The spine and orthopedic community is remembering several surgeons who died in 2024.
1. 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.
2. R. Bruce Heppenstall, MD, former chief of orthopedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and professor emeritus of orthopedic surgery at the university's Perelman School of Medicine, died Jan. 4 at 82.
3. Naples, Fla.-based orthopedic surgeon James Ray, MD, died on April 24 at the age of 71, according to his May 1 obituary. He was a USA Olympic Sports Medicine Society member, CEO of the National Training Center Sports Medicine Institute, and traveled with numerous sports teams nationally and internationally. Dr. Ray had over 45 years of experience in orthopedics and was affiliated with Orlando Health and Naples Community Hospital.
4. Mary Powell Lewis, MD, a pioneer for women in orthopedics, died July 15 at age 98. She was one of the first American women to be board certified in orthopedic surgery and was a founding member of the Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society.
5. Mark Price, MD, PhD, an orthopedic surgeon and head team physician for the New England Patriots, died at age 52, the team said Aug 18. Dr. Price became head team physician and medical director in 2016, Patriots CEO and Chair Robert Kraft said in a statement. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserves and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service in combat operations in Afghanistan.
6. G. Dean MacEwen, MD, a pioneer in pediatric orthopedic surgery, died Aug. 6 at 96. Over the next 30 years, he developed and made modifications to devices for the treatment of scoliosis and congenital hip dysplasia. He also established screening protocols for hip dysplasia in newborns and scoliosis in children.
7. Spinal surgeon Arthur Steffee, MD, referred to in a Cleveland Clinic article as the "father of modern spine surgery," died Aug. 16 at 90.
8. Richard DiStefano, MD, a spine surgeon with Syracuse (N.Y.) Orthopedic Specialists, died Aug. 18 following an accident at the Cazenovia Triathlon, Rich O'Neil, president of the event.
9. Robert Cuttica, MD, a former orthopedic surgeon at Youngstown (Ohio) Orthopedic Associates, died Nov. 8 at age 82. He served as president of the medical staff at the Youngstown Hospital Association, medical director of the adult program at the Easter Seal Center, assistant professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University and was a member of the Oblate Sisters' Advisory Board.
10. McCandless, Pa.-based orthopedic surgeon Scott Nettrour, MD, died Nov. 15 at 86 from complications from Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Nettrour, along with his brother and father, co-founded the Tri Rivers Musculoskeletal Centers in Wexford, Pa., in the early 1970s.
11. Pennsylvania orthopedic surgeon Robert Armstrong, MD, died Dec. 7 at the Butler (Pa.) Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was 71.