A Moment to Celebrate: Promotions of Dr. Dominic Gargiulo and Dr. Christopher Marrero

From the words of Dr. Robert Zura:

"Today, I had the honor of opening two very distinguished letters in my office—letters that mark a momentous occasion for our department and for the future of academic orthopaedics.

I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Dominic Gargiulo has been promoted to Associate Professor – Clinical, effective July 1, 2025. Please join me in congratulating Dr. G on this well-earned and deeply deserved recognition. We are incredibly proud of your continued contributions, clinical excellence, and the positive impact you have on our learners and patients alike.

But today’s celebration doesn’t end there.

It is with overwhelming pride, respect, and joy that I share the news that Dr. Christopher Marrero has been promoted to Professor – Clinical, also effective July 1, 2025.

Let me pause here—and ask that we all take a moment to truly reflect on the significance of this achievement.

Dr. Marrero is a masterful educator, an extraordinary surgeon, a gifted and compassionate mentor, and a contributor to some important work in our literature. His scholarly contributions are matched only by his relentless dedication to his community where he engages and leads with authenticity, empathy, and a clarity of purpose that inspires everyone around him.

This promotion is not only a recognition of Dr. Marrero’s individual excellence, but it also marks a profound milestone in the broader story of our field.

As many of you are aware, academic orthopaedics has long struggled with a lack of diversity in its leadership ranks. An article published in STAT in 2021 highlighted that of hundreds of full professors of orthopaedics in the U.S., only six were Black. Let that number sink in.

Today, Dr. Christopher Marrero becomes part of that elite group—an achievement that is as historic as it is deserved. As a Black orthopaedic surgeon, his promotion to Professor represents a rare and powerful moment of progress in a field that urgently needs it.

We are not just proud of Dr. Marrero—we are in awe of what this means for our department, for LSU Orthopaedics, for LSU Health, and for orthopaedics nationwide. This is a moment that will resonate beyond our halls. It is a beacon for what is possible when excellence, perseverance, and purpose meet.

And while we celebrate today, we also recognize that the work is far from done. This moment calls us to continue building a future where more stories like Dr. Marrero’s are not only possible—but expected."

Congratulations to both Dr. Gargiulo and Dr. Marrero on their new promotions.