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What is the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center?
The Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) will enable the University of Pittsburgh to elevate its study of musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis, degenerative arthritis, fragility fractures and spinal pathology. It will attract and retain top scientists and advance leading-edge research, making musculoskeletal medicine a major focus at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences alongside cancer and neuroscience.
The Orland Bethel Family Foundation’s gift, matched by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, created the center. The University expects it to open in 2024.
Orland Bethel, founder of Hillandale Farms, one of the United States’ largest egg producers, had suffered from debilitating back pain. He credits Joon Y. Lee, Orland Bethel Professor in Spine Surgery, (Division of Spinal Surgery) Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, and UPMC with restoring his function and mobility through surgery and treatment.
“My family and I are pleased to offer our support to the spectacular work of Dr. Joon Lee and the other surgeons, physicians and researchers within the department led by Dr. MaCalus V. Hogan through the creation of the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center,” Bethel said. “I know how the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC changed my life and can only imagine how the lives of others—worse off than I was—will be improved thanks to the ongoing research at this new center.”
![image-BFRC_0006_20230818_173910 Smiling group photo of (from left) MaCalus Hogan, Orland Bethel and Joon Y. Lee.](https://live-hs-bethel-research-pitt.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-BFRC_0006_20230818_173910.jpg)
From left: MaCalus Hogan, Orland Bethel and Joon Y. Lee.
The latest news
2024 Seminar Calendar
January 17: Dr. Jie Shen, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine "Fracture Nonunion: New Insights into Mechanism and Therapy" February 12: Dr. Volker Musahl and Dr. Richard Debski - Biomechanics March 11: Dr....
One Patient’s Amazing Story Pays It Foward – Again and Again
Dr. Joon Y. Lee, BMRC Executive Director, recently spoke to Orthopedics This Week to share how the BMRC came to be (the Bethel family's remarkable gift), what we're doing now (supporting undergraduate summer students in our labs) and where we're heading (hint: a...
OREF: Introducing the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC)
Pitt’s Clinical Partner
A world-renowned health care provider and insurer, UPMC combines clinical and research excellence to deliver high-quality care for patients from Western Pennsylvania and across the globe. The schools of the health sciences work closely with UPMC to ensure that health care delivery, biomedical research and education are equally robust and continuously evolving.
![upmc](https://live-hs-bethel-research-pitt.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/upmc-e1670002491115.jpg)