Mercy’s Dr. Rebecca Cerrato Recognized with American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society’s 2025 Women’s Leadership Award

Rebecca A. Cerrato, M.D., FAAOS, board-certified orthopedic surgeon at The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy and director of the Institute’s fellowship program, has been honored by The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) with a 2025 Women's Leadership Award. 

Dr. Cerrato received the Career Impact Award, which recognizes women who have made exceptional contributions to the field of orthopedic foot and ankle surgery. 

“I am honored to be recognized by the AOFAS for this award,” Dr. Cerrato said. “I hope my contributions over these years have inspired other female orthopedic surgeons to pursue their own career goals.”

“This is wonderful news—we are extremely proud of Dr. Cerrato and this, her latest achievement, which speaks to her skill, dedication and commitment to providing quality, compassionate care to her patients. Mercy has received national recognition for providing top orthopedic care, and Dr. Cerrato’s award is further proof of that,” said Dr. David N. Maine, president and CEO, Mercy Health Services, Mercy Medical Center.

Dr. Cerrato earned her medical degree at The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, and completed her orthopedic surgery residency training at the University of Chicago and Georgetown University in Washington, DC. After residency, she completed a fellowship in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at Mercy Medical Center.

"Dr. Cerrato is a role model, not only for females, but for anyone aspiring to achieve a career in academic medicine," said A. Holly Johnson, MD, from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, in a nomination letter.

Dr. Cerrato is also a leader in the AOFAS, having served as a member-at-large of the AOFAS board of directors, the pre-meeting chair of AOFAS Annual Meeting 2023, chair of the Membership Committee, and member of the Young Physicians Committee. Currently, she is the vice chair of the Fellowship Match & Accreditation Committee.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cerrato has been dedicated to supporting women in foot and ankle orthopedic surgery. In 2018, she co-founded the AOFAS Women's Leadership Initiative.

"Recognizing women leaders provides much-needed role models for the next generation of female surgeons,” Dr. Cerrato said. “Visibility of women leaders in orthopedic surgery can inspire more women to consider a career in the field. Recognition of women leaders challenges stereotypes and breaks outdated gender norms, creating a more inclusive environment.”

Dr. Cerrato is also a recognized leader in clinical education on an international level. She is the only U.S. surgeon to serve as a board member on the Groupe de Recherche et d’Etude en Chirurgie Mini-Invasive du Pied—a prestigious international society dedicated to minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery. 

Dr. Cerrato will accept her award in September at AOFAS Annual Meeting 2025, where she will also speak at the annual Women's Leadership Reception.