Dr. Richard Ferkel Awarded Prestigious International Surgeons’ Award
Dr. Richard Ferkel has received the 2023 Arthroscopy Association of North America Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Ferkel has served as a community orthopedic surgeon, local team physician and medical educator for over 40 years. A fellowship-trained and board-certified surgeon, Dr. Ferkel treats bone, joint and muscle patients at the Van Nuys location at 6815 Noble Ave. and in Westlake Village at 30870 Russell Ranch Road, Suite 330.
The Arthroscopy Association of North America Distinguished Service Award is bestowed, at the discretion of the association’s president, upon members for exceptional service in leading an initiative or project for the association, orthopedic community or the community at large. Dr. Ferkel was chosen for his career-long dedication to teaching, innovation and community service. As one of the pioneers of ankle arthroscopy, he has worked tirelessly to develop better techniques and small joint instrumentation to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Dr. Ferkel has been the team physician for numerous high school and college teams for over 40 years and the go-to foot and ankle surgeon for dozens of professional athletes. He provides consultation services for the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB. Additionally, his textbook entitled Foot and Ankle Arthroscopy is widely recognized as one of the must-read books for orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. In addition, he has invented numerous surgical devices and performed live surgery throughout Europe.
“The mission to improve outcomes for my patients and others has defined my practice and career, and I share that mission with AANA,” said Dr. Ferkel. “Being recognized for fulfilling my duty to our field and community is a true honor, and I am humbled to be included amongst generations of dedicated surgeons who enable better lives for orthopedic patients everywhere.”
Dr. Ferkel graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and accomplished his orthopedic training at UCLA. He completed fellowship training in sports medicine and reconstructive knee and shoulder surgery at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute and had additional training in foot and ankle surgery at that time. He is currently the director of the sports medicine fellowship program at Southern California Orthopedic Institute. Dr. Ferkel is also an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at UCLA and was chief of arthroscopic surgery at Wadsworth Veterans Hospital for fifteen years.
The Arthroscopy Association of North America was formed in 1981 to promote, encourage, support and foster the development and dissemination of knowledge of arthroscopy for the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The Arthroscopy Association of North America is the primary source of continuing medical education for arthroscopists and the most respected conduit for new techniques and information on arthroscopy. The association's guidelines virtually define the practice of arthroscopic surgery, and its collective vision of the membership defines the future of the discipline.
To learn more about Dr. Ferkel or to schedule an appointment, please call 818-901-6600.
