Elected to U.S. National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine (1991)
H.R. Lissner Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1991)
Giovanni Borelli Award, American Society of Biomechanics (1993)
Elected to U.S. National Academy of Engineering (1994)
Muybridge Medal, International Society of Biomechanics (1995)
Olympic Gold Medalist and IOC Olympic Prize for Sports Science (1998)
Carnegie Centenary Professor, The Carnegie Trust for the University of Scotland (2002)
Life Time Achievement Award, Bay Area Knee Society (2007)
Diamond Award "Distinguished Achievement in Academia", University of Washington College of Engineering (2008)
Gold Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)(2012)
Establishment of the Savio L-Y. Woo Medal for Translational Biomechanics, Bioengineering Division (BED), American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) (2015)
Honorary Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (2022)