OREF Midwest Resident Research Symposium is Sponsored by the Hark Family
in Memory of Dr. Fred Hark and Dr. William Hark

Thank you to the Hark Family for supporting the Midwest Resident Research Symposium and co-sponsoring additional symposia in 2024. The Hark Family’s support of the 2024 Resident Research Symposia is made in memory of Dr. Fred Hark and his son, Dr. William Hark.

The Hark family has long been a champion of OREF. Their endowment made possible a lectureship grant established through OREF in 1982. Funding from this grant gave orthopaedic organizations the opportunity to enhance their educational programs with lectures on topics ranging from the physiology of leg lengthening to clubfoot surgery.

Dr. Fred Hark was a former Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush University and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Illinois. He served at Hines VA Hospital, Henrotin Hospital, and Mary Thomson (Women and Children’s) Hospital, and he was president of the Chicago Orthopaedic Society. He and his wife, Dr. Florence Hark, established their legacy of philanthropy in memory of their son, William. After Fred’s passing, Florence continued making charitable contributions in memory of her son and husband.

Dr. William Hark completed his residency training in Chicago after spending two years in the U.S. Navy, completing his active service as Lieutenant Commander. In 1962, he began his orthopaedic practice in association with his father and Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital and was also Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics Surgery at the University of Illinois. He was active in many institutions, including Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children in Chicago, the Hines Veterans' Administration Hospital, the Municipal Tuberculosis and State Tuberculosis Sanitarium, the Spaulding School for Handicapped Children, and the Admiral Retirement Home for Geriatrics. Dr. Hark was greatly interested in residents' education and was a staunch supporter of the residency program at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center.

OREF 2024 Resident Research Symposium Website

About the Resident Research Symposia

For more than 20 years, OREF has honored its commitment to foster the development of new generations of investigators through research-focused educational programs like our Resident Research Symposia.

The symposia give residents a taste of being a clinician scientist and the opportunity to gain experience in discussing their research publicly. Judges rank and score the presentations, and the top presenters in each region receive cash awards. The top three presenters from each region will compete in OREF’s National Resident Research Symposium, to be held virtually later this year.