Dr. Richard J. Hawkins is a licensed, board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is widely recognized as one of the top shoulder surgeons in the world. He is a founding member and past president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society. Dr. Hawkins specializes in shoulder, elbow and knee reconstructive surgery and sports medicine. He is a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and co-founder of the Steadman Hawkins Clinic, along with his colleague, Dr. J. Richard Steadman. He is also a former team physician for the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies.

Dr. Hawkins has published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, seven textbooks on shoulder surgery, and presented more than 500 lectures at both national and international meetings. He sits on the editorial board of many orthopedic journals and is a member of many committees including the Council on Education for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS).