International Board Members
Gonzalo Bastías
MD (Chile)
Gonzalo F. Bastías, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery at Clínica Las Condes and Hospital del Trabajador in Santiago, Chile. His clinical and research focus includes foot and ankle trauma, circular external fixation, complex deformity correction, and diabetic foot reconstruction.
Dr. Bastías has authored numerous publications and book chapters and collaborates internationally on advanced reconstructive and minimally invasive techniques. He serves on the board of the Chilean Orthopaedic and Traumatology Society, is a past president of the Chilean Foot and Ankle Surgery Society and the Chilean Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society, and participates in humanitarian surgical programs worldwide.
Patrick Burns
DPM (USA)
Dr. Burns graduated summa cum laude from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in 2000 and was named Alumni of the Year in 2023. He completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and further trained at the Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedics. He also serves on the faculty of AO North America, training residents and practicing physicians in external fixation techniques.
Dr. Burns practices within the West Virginia University Medicine Health System, where he established the state’s first podiatric residency program. His clinical and educational focus includes fracture management, arthroplasty, patient-specific implants, complex foot and ankle deformity, and neuropathic limb preservation.
Yongsheng Chen
MBBS (Singapore)
Yongsheng Chen, MBBS, is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Head of Division and Consultant in Orthopedic Trauma Surgery at the National University Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Singapore. He specializes in limb salvage surgery, using advanced techniques to help patients avoid major amputation.
In 2024, Dr. Chen became the first to introduce Transverse Tibial Transport (TTT) to Singapore, advancing treatment options and improving limb salvage outcomes for patients with severe diabetic foot infections.
Alexander Cherkashin
MD (USA)
Dr. Alexander M. Cherkashin is an internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon specializing in limb lengthening, deformity correction, bone transport and complex limb reconstruction. He serves as Co-Director of the Center for Excellence in Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas and is Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Trained under Professor Gavriil Ilizarov at the Kurgan Scientific Center in Russia, Dr. Cherkashin spent 12 years at the renowned Ilizarov Center before joining Scottish Rite in 1995. A respected educator, researcher, inventor and international lecturer, his work has advanced circular external fixation, orthopedic outcome analysis, complication prevention and modern limb reconstruction techniques worldwide.
Petricio Fuentes
MD (Chile)
Dr. Patricio Fuentes Carvajal is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery and limb reconstruction, with a particular focus on diabetic foot management, bone transport techniques, and complex lower limb deformities. He has extensive experience in transverse tibial transport (TTT) and circular external fixation, and is actively involved in the development and teaching of minimally invasive reconstructive techniques.
Dr. Fuentes serves as faculty in multiple humanitarian programs in his country and leads advanced courses on bone transport and limb salvage strategies across South America.
His clinical and academic work is centered on optimizing outcomes in challenging reconstructive cases, combining innovation with practical surgical solutions. Dr. Fuentes is Past President of the Chilean Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society.
Christopher Gross
MD (USA)
Dr. Christopher E. Gross is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Foot and Ankle Division at the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his fellowship at Duke University Medical Center and residency at Rush University Medical Center, after graduating from Harvard Medical School. His clinical focus is on complex ankle reconstruction and cartilage injuries, including end-stage ankle arthritis.
Dr. Gross leads a multidisciplinary research division utilizing artificial intelligence, advanced implant design, and long-term patient outcomes. He has authored over 140 journal articles, 40 textbook chapters, and a textbook on Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgery, and has delivered more than 350 presentations nationally and internationally.
QiKai Hua
MD (China)
Dr. Qikai Hua is Director and Professor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and a recognized pioneer in the management of severe diabetic foot disease using Transverse Tibial Transport (TTT). Since 2014, he has played a leading role in advancing and refining this innovative limb salvage technique.
Dr. Hua holds numerous national and international leadership positions in orthopedic surgery, external fixation, and limb reconstruction, and is widely recognized for his contributions to diabetic foot treatment, microcirculation regeneration, and bone transport methodologies.
Alexander Kirienko
MD (Italy)
Professor Alexander Kirienko is Head of the Division of External Fixation and Bone Lengthening at Humanitas Research Hospital and a direct disciple of Professor Gavriil Ilizarov. With more than 30 years of experience, he is internationally recognized for his expertise in the Ilizarov method and the treatment of complex orthopedic and traumatologic conditions.
His clinical focus includes circular external fixation, bone deformity correction, limb lengthening, fracture complications, infections, congenital conditions, and complex foot deformities. Professor Kirienko trained in Russia under Professor Ilizarov himself and is an active member of leading international orthopedic societies, including the AAOS, LLRS, EPOS, and SIOT.
Armin Koller
MD (Germany)
Dr. Armin Koller, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in technical orthopedics, diabetic foot reconstruction, and complex lower limb disorders. He currently serves as Chief of the Division of Technical Orthopaedics and Co-Chief of the Interdisciplinary Diabetic Foot Centre at Mathias-Hospital Rheine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Dr. Koller completed his medical education at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster and has been a board-certified orthopedic surgeon since 1998. His clinical expertise includes congenital lower leg deformities, neuromuscular disorders, amputation medicine, and diabetic foot syndrome. A founding member and past President (2014–2017) of the International Association of Diabetic Foot Surgeons, Dr. Koller is widely recognized for his leadership in diabetic foot care and his contributions to international education and guideline development.
Lawrence Lavery
DPM (USA)
Dr. Lawrence A. Lavery is Professor and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is Editor of Clinical Care of the Diabetic Foot and has published over 320 peer-reviewed papers and textbook chapters. His research, funded by organizations including the NIH, ADA, Veterans Administration, and professional societies, focuses on advancing the care of patients with diabetic foot complications.
Gang Li
MD PhD (China)
Gang Li, MD, PhD, is a Professor and Principal Investigator at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he also directs the Center for Locomotor System Regenerative Medicine and Technology. He has held academic and research positions at leading institutions including Oxford University, Queen’s University Belfast, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Li’s research focuses on stem cell biology, musculoskeletal tissue engineering, and innovative applications of distraction osteogenesis. He is активно involved in academic publishing, serving as Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Orthopaedic Translation and on the editorial boards of several leading journals.
Emiliano Malagoli
MD (Italy)
Dr. Emiliano Malagoli is an Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in deformity correction, complex post-traumatic reconstruction, and limb lengthening using the Ilizarov method and advanced external fixation techniques. He has spent over a decade working alongside his mentor, Alexander Kirienko, at the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Milan, treating complex limb salvage and reconstructive cases.
Dr. Malagoli has trained internationally at leading centers including the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Paley Institute, and Sanford Health, integrating traditional Ilizarov principles with modern surgical approaches. He serves as a Board Member of the Italian Society of External Fixation and is actively involved in research, education, and advancing the field of limb reconstruction.
Adam Nichols
DPM (USA)
Adam Nichols is a native of Bend, OR who has been with Sanford Health for the last 12 years. He attended Samuel Merritt University for his education in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. From there continued his education by way of a residency in Greenville, TX and fellowship in DM limb salvage under Larry Lavery at Parkland/UTSW. Since his arrival at Sanford Adam has worked with his (more talented) Vascular, ID, and Ortho colleagues to build a limb salvage program. When not at work Adam enjoys being outside with his family, dogs, and horses.
Vinod Panchbhavi
MD (USA)
Dr. Vinod Panchbhavi is Editor-in-Chief of Techniques in Foot and Ankle Surgery and serves on the editorial boards of leading publications, including Foot and Ankle International and FootEducation.com. He is also a reviewer for major orthopedic journals such as The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
Dr. Panchbhavi is Chairman of the Postgraduate Training Committee of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, reflecting his leadership and influence in foot and ankle surgery education and research.
Aradhana Rathod
MBBS (India)
Dr. Aradhana T. R is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in trauma, foot and ankle surgery, Ilizarov techniques and limb reconstruction. She earned her MBBS, MS in Orthopaedics and MRCS (Glasgow), and completed advanced fellowships in Foot & Ankle surgery in Vadodara, Delhi and the United States, along with fellowship training in Ilizarov and limb lengthening procedures. She currently serves as Assistant Professor at Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute in Bangalore.
Her clinical interests include limb salvage, infection management, Charcot arthropathy, deformity correction, limb lengthening and paralytic limb correction. Dr. Aradhana is an active leader in orthopedic education and professional societies, serving as a current EC member of IFAS and former EC member of ASAMI and KOA. She has organized numerous Foot & Ankle and ASAMI workshops, served as faculty at state and national conferences, published articles in national journals and contributed to textbook chapters. She also serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for national orthopedic journals and was awarded a Gold Medal at ASAMICON 2023.
Mikhail Samchukov
MD (USA)
Dr. Samchukov is a global expert in distraction osteogenesis and external fixation, serving as Co-Director of the Center for Excellence in Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Texas A&M University System Health Science Center. He earned his medical degree at Khabarovsk Medical Institute in Russia and previously served as Deputy General Director of the Ilizarov Orthopedic Research Center.
His research focuses on limb lengthening, deformity correction, bone transport, and external skeletal fixation. Dr. Samchukov is a co-developer of multiple TrueLok external fixation systems, holds 134 patents, and has authored 52 book chapters, 95 peer-reviewed articles, and 328 abstracts. He has edited five books and manuals and is widely recognized internationally for his contributions to the field, frequently presenting at global symposiums.
Filippo Vandenbulcke
MD (Italy)
Dr. Filippo Vandenbulcke is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Humanitas Research Hospital, specializing in limb lengthening, deformity correction, and complex reconstruction within the Ilizarov Method Unit led by Dr. Alexander Kirienko. He holds a PhD in Molecular and Experimental Medicine from Humanitas University and has international experience as an Honorary Consultant with the Liverpool Limb Reconstruction Service in the UK.
His research focuses on bone infections and the development of antibacterial bone substitutes, with experience in pre-clinical animal models. Dr. Vandenbulcke is actively involved in scientific research and currently serves as Scientific Secretary of the Italian Society of External Fixation (SIFE).
Baufu Wei
MD PhD (China)
Baofu Wei, MD, PhD, is Director of the Foot and Hand Orthopedic Surgery Service at Shandong Linyi People’s Hospital in China. He completed a research fellowship in Orthopedic Foot, Ankle, and Sports Medicine at Duke University.
Dr. Wei is a surgical anatomist and accomplished author, serving as editor of the Surgical Atlas of Foot and Ankle and co-editor of Surgical Atlas: Arthroscopic Techniques and Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle, published by Springer.
Robert Wigginton
ENG (USA)
Robert was the Director of international manufacturing for Smith and Nephew and served as the surgical liaison for North American visitors to the Ilizarov Center. For his work, he was given the title of Honorable Professor by the Ilizarov Center and issued the decree “Friend of Russia” by President Putin. He is currently the Chief Technical Officer & Operations Officer at Metalogix developing open posterior external fixator systems.
Alan Yan
MD (USA)
Alan Y. Yan, MD, is Chief Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Director of the Sanford Limb Preservation Center at USD Sioux Falls. He previously served as Assistant Professor and Director of Research for Foot and Ankle Injury at UPMC and Assistant Professor at Creighton University Medical Center. Dr. Yan completed his residency at Johns Hopkins and fellowships at Duke University and the University of Minnesota.
He holds several leadership roles with the AAOS and AOFAS and contributes to medical literature as co-editor of Surgical Atlas: Arthroscopic Techniques and Anatomy of Foot and Ankle and the second edition of Ilizarov Technique for Complex Foot and Ankle Deformities.
Harvey Du
MD (China)
Dr. Harvey Du is Chief of the Foot and Ankle Department, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Associate Professor at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University. A graduate of Peking Union Medical College, he completed advanced foot and ankle fellowship training at leading centers in the United States and the United Kingdom. Dr. Du is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Hong Kong College of Orthopedic Surgeons, and an International Member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). His clinical and research interests include robotic-assisted osteotomies, external fixation and complex limb deformity correction, with numerous publications in leading orthopaedic journals.
Yonghong Zhang
(China)
Prof. Med. Dr. Yonghong Zhang is Director of the Department of Limb Reconstruction at the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and a leading authority in external fixation and limb reconstruction. He serves as Chairman of the Chinese Bone Transport & Diabetic Foot Society, Secretary General of ASAMI China and ILLRS China, and holds several additional leadership roles in orthopaedic reconstruction organizations throughout China. Dr. Zhang specializes in severe limb trauma, chronic osteomyelitis, diabetic foot, complex deformities and limb salvage procedures for patients facing amputation risk. He has published more than 118 scientific papers, authored six books on limb reconstruction and developed multiple commercially applied external fixation devices.
Bret Smith
DO (USA)
Dr. Smith is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery, reconstruction and limb preservation. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he completed his residency at OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio, followed by advanced fellowship training at the renowned Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center. His clinical interests include bunion and forefoot deformities, total ankle replacement and revision, tendon reconstruction, minimally invasive procedures, limb salvage and lower extremity deformity correction. Dr. Smith has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and numerous textbook chapters, and is an internationally recognized speaker who regularly lectures for organizations including AOFAS, AAOS and ACFAS. His practice emphasizes a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that combines surgical expertise with non-operative and orthobiologic treatment strategies.
Sihe Qin
(China)
Professor Sihe Qin is Director of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Rehabilitation Hospital affiliated with the National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids and a pioneer in limb deformity correction and reconstruction. Over a career spanning more than 45 years, he has directed more than 37,000 surgical procedures while advancing clinical research, education and specialist training. Professor Qin is President of ASAMI & ILLRS China and Honorary Professor of the Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center, helping foster international collaboration in limb reconstruction. He has authored 18 monographs, including the internationally published books Lower Limb Deformities and Atlas of Limb Deformity, and remains dedicated to improving patient mobility, function and quality of life through innovation and education.
Amgad M. Haleem
MD PhD(USA)
Amgad M. Haleem, MD, PhD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at Mass General Hospital and Harvard University specializing in lower extremity complex reconstruction, joint preservation, and foot and ankle surgery. His clinical interests include adult foot and ankle deformity, complex lower extremity deformity correction, and advanced joint-preserving treatments.
Dr. Haleem earned his medical degree with honors from Cairo University and completed a PhD focused on stem cell-based cartilage regeneration at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed advanced fellowship training at several leading institutions, including the Hospital for Special Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, and the University of South Florida.
An active researcher, Dr. Haleem's work focuses on cartilage-preserving procedures and the use of biologics, including stem cells, to improve outcomes in major weight-bearing joints. Throughout his career, he has treated elite athletes and performers, including professional ballet dancers, NBA and NFL players, and collegiate athletes.
Rajiv Shah
MS (India)
Rajiv Shah, MS (Orthopaedics), is one of India's most recognized foot and ankle surgeons and was the country's first fellowship-trained specialist in foot and ankle surgery. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Shah established India's first dedicated foot and ankle center and has played a leading role in advancing foot and ankle education, research, and clinical practice throughout the region.
Dr. Shah has served as Chairman of the Asia Pacific Foot & Ankle Council and President of the Indian Foot & Ankle Society. He also serves as National Chairman of the Indo-US Foot & Ankle Courses, helping foster international collaboration and surgeon education.
An accomplished author and educator, Dr. Shah's award-winning book, Handbook of Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, received the Best Orthopaedic Book Award in 2014-15 and has since been translated into Portuguese, Chinese, and Arabic. Throughout his career, he has trained and mentored countless orthopedic surgeons through fellowships, workshops, and educational programs, helping shape the next generation of foot and ankle specialists.