The spine and orthopedic community is remembering three leaders in the field who died in the first quarter of 2024.
Former Bears receiver, College Football Hall of Fame member and orthopedic surgeon Bill McColl, MD, died on Dec. 28 at the age of 93. Dr. McColl was the third-oldest living hall of fame member. He was picked by the Bears in 1952 and played eight seasons with the team. The team even moved their practices around so that Dr. McColl could attend medical school at the University of Chicago.
Mary Bunge, PhD, a pioneer in studying spinal cord injuries and restoring movement to millions of paralyzed patients, has died at the age of 92. Dr. Bunge was a top female pioneer in the field of neuroscience, and she spent the majority of her career focused on myelin — a mix of proteins and fatty acids that coats nerve fibers, protecting them and boosting the speed at which they conduct signals. She and her husband determined that myelin could be encouraged to regrow if the affected area was coated in transplanted Schwann cells and paired with drugs and other interventions to promote regeneration.
Adam Perry, MD, who founded Lafayette-based Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists, died at age 49. Dr. Perry founded Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists in 2008 after completing fellowship training in San Antonio. Since then the practice has grown to more than 200 employees and spans all aspects of orthopedic care. He performed Lafayette's first anterior total hip replacement, and the first surgery with the ROSA robot in Louisiana's Acadiana region.