Prof. Franklin Sim & Team
International Awards
Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence
- Orthopedics
2017-2018
Dr. Franklin Sim is an orthopedic surgeon in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his medical degree from Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine and has been in practice for over 54 years with diverse experiences in the orthopedic field, especially in surgery. Dr. Sim is an outstanding scientist and one of the leaders in the field of musculoskeletal oncology with a career span of 48 years at Mayo Clinic. He is world renowned in the area of bone and soft tissue sarcoma management and has authored a number of landmark publications in the field. One of Dr. Sim’s major interests has been the restoration of function following limb-sparing procedures, and his work has significantly improved the current practice of orthopedic oncology worldwide. His innovative work in complex sacropelvic surgery has extended the indications for successful limb salvage reconstruction and patient outcomes.
Dr. Sim and his team has been selected for this award for the research that has been carried out on challenging sacral tumors. This research has provided new paradigms in understanding and treating these complex tumors. His team consists of Dr. Michael Yaszemski and Dr. Peter Rose.
Dr. Michael Yaszemski
Consultant in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic.
He investigates bone, cartilage and spinal cord regeneration using synthetic polymeric scaffolds, cells and controlled delivery of bioactive molecules. Dr. Yaszemski’s Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Laboratory is equipped to perform polymer synthesis and characterization and scaffold fabrication utilizing injectable techniques and solid free-form fabrication techniques. Dr. Yaszemski’s research team cultures cell-polymer constructs, studies delivery kinetics of bioactive molecules from micro particles and micro particle-scaffold combinations, and studies these scaffold-cell-biomolecule combinations in vivo. The team investigates musculoskeletal sarcoma biology and works on the controlled local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to osteosarcoma, chordoma and chrondrosarcoma. The laboratory is fully equipped for molecular biology and bone histomorphometry, with a focus on translational research for current clinical needs. Dr. Yaszemski’s long-term research goal is to fundamentally change the way that many common debilitating and life-threatening orthopedic conditions are treated. The use of biodegradable polymers in bone engineering will be of particular importance to patients currently using spinal hardware for spine instability or spinal cord injuries.
Dr. Peter Rose
Consultant in Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic
His work involves treating patients who have tumors in the spine, chest wall, pelvis and extremities. The majority of patients require a multidisciplinary approach to health care, therefore the team works with other investigators to examine and refine the best surgical oncology practices. Specific areas of investigation include:
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Sacrectomies, hemipelvectomies, and spinopelvic resections for advanced malignancies
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Outcomes of treatment for primary bone and soft tissue sarcomas
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Treatment of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression
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Integration of adjuvant treatments (chemo and radio therapy) into surgical oncology practice
Team work of Research Achievements
The research which the team carried out was “a biomechanical approach to advances in sacroplevic reconstruction”. The sacrum is the only mechanical connection between the spine and pelvis/lower extremities. In the setting of a primary, or in select patients a locally advanced recurrent malignancy, curative treatment requires en-bloc sacrectomy. In addition to the surgery in this area being challenging due to the complexity of the pelvic anatomy, adjacent visceral and vascular structures, spinal-pelvic continuity is often lost. Historically following sacral resection patients were left “un-reconstructed” and the spinal column floated between the remaining pelvises, forming a softtissue sling, however required the patients to be bed ridden in a cast while the soft tissue sling formed. In addition the telescoping of the spinal column can become painful and lead to a poor patient outcome.
The team has pioneered a means to reconstruct these defects following high sacral resection in order to restore continuity between the spine, pelvis and femur which has been shown to improve patient outcomes. The team explains how they have translated biomechanical work on the effect of sacral resection into clinical practice to the reconstructive techniques which they currently employee for the treatment of these patients is unique as their newer combined anterior and posterior reconstruction techniques have reduced high failure rates related to screw loosening and rod breakage in this complex patient population.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Franklin Sim is an accomplished scientist and he enjoyed teaching, mentoring and stimulating research for a large number of young clinicians who have now reached in high level in their academic world. Dr. Sim has demonstrated strong leadership abilities and has been largely responsible for developing a world class centre for musculoskeletal oncology.
Dr. Franklin Sim
has received numerous awards among are:
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Dr. Clara Obling Prize for highest standing in medicine
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Dr. John F Black Prize for highest in surgery
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The Rochester Quarterbacks Sports Club Award
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John Charnley Hip Award.
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Clinton Compare Award for the best paper
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2012 Bronze Reel Award.
Dr. Michael Yaszemski
He also received several awards among are:
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Commendation Award from the United States Air Force
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Norman T Kirk Award for the best paper
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Eugene J Nordby Research Award for the best presentation
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1995 Herschel M Rich Invention Award for Outstanding Patent: Poly (Propylene Fumarate co-Etheylene Oxide)
Dr. Peter Rose He also received a number of awards and recognitions:
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National Merit Scholar
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Summa Cum Laude from University of Houston
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Valedictorian from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Houston
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Pfizer Research Award
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Karis Award
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Best Poster Award from International Society of Limb Salvage, China.
In recognition of the outstanding contributions, Prof. Franklin Sim & Team are awarded Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence, for the 2017-2018 term.
