Mercy’s Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction Opens Center for Orthopedic Innovation

Mercy Medical Center’s Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction (IFAR), one of the nation’s premier centers for foot and ankle care, now features the Center for Orthopedic Innovation, a state-of-the-art research and education facility designed to accelerate orthopedic innovation, advance research, enhance physician education, and support the development of next-generation foot and ankle implants and biologic therapies.

The Center for Orthopedic Innovation is the culmination of a seven-year effort led by internationally renowned foot and ankle surgeon Lew C. Schon, M.D., FAAOS, director of orthopedic innovation at IFAR. Located on the second floor of Mercy’s McAuley Plaza, the 3,728-square-foot center includes three specialized laboratory suites and dedicated office space that provide an integrated environment where surgeons, researchers, fellows, residents, and industry partners can collaborate to improve treatments for patients with foot and ankle disorders.

“The opening of the Center for Orthopedic Innovation marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our institute,” said Dr. Schon. “For seven years, we have envisioned a space where ideas can move more quickly from concept to investigation and, ultimately, to patient care. This facility provides the resources and infrastructure needed to develop and evaluate new technologies, advance biologic therapies, and create implant solutions designed specifically for foot and ankle conditions.”

“The Center for Orthopedic Innovation represents an extraordinary investment in the future of orthopedic medicine,” said Dr. David N. Maine, president and CEO of Mercy Health Services. “Mercy has long been recognized as a leader in orthopedics, including foot and ankle reconstruction. This facility expands our abilities to best serve patients and educate future orthopedic surgeons, enhancing care for generations to come.”

At the heart of the new center is the Orthobiologic Lab, a fully equipped research laboratory dedicated to cell culture and molecular biology. The laboratory enables investigators to process surgical tissue specimens, isolate tendon progenitor cells, study regenerative healing mechanisms, and evaluate biologic therapies that may improve recovery from foot and ankle injuries. 

Orthobiologics are biologic substances that help injuries heal more quickly and effectively. By bringing together laboratory research, tissue banking, anatomy education, and surgical innovation within a single facility, the Center for Orthopedic Innovation provides a comprehensive platform for advancing regenerative medicine, implant development, and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Advanced equipment includes a Class II Biological Safety Cabinet for sterile tissue processing, CO₂ incubators for cell culture, multiple centrifuges for cellular and protein analysis, a SpectraMax iD3 Multi-Mode Microplate Detection Platform for quantitative biologic testing, and ZEISS upright, inverted, and dissection microscopes capable of fluorescence microscopy for advanced tissue and cellular analysis.

Supporting the Orthobiologic Lab is a dedicated tissue processing room that houses Mercy’s internal review board-approved tissue bank for foot and ankle disorders. Surgical specimens collected during procedures are carefully processed, cataloged, and preserved for future translational research, allowing investigators to better understand disease processes and develop new treatment strategies.

The Center also features a fully equipped Anatomy Laboratory designed to replicate an operating room environment. The laboratory includes fluoroscopic imaging, an operating table, cadaver specimen storage, digital video technology, dissection tables, and specialized surgical instrumentation. 

“The facility serves as a training center where physicians teach advanced anatomy and surgical techniques, fellows refine operative skills, and surgeons evaluate new implants, instruments, and procedures before they are introduced into clinical practice,” Dr. Schon said.

The Anatomy Laboratory also provides a collaborative workspace for physician innovators, startup companies, and medical device manufacturers to design, evaluate, and refine new orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and procedural technologies specifically for foot and ankle reconstruction.

The Center for Orthopedic Innovation strengthens Mercy’s longstanding commitment to physician education. Fellows in IFAR’s internationally recognized foot and ankle fellowship program, orthopedic surgery residents, and medical students will participate in research projects, biomechanical studies, cadaver-based surgical training, and product development initiatives under the guidance of nationally recognized physician-investigators.

“One of the most important aspects of this facility is its educational value,” said Dr. Schon. “Innovation and education go hand in hand. Our fellows, residents, and students will have access to a unique environment where they can learn not only how to perform advanced surgical procedures, but also how new technologies are conceived, studied, and refined.”

The Center integrates the expertise of IFAR physicians, research fellows, administrators, and clinical personnel, including the institute’ s operating room staff, enabling discoveries made during surgery to move into research and, ultimately, back into patient care.

Dr. Schon, a former president of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society and an internationally recognized leader in orthopedic innovation, has spent decades advancing the field through research, teaching, and the development of numerous orthopedic devices and treatment techniques. His work in biomechanics, orthobiologics, and clinical research has resulted in more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and innovations that have improved patient care worldwide.