SSR Patrick T. Liu Innovation in Research Award

Revision Date: November 2, 2025

Purpose:

This policy governs the selection and administration of the Patrick T. Liu Innovation in Research Award at the SSR Annual Meeting.

Policy:

The Program and Executive Committees will select the podium or electronic abstract presentation which best exemplifies innovation in research and its application for the musculoskeletal community. All members of the SSR, including members-in-training (MITs), are eligible for consideration. The lead author will indicate eligibility for award consideration at the time of abstract submission.

The winning abstract will be recommended by the Program Committee, and then submitted to the Executive Committee following the conclusion of the Society’s annual scientific meeting. The SSR association management company (Veritas) will notify the author(s) of the award-winning abstract upon final approval, which will be determined no later than the first SSR Executive Committee meeting following the SSR Annual Meeting. This award may be presented to an abstract which is also the recipient of other awards, such as the Young Investigator Travel Award (YITA).

The annual amount of the award is contingent upon direct donations to the fund in the prior fiscal year, up to a maximum of $5000 (typically between $1000-1500). The SSR Executive Committee will determine the amount of the award based on the fund account balance and contributions. Award money will be issued according the lead author’s preference to either 1) the author’s departmental account, or 2) directly to the author with requisite tax information (i.e. 1099 form).

The award recipient will be recognized at the subsequent SSR annual scientific meeting, and presented an award certificate.

Past Patrick T. Liu Innovation in Research Award Winners

2025

Jennifer Weaver, MD
“Development of a Comprehensive Model for Image Guided Percutaneous Joint Access Simulation”

2024

Joshua Polster, MD
“Tendon Elongation After Rotator Cuff Repair and its Relationship with Postoperative Shoulder Function”

2023

Adam Zoga, MD
“Stellate Ganglion Block with CT Guidance for Post-COVID Parosmia: Initial Experience”

2022

Jon Jacobson, MD
“Establishing a Shoulder Ultrasound Program in Rural Uganda: Initial Experience”

2021

Amirtha Owens, DO
“Development and Operationalization of an Automated Workflow for Correlation of Knee MRI and Arthroscopy Finding”

2019

Josh Polster, MD
“Comparison of “STIR-CT” to conventional CT images for detection of muscle lesions in a beef shank model”

2018

Robert Lopez, MD
“Intramuscular Botulism Toxin Type A (BTA) Injection Facilitates Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Of Recurrent Large-Defect Hernias”

2017

Micah Cohen, MD
“X-ray and MRI of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis. Review of Pathologically Proven Surgically Treated Cases: MRI Shows Better but What Does It Mean?”

2016

Robert Boutin, MD
“CT of Hip Fracture Patients: Can Muscle Size & Attenuation Predict Clinical Outcomes?”

2015

David Melville, MD
“Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging of Quadriceps Musculature In The Setting of Clinical Fragility Syndrome”

Joshua M. Polster, MD
“Enhanced Detection of CT-Occult Bone Marrow Lesions In The Lumbar Spine Using Trabecular Suppression”

2014

Gandikota Girish, MD
“Photo Acoustic Imaging of Joints”

2013

Douglas P. Beall, MD
“Tissue Distribution of Clonidine Following Intraforaminal Implantation of Biodegradablepellets: Potential Alternative to Epidural Steroid for Radiculopathy”

2012

Joshua M. Polster, MD
“Single Energy Post-Processing Technique for Bone Marrow Imaging on CT”

2011

FIRST EVER: Patrick T. Liu Innovation in Research Award Recipient

Kenneth Lee, MD
“Treatment of Chronic Lateral Epicondylosis Using Hyperosmolar Dextrose Solution: Can Acoustoelastography Monitor Tissue Healing?”