OrthoCarolina’s commitment to research was not only recognized, but rewarded last week in Charlotte, NC.
Dr. Leo Spector and Christi Cadd both felt it was an honor just to be nominated for two separate Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ) awards. Imagine their surprise when not one, but both OrthoCarolina research leaders took home top prizes at the Health Care Heroes awards ceremony on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
“The awards program recognizes the dedication and achievements of our local health care community,” the CBJ explains.
OrthoCarolina CEO and Spine Surgeon Dr. Leo Spector and OrthoCarolina Research Institute’s (OCRI) Executive Director Christi Cadd were up for the Health Care Executive and Innovation & Advancements in Health Care awards respectively.
According to the CBJ, Spector’s name rose to the top of his category for overseeing the “strategic plan to return OrthoCarolina to its core mission and divested of MRI and physical therapy centers.”
Knowing the excellent healthcare Charlotte prides itself on, OCRI’s Executive Director knew OCRI’s work was top shelf but still did not expect to hear her name called at the end of the night. “I was shocked,” Cadd recounts. “There were so many amazing people and projects in the Innovation and Advancements category.
It was OCRI’s Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort (CORE) that caught the panel’s eye. The initiative is revolutionizing surgical recovery by providing patients and healthcare providers with safe, effective, opioid-minimizing pain management options, dramatically reducing the risk of addiction and improving recovery experiences. CORE is the result of more than seven years of research and multiple grants through The Duke Endowment.
Backed by peer-reviewed research published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, CORE offers opioid-free recovery protocols that have already helped hundreds of OrthoCarolina patients involved in the study reduce or eliminate opioid in some orthopedic procedures.
During her acceptance speech Cadd was quick to recognize the team behind the project, “Research and innovation doesn’t occur in isolation,” Cadd said. “ It occurs when you have a group of people who are passionate and forward thinking with bold ideas working towards the same goal and for us that is improving orthopedic care and outcomes for our patients. The work we do always starts with the patient and is for our patients. It means a lot to all of us to be recognized for our innovation in the area opioid reduction.”
With 200+ active research studies underway, OCRI’s team works in six orthopedic subspecialties- foot and ankle, hand, hip and knee, pediatrics, spine, and sports medicine. Each dedicated research team consists of practicing physicians at OrthoCarolina, research coordinators, data team, and statisticians all committed to improving patient care and outcomes.
“The goal is always to get patients back to what they love faster, with less discomfort and better outcomes while reducing cost,” Cadd explains. “I love working with teams and within an organizational cultural that encourages innovation, and you have those regular moments where you step back and say ‘Wow… that is an amazing idea… let’s do it!'”
OCRI designed opioidreduction.com to be an opioid use prevention and educational tool with the main goal of reducing the use of opioids, where appropriate, across the healthcare system.
Our aims for going forward are to:
The OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI) is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 that moves orthopedics forward by challenging the status quo and innovating treatments leading to better medical care, better outcomes, and better cost efficiency. CLICK HERE to support OCRI’s mission.
Back
