Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Legend Johnny Bench is coming to King’s Daughters Medical Center to help educate people on the benefits of joint replacement. Bench will be sharing his experience with hip replacement Wednesday, Nov. 9., at 10 a.m. at KDMC’s Health Education Center (lower level of the Lexington Avenue Parking Garage).

He will be joined by the orthopedic surgeons of King’s Daughters, who will guide the audience through the joint replacement process and answer questions about the procedure. Participating physicians include orthopedic surgeons George Aitken, M.D.; David Jenkinson, M.D.; Kevin Kulwicki, M.D.; Joseph Leith, M.D.; and Laura Reese, D.O. Also participating is sports medicine physician Andy Gilliland, M.D.

To register for the event, please call 1-888-377-KDMC (5362) between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Because space is limited, we are taking reservations for those seriously considering joint replacement.

A former baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983, Bench is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in Major League Baseball history. He was a key member of the Reds’ 1975 and 1976 World Series championship team known as “The Big Red Machine.” Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Johnny Bench underwent total hip replacement of his right hip in April 2004 after suffering for years from chronic joint pain.

He discussed his options with his surgeon and received a Stryker hip implant. After undergoing the procedure, Bench was able to realize his lifestyle recovery goals and get back to his active life without hip pain.

Since then, he has shared his joint replacement experience with attendees at Stryker educational seminars throughout the United States.

When he began experiencing pain in his left hip, Bench knew not to wait until he was sidelined by the pain before seeking help. He knew first-hand the relief his successful hip replacement in 2004 brought him and elected to undergo total hip replacement of his left hip in February 2010.

Just as he had in 2004, Bench spoke with his surgeon and opted to receive the latest technology available from Stryker. Johnny was the first patient to receive Stryker’s Mobile Bearing Hip™.

Its unique anatomic design and technology offers patients like Bench the potential for increased stability, range of motion and a greater resistance to wear.

Fully recovered, Bench splits his time between Naples and Palm Springs with his wife Lauren and their two young sons, Justin and Joshua, while his oldest son Bobby attends Boston University.

Bench also continues to perfect his golf game and travel across the U.S. sharing his experience with arthritis and joint replacement with joint pain sufferers on behalf of Stryker Orthopaedics.