Adam Griner, Zimmer Biomet and Faith In Practice: A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
Adam Griner’s connection to Guatemala began in 2010, when he traveled with his wife and two oldest children on a mission trip through their church. By the end of the week, his family had fallen in love with Guatemala and its people.
Adam has spent nearly 30 years in the orthopedic industry with Zimmer Biomet, a company that designs and manufactures orthopedic reconstructive products, where he has worked with hundreds of surgeons and been part of countless surgeries. When he first traveled to Guatemala in 2010, he was still years away from seeing how his professional experience and personal passion for serving others could come together in a lasting partnership.
As Adam continued returning to Guatemala, he began thinking about how he could use his experience to help more patients. The opportunity came during a Zimmer Biomet leadership conference, where a speaker challenged Adam and fellow leaders to consider how they could do more for patients in need.
Conversation with his colleagues continued after the session. And the group ultimately decided to research nonprofit organizations around the world who were already providing orthopedic surgery to help patients regain mobility. Although Adam felt drawn to Guatemala, he wanted the selection of their long-term medical mission partner to be the team’s decision.
“I had a heart tug toward Guatemala, but I really did not want to bias the team,” he recalled.
“But when we got to Faith In Practice, it checked all the boxes.” The team’s selection of Faith in Practice was clear.
What stood out was Faith In Practice’s commitment to Guatemala, including full-time staff in the country who could coordinate missions and provide continuity of care. The organization’s responsibility and local commitment to patients extended beyond the week a volunteer team was there.
Adam worked with Faith In Practice leaders, including then-CEO Linda McCarty and key volunteer Team Leaders, to develop the partnership. Together, they addressed a practical challenge for surgical teams: ensuring the right orthopedic implants would be available when patients needed them.
In 2018, Adam and Linda signed an agreement at Las Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro hospital in Antigua, Guatemala for Zimmer Biomet to provide long-term access to implants and inventory. Rather than relying on whatever products might be available, surgeons could now arrive better prepared to care for their patients.
The partnership has continued to grow, most recently with a five-year extension signed by Adam and current Faith In Practice CEO Ben Adesope. This continued partnership with Zimmer Biomet has allowed Faith In Practice to increase the number of Orthopedic surgical teams from 4 to 10 over the past few years, significantly increasing the number of patients receiving much needed orthopedic care.
Adam also wanted his colleagues to experience the mission firsthand. After the first year or two, he realized, “I can’t keep this to myself.” He established a program for Zimmer Biomet product engineers, reps, and others to apply to serve alongside Faith In Practice orthopedic surgery teams where they provide support and gain a better understanding of the impact of their products. More than 80 Zimmer Biomet employees have since traveled to Guatemala and continue to have a presence on orthopedic surgical mission teams.
For those employees, the experience connects their daily work to the patients who benefit from it. As Adam explained, “It’s so meaningful to people who have gone. It renews a vision or reminder of why we do what we do.”
Adam is quick to emphasize that the partnership has never depended on him alone. Todd Davis, now retired GM of Global Knees, championed the idea from the beginning, and many leaders have since helped keep this unique partnership moving forward. President and CEO Ivan Tornos has been a strong supporter and an inspiration to Adam. Ivan often reminds colleagues of Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
That message reflects Zimmer Biomet’s mission “to alleviate pain and improve the quality of life for people around the world.” Support from senior leadership helped make the partnership possible and continues to sustain it. In his role as Associate Director of Corporate Responsibility, Adam supports other organizations and missions, too. His enthusiasm for Faith In Practice comes from what he has personally seen – the organization’s commitment to patients, its presence in Guatemala and the people who make the work possible.
For Adam, the impact comes back to the patients. One he has never forgotten is Ana, whom he met during an early surgery mission, before the Zimmer Biomet partnership was established. Ana, a petite Guatemalan woman of Mayan descent, was hoping to receive surgery, but the surgeons had to turn her away because the available implants were too large for her small frame. Adam remembers seeing her walk away in tears.
He spoke to her in the Spanish he knew and promised, “If God permits, I will get implants here for your size.” He explained that he worked for a company that made orthopedic implants. Adam took Ana’s x-rays home, and Zimmer Biomet colleagues helped determine the implant size she needed. In 2018, Ana received her first knee replacement in February and her second in April.
But what stayed with Adam was Ana’s faith. She told him she had prayed that God would not abandon her. After experiencing abandonment earlier in life, including from her father because of her leg problems, she described a vision of Jesus telling her He would heal her legs, but first He needed to heal her heart.
After both knees had been replaced, Adam asked Ana about her dream for the future. “I want to tell everyone that God exists and that God answers prayer, because that’s what He did for me,” she told him.
Her words have stayed with Adam. One of his favorite Bible verses is Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Serving with Faith In Practice has reinforced his belief that God answers prayers, often in ways people could never have planned on their own. He also believes the work is made possible by many people contributing their time, skills and resources. As he puts it, “Those resources were never ours to begin with. They are gifts, and giving back is a chance to be part of something bigger than ourselves.”
“I’m eternally grateful to the Lord to get to do this,” Adam said. “I’m blessed to manage this work for our company, and I never take that responsibility for granted.”
When Adam is in Guatemala, one phrase he finds himself saying often is “Estoy muy agradecido” – I am very grateful. After all these years, it’s a simple way to express what the experience has meant to him: gratitude for the patients he has met, the people he has served beside, the colleagues who have supported the partnership, and the opportunity to be part of work that continues to change lives.
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If you’re passionate about volunteering and are considering serving as a volunteer with Faith In Practice, we invite you to explore exciting opportunities on our website and discover the various impactful roles available. Join us in making a difference in Guatemala!
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