LuskinOIC Establishes New Research Award Honoring Pioneering Scientist Dr. Harry A. McKellop

Inaugural award presented to Dr. Jenna Wahbeh for groundbreaking work in orthopaedic research

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) has established the Harry A. McKellop, Ph.D., Excellence in Research and Innovation Award, a new honor recognizing outstanding achievement and forward-thinking leadership in orthopaedic research. The award was unveiled at a dinner reception on Friday, January 23, hosted by the J. Vernon Luck, Sr., M.D., Biomechanics Research Center at LuskinOIC.

The McKellop Award continues a tradition of celebrating research excellence that began with the G. June Marshall Award, named for the research center's founding director.

Dr. McKellop served at the JVL Research Center from 1980 until his retirement in 2014, holding leadership positions including Director of the Biomechanics Laboratory, Director of the Research Center, and Vice President of Research at Orthopaedic Hospital. His pioneering research on wear in artificial joints earned him numerous patents and prestigious honors, including the Kappa Delta Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Under his leadership, the JVL Research Center became one of the world's most prominent orthopaedic research institutions.

Dr. Jenna Wahbeh received the inaugural McKellop Award in recognition of her contributions to orthopaedic science. Since joining LuskinOIC as a volunteer in 2019, Dr. Wahbeh has published research addressing critical gaps in orthopaedics, mentored more than 30 students, and earned the ORS Spine Section Travel Fellowship and the UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship. She successfully defended her dissertation in March 2025, presenting research on cervical disc replacements to improve clinical outcomes.

"This award honors both Dr. McKellop's extraordinary legacy and the next generation of researchers carrying that work forward," said Dr. Edward Ebramzadeh, who reflected on Dr. McKellop's contributions during the ceremony.

The reception brought together past and present JVL Research Center researchers, LuskinOIC leadership and staff, and honored guests. Dr. James Luck Jr. shared the history of LuskinOIC and the Research Center, and Dr. McKellop introduced Dr. Wahbeh before she offered closing remarks.

About Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children

About LuskinOIC: Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) was founded in 1911 as Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and today is the largest pediatric orthopaedic facility on the West Coast focused solely on musculoskeletal conditions in children, with 85% of our patients underinsured. We receive more than 60,000 patient visits annually and extend our pro-bono services to patients in Calexico and Mexicali, among other cities worldwide. In alliance with UCLA Health and with the support of the LuskinOIC Foundation, we advance pediatric orthopaedics worldwide through outstanding patient care, medical education, and research. Our locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Calexico treat the full spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic disorders and injuries. For more information, visit us at LuskinOIC.org.