In 2000, the James J. Puhl Humanitarian Award was established in honor of Dr. James Puhl, Iowa City, IA. Dr. Puhl had a heart for the needy and was instrumental in purchasing a C-arm for St. Jude’s Hospital in St. Lucia through the Mercy Foundation. Ever since that time, the Iowa Orthopaedic Society has presented a bi-annual $5,000 award to charitable organizations throughout the world and honored the orthopaedic physician who was directly involved in those works of mercy.

The 2016 Humanitarian Award was presented to Mark Wheeler, MD and his work in securing tuition funding for residency training for orthopaedic residents, Albert Katembo, MD, and Swetale Stephen, MD at Bugando Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. The $5,000 will be used for tuition and related educational expenses. Dr. Wheeler has traveled to Tanzania for the past several years doing surgery and educating orthopaedic residents. His legacy of education will leave a real and lasting effect.