Matthew Provencher Receives Prestigious 2026 AANA Shoulder Innovation Research Award
Dr. Matthew Provencher of The Steadman Clinic was honored with the 2026 Stephen S. Burkhart Shoulder Innovation Research Award by the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) for his groundbreaking research on complex shoulder instability treatment strategies.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Provencher expressed gratitude to the AANA award committee and noted he was unable to attend the ceremony in person due to his son’s college graduation on the East Coast.
The award-winning study compared clinical outcomes between open fresh distal tibial allografts and arthroscopic frozen distal tibial allografts in patients with recurrent shoulder instability. The research was designed to improve understanding of bone augmentation techniques used to manage challenging shoulder instability cases, particularly evaluating how allografts perform in these patients.
Dr. Provencher emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, thanking numerous co-authors and research partners, including Dr. Ivan Wong of Nova Scotia and renowned shoulder specialist Tony Romeo. He described the recognition as a reflection of a true team effort and noted that honors such as the Stephen S. Burkhart Award continue to inspire ongoing innovation and advancement in shoulder surgery research.
The Stephen S. Burkhart Shoulder Innovation Research Award recognizes exceptional contributions to shoulder research and innovation within the field of orthopedic sports medicine and arthroscopy.