Guthrie Announces $1 Million Anonymous Gift to Launch Second Century of Orthopedic Care

November 4, 2025

At a recent centennial event commemorating the program's founding by Dr. Donald Guthrie, The Guthrie Clinic announced a $1 million anonymous gift dedicated to the future of orthopedic care. 

Made in honor of Dr. Joseph Choi, Chair of the Guthrie Medical Group's Musculoskeletal Service Line, the donation will support Guthrie’s efforts to grow as a Center of Excellence in Orthopedics. 

"As we honor the countless lives transformed by our dedicated surgeons, nurses and therapists over the past century, we're also looking forward to what's next," said Dr. Choi. "This $1 million gift will be instrumental in advancing our ability to pioneer the future of orthopedics and provide world-class care close to home." 

The gift will help modernize orthopedic care through three core components: 

  • Data-driven quality improvement: Connects the system to national registries and funds research to benchmark surgical performance against world-class standards. 

  • Advanced digital integration: Implements the Epic Bones module for seamless, systemwide access to patient bone health data and integrated care tools. 

  • Innovation and training: Enables Guthrie surgeons to train at leading national institutions, bringing cutting-edge techniques and best practices directly back to the community. 

The anonymous donors — a couple who have relied on Guthrie's care for more than 50 years, including recent orthopedic care — were inspired by their conviction that "Guthrie Orthopedics gives you your life back." They hope their support will encourage others to contribute to the Orthopedic Centennial Fund. 

Guthrie Clinic has launched its $50 million "Here. For Good." campaign — a bold initiative to transform rural health care across the 14 counties and 23 communities it serves. With nearly $36 million already raised, the campaign reflects the strength of Guthrie's mission and the generosity of its supporters. 

"The campaign is about more than buildings and technology — it's about people. For us, 'Here. For Good.' isn't just a slogan. It means we're present when it matters, excellent when it counts and permanent when others might walk away," said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President and CEO, The Guthrie Clinic. "This couple's remarkable generosity directly fuels our mission to ensure world-class care remains a permanent fixture in our rural communities. Their gift is a powerful affirmation that we are 'Here. For Good.' when it comes to the mobility and health of our patients." 

For more information or to support the "Here. For Good." campaign, contact Tricia Huston, Executive Director, Guthrie Resource Development at Tricia.Huston@guthrie.org or 570-887-4419.