knee replacements are performed in the US every year, countless men and women continue to live with severe arthritic pain and immobility because they do not have insurance and cannot afford the surgery.

Operation Walk USA provides all aspects of treatment – surgery, hospitalization, and pre- and post-operative care – at no cost to qualifying patients.

Operation Walk USA drew its inspiration from Operation Walk (International), provides free surgical treatment for patients in developing countries. We are now working together to bring hope for a fuller, healthier, pain-free life to patients in the United States.  We are restoring mobility.

Board of Directors

“It is gratifying to see how Operation Walk USA has gained momentum with every annual cycle. I am tremendously proud of the adult reconstruction community and many other healthcare professionals involved in this organization. Helping someone to walk again, and to return to a life without pain, is indeed a cause worth celebrating.”
— Adolph V. Lombardi, Jr., MD

  • Adolph V. Lombardi, Jr., MD

    FOUNDER and PRESIDENT

  • Giles R. Scuderi, MD

  • Carlos J. Lavernia, MD

Remembering Dr. Dorr

Lawrence D. Dorr, MD (1941-2020)

Operation Walk was such a joy to Dr. Dorr. He not only “gave back” to our society, he taught us all the true meaning of compassion, of helping others selflessly, to work hard and be kind. He was a man who was larger than life. His booming laughter, his big smile, his skilled hands…they brought joy and mobility all over the world.

Dr. Dorr will forever remain a role model and an inspiration to many.

“The ultimate service is unconditional giving of knowledge and skills… This is why we all chose medicine.”  Lawrence D. Dorr, MD