R. Baxter Willis, MD
R. Baxter Willis, MD, was the 2022 recipient of the POSNA Distinguished Achievement Award. He was one of the original members of POSNA and has contributed greatly to care of children in Canada, the United States, and the world through outreach with POSNA. He espouses the theme “Pay it Forward” and has always valued mentoring and teaching.
Dr. Willis grew up in London, Ontario, Canada, which is half-way between Detroit and Toronto. He was the youngest of three brothers and his father was Dean of the Business School at University of Western Ontario (now Western University). The Willis family placed a strong emphasis on education, and he completed his bachelor’s (1967) and medical degrees (1971) at the University of Western Ontario. His oldest brother pursued medicine and became an ophthalmologist and was a strong influence on him. One of his brother’s close friends was Peter Fowler who became a prominent sports medicine surgeon. Dr. Fowler was Baxter’s anatomy preceptor in medical school and encouraged him to shadow in orthopaedics. He found he loved the diagnosis and treatment and great outcomes of orthopaedic surgery.
Following a rotating internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Dr. Willis returned to London, where he completed his orthopaedic residency training in 1976. During residency, Baxter was selected to complete a year of research which had a profound effect on his career. Here, he developed an interest in clinical research and in gathering outcomes. He recalls his first published paper was a study on compartment syndrome under Dr. Kennedy’s mentorship. He also served as the chief resident, showing his leadership was already recognized! 
His career was influenced greatly by the mentorship of Robert Salter, MD, and many teachers at the Hospital for Sick Children, where Dr. Willis did a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship in 1977. Dr. Salter taught him the importance of motion for developing joints and another mentor, Dr. Dean MacEwan, instilled the concept of safety for the patient. Dr. Willis returned to London, Ontario in 1978 as the first full-time pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and where he remained in academic practice until 1994. He recalls the important career building that Dr. Salter helped him with—Dr. Salter would kindly refer patients back to London from Toronto, endorsing Dr. Willis as an excellent surgeon in their own community. His colleagues in London remain close to his heart as some of the finest people with whom he has worked.
Dr. Willis and Dr. Perry Schoenecker became close colleagues early in their careers and shared ideas about pediatric orthopaedics as a field and their vision. Together, they planned to teach and talk about what worked and what didn’t work in pediatric orthopaedics so that everyone could learn from their experience. Dr. Willis traveled to Southeast Asia with Dr. Kaye Wilkins in 1999 for a trip focused on education and exchange, which sparked his dedication to international teaching. Dr. Willis also joined Dr. Schoenecker in South America. Along with several others, they helped to solidify the POSNA courses and international teaching. 
In 1994, Dr. Willis was recruited to New Orleans as the G. Dean MacEwen Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics at Louisiana State University Health Centre, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU, and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. While there, he helped develop the academic and educational program, training many fellows in the process. The friendship and advice of Dr. MacEwen were vital to the success of that venture.
In 2004, Dr. Willis returned to Canada as the Chief of Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a position he held until 2015. He continued in an administrative capacity as Interim Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the University of Ottawa and CHEO from 2015 until 2017. He values his partners and the whole team and especially enjoys teaching residents and fellows.
Dr. Willis became active in POSNA in the early days. He loved the Annual Meeting and the exchange with other members in talking about breakthroughs in understanding and controversies in treatment, with brief papers and long discussions. He served as the chair of the Education Committee and always wanted to stay involved, listen, help, and make POSNA better.
He served as president of POSNA from 2007 to 2008, which he considers a professional highlight. Dr. Willis helped invite the International Scholars to the Annual Meeting and played a part in holding the first joint meeting between EPOS and POSNA. During his presidency, Dr. Willis also helped select Teri Stech as POSNA’s executive director, a great decision for all members.
Dr. Willis has authored over 80 peer-reviewed articles and numerous book chapters. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics and the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics. His interests include pediatric hip disorders, limb and foot deformities, treatment of neuromuscular disorders, and trauma. He continues to practice part-time at CHEO and still loves his interaction with patients and their families. He enjoys teaching and education in all aspects, especially to residents and fellows. He is actively involved in international outreach education in pediatric orthopaedics in Southeast Asia and South America.
Dr. Willis is married to his lovely wife, Sue, a teacher in early childhood education. She has been an integral partner in international travel for POSNA courses. Baxter and Sue have three children—Chris, Caroline, and Andrew and two grandchildren, Magdalena and Frances. On a personal note, Dr. Willis feels very blessed in his career and blessed to choose pediatric orthopaedics, which became a professional passion. He has had the honor to work with incredible people in London, New Orleans, and Ottawa.
For young pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, he offers great advice: “Continue to be thankful and pay it forward with mentoring and coaching, and teaching.” Dr. Willis is so proud to be a member of POSNA as an amazing organization.
Biography written by Dr. Michelle S. Caird, on behalf of the Hall of Fame Committee. 2023.
