The Arthritis Foundation’s Bone Bash is always a special evening, but this year’s Villains Ball was one for the record books.
Central Indiana Orthopedics was proud to celebrate Dr. Aaron Baessler, who was recognized as the Arthritis Foundation’s 2026 Medical Honoree. The award recognizes physicians who have made a meaningful impact in the fight against arthritis, and anyone who knows Dr. Baessler understands why he was selected.
As one of his patients shared:
“Dr. Baessler replaced my 93-year-old mother’s shoulder and she recovered beautifully. I recently had bicep and rotator cuff repair. Surgery went smoothly, and he provided a clear explanation of the procedure and realistic recovery expectations. Highly recommend for shoulder issues.”
A shoulder and elbow surgeon at CIO, Dr. Baessler cares for patients every day whose arthritis and joint pain have limited their ability to work, stay active and enjoy the things they love.
“The vast majority of patients that I see have degenerative shoulder issues, namely arthritis, and they have one thing in common, and it’s they have pain,” said Dr. Baessler. “Some people can’t even lift their arm up to take care of themselves. They can’t brush their teeth. They can’t do their hair.”
Helping patients regain their independence is what drives him.
“The amount of joy of improvement in their pain and overall function afterwards is huge,” he said.
While the recognition was well deserved, Dr. Baessler was quick to shift the focus back to the patients and community members who supported the event.
“I do this job because I enjoy it, not necessarily because I want recognition,” he said. “The fact that I’ve had patients and people vouch for me to nominate me for this means everything.”
The evening also marked a major milestone for Central Indiana Orthopedics. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our physicians, staff, partners and community supporters, CIO raised nearly $40,000 for the Arthritis Foundation, surpassing our previous fundraising record and helping advance the Foundation’s mission of improving treatments, supporting patients and pursuing a cure.
“We are very honored to have all of this support at the Bone Bash and for the Arthritis Foundation,” Dr. Baessler said. “Every little bit of support goes a long way in improving or figuring out new treatments for tomorrow.”
We are grateful to everyone who attended, donated, bid on auction items, sponsored the event and helped make the evening such a success. Most importantly, thank you for supporting the millions of people living with arthritis.
Watch Dr. Baessler’s Arthritis Foundation feature video below to learn more about why this cause is so important to him.
Below are a few of our favorite moments from this year’s event.
