Two University of Utah orthopedic surgeons received presidential endowed chairmanships: Robert Burks and Aaron Hofmann.

The late Dr. Louis Peery and his late wife Janet Peery, who died in 1996 and 1999, respectively, created the fund for these and three other chairpersons. The chairmanships are for orthopedic surgeons at the U.

Dr. Peery practiced orthopedic surgery for 36 years and was chief of staff at Ogden?s McKay-Dee Hospital.

Being a professor of orthopedics and having seniority were the major factors in determining who received the positions, Burks said.

Director of the U?s Sports Medicine Center and head physician for the U?s athletic teams, Burks specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, ankle and knee. His research ranges from the effects of electricity on soft tissue and cartilage to the stability of the knee. Burks has been with the U for 13 years.

Hip- and knee-joint replacement surgery is Hofmann?s primary area of interest. A design surgeon for biomechanics and implants, Hofmann participates in clinical trials for new joint-replacement technologies. Hofmann has been with the School of Medicine for 20 years.

The money from Peery for the chairmanships is put into a U fund. The chairholders can use the interest from that money at their discretion, Burks said.

Burks plans to use the interest from his fund toward research and further academic pursuits in orthopedics.