Gregory M. Mundis Jr., MD, FAAOS
Published 4/17/2026
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons announced the recipients of its 2026 awards, honoring excellence and outstanding achievement in orthopaedics at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting last month in New Orleans. Gregory M. Mundis Jr., MD, FAAOS, received the AAOS 2026 Humanitarian Award for his outstanding musculoskeletal-related humanitarian work in the United States and abroad. He is a professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, California, president of the San Diego Spine Foundation, director of the San Diego Spine Fellowship, and a board member of Global Spine Outreach (GSO).
Raised in a missionary family and inspired by early experiences abroad, Dr. Mundis has dedicated his career to providing life-saving spine deformity care for children who would otherwise have no access. He has led medical mission programs in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe, and Africa, establishing sustainable sites, hosting deformity symposia, and training surgeons to continue these efforts. Working closely with local surgeons, hospital partners, and his own GSO team, he emphasizes collaboration and mentorship as keys to lasting impact.
Committed to inspiring the next generation, Dr. Mundis offers clinical fellows in his program the opportunity to participate in at least one medical mission trip during training, ensuring his humanitarian work creates a legacy of service and leadership.
According to Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD, FAAOS, clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, “Dr. Mundis leads with poise, joy, energy, and a spirit of selflessness that is truly contagious. I have had the privilege of watching him grow into an extraordinary surgeon and leader, and I am better for having been part of that journey. Dr. Mundis is a living example of what it means to be a true humanitarian.”