Dr. Richard Hawkins is a world-renowned shoulder surgeon and co-founder of the Steadman Hawkins Clinic and the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.  He relocated from his native Canada to Vail in October of 1990, where he teamed with Dr. J. Richard Steadman to form the Steadman Hawkins Clinic. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Orthopaedics. He had fellowship training in knee, shoulder, and spine.

Returning to London, at the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Hawkins became Professor of Orthopaedics and Director of the Residency Program. In 1979, he was an ABC Traveling Fellow to Great Britain.

Dr. Hawkins is a founding member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Past-President of the same organization, Past-President of the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine, former Director of the Sports Medicine Council of Canada, former Team Physician to the Canadian Olympics in Calgary in 1988, and a former consultant to the United States Ski Team. He was the National Medical Director for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, and was Team Physician for the 1998 and 1999 Super Bowl Champions Denver Broncos and presently team physician. He was Medical Director and is presently team physician for the Colorado Rockies Baseball Team. Dr. Hawkins has cared for many teams and many athletes from high school to the professional level.

Dr. Hawkins has published over 200 articles and videotapes, and has presented approximately 500 pieces at both national and international meetings. He has published five textbooks in Orthopaedics. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado and at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. His primary focus in academic orthopaedics has been the shoulder, both basic and clinical research. He is presently on the editorial board of many orthopaedic journals. He has served the orthopaedic community on many committees presently including the Council on Education for the AAOS. Dr. Hawkins has been listed as one of 100 of America's Best Doctors, as well as, being named in the National Directory of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.

In 2004, Dr. Hawkins opened an expanded practice in South Carolina, Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.