Our Story
Born Out of necessity.
built to create opportunity
Before it was a nonprofit, Stem Cells for Heroes was one veteran's fight to get his quality of life back.
The Wound
Founder Ron Fry is a veteran, father, husband, and entrepreneur. He served eight years on active duty as a U.S. Army officer, deploying to Kosovo as an Infantry Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division and to Afghanistan as a Special Forces Team Leader with the 19th Special Forces Group. When he came home, he found his health and quality of life declining at the moment his family, career, and personal mission needed him most. Like many veterans, he was living with the cumulative effects of injuries and years of physical wear from his service.
The Search
Determined to find answers, Ron explored treatment options around the world, from South America to Europe, Los Angeles to Southern Utah, searching for approaches that could restore function rather than simply manage symptoms.
THE TURNING POINT
That search led him to Southern Utah, where physicians were using regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to help patients with conditions that had been managed, but never meaningfully improved, through traditional care.
Ron became a patient himself, and the results changed his life and his ability to
stay actively involved in family activities and adventures.
Why It Exists
He could not keep that discovery to himself. Ron introduced these therapies to his parents, siblings, extended family, and fellow veterans, and what he found was both inspiring and heartbreaking. The need among veterans was immense, and the cost placed these options beyond the reach of the very people who had sacrificed the most.
So Ron started fighting for theirs. Stem Cells for Heroes was founded to change that.
Because a veteran's chance to recover should depend on their service, not their savings.
Our Mission
Stem Cells for Heroes exists to give something back to those who gave so much: hope, help, and the chance to get their lives back.
We do it through honest education about regenerative medicine, connections with vetted providers, and funding for veterans who could never afford treatment on their own.
Accountability
OUR BOARD
Every application for assistance is reviewed by our board of veterans and physicians.
Ron Fry
U.S. Army, Afghanistan
Army Infantry and Special Forces officer whose years of service left him with significant orthopedic injuries. His own recovery through regenerative medicine inspired him to help other veterans access the same opportunities for healing.
Courtney Hinson
U.S. Air Force, Afghanistan & Iraq
Retired Air Force JTAC who endured multiple combat deployments, blast-related injuries, and six major surgeries. His personal recovery journey drives his commitment to helping fellow veterans find hope and a better quality of life.
Larry Fry
U.S. Army, Vietnam
Vietnam veteran who served as an infantryman with the Mobile Riverine Force and lived for decades with the physical toll of combat. His experience with regenerative medicine and renewed mobility inspired him to help other veterans reclaim the activities and quality of life they have lost.
Mike Melendez
U.S. Army
Current Army NCO and competitive rugby athlete who faced a potentially career-ending knee injury. His successful return to competition after regenerative treatment motivates him to expand access to these therapies for other veterans.
Dr. Scott Needham
Medical Business Professional and Patriot
Dr. Scott Needham served as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment before pursuing a career in medicine. He earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School and completed surgical training at William Beaumont and Eisenhower Army Medical Centers, followed by cardiothoracic surgery training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Today, he is a cardiothoracic surgeon in Billings, Montana.
Dr. Stuart B. Porter, D.O.
Dr. Stuart Porter is a board-certified family physician with decades of experience in functional, integrative, and regenerative medicine. A graduate of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine who trained at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Madigan Army Medical Center, Dr. Porter brings both extensive clinical experience and a commitment to innovative approaches to healing to the Stem Cells for Heroes mission.
The Science
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
The idea behind regenerative medicine is simple but powerful: the human body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself. For decades, physicians and scientists have worked to understand and support those natural repair mechanisms.
The modern era began in the 1950s with the first successful bone marrow transplants, which demonstrated that specialized cells could help restore damaged tissue and rebuild critical functions. Breakthroughs in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s led to the identification and study of different types of stem cells, opening new avenues of research into injury and disease.
Today, researchers around the world continue to investigate regenerative therapies for orthopedic injuries, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, neurological disorders, autoimmune conditions, and degenerative disease. Stem cells are among the most studied areas in this field because of their ability to release signaling molecules and growth factors that may help reduce inflammation and support tissue repair.
What the research does (and doesn't) show
Research into regenerative medicine is active and growing, and many patients report meaningful improvements. At the same time, most stem cell therapies for the conditions veterans face are still considered emerging treatments: they are not FDA-approved for those conditions, they are not a cure, and results vary from person to person.
Stem Cells for Heroes is committed to honest education. Every veteran we serve receives accurate information about both the promise and the limitations of these therapies, and is encouraged to make treatment decisions together with qualified healthcare professionals.
Why Cost Is The Barrier
Because these therapies are classified as emerging treatments, insurance rarely covers them. Athletes, entertainers, and executives increasingly pursue regenerative care out of pocket, but for most veterans, those costs are simply out of reach. Closing that gap is why Stem Cells for Heroes exists.
Help close the gap:
give a gift
how we vet treatment providers
We connect veterans only with licensed providers and clinics that meet our review standards, deliver science-based treatments, and track outcomes. We require that every veteran make treatment decisions in consultation with their own healthcare providers. Stem Cells for Heroes does not provide medical care, does not recommend specific treatments, and receives no compensation from any clinic.