Norman Johanson, MD, the former chief of orthopedics at Philadelphia-based Hahnemann University Hospital, died July 3 at age 72, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Aug. 25.
Dr. Johnson became chair of orthopedics at the hospital in 2000 and performed thousands of surgeries and mentored hundreds of students and residents. Before joining Hahnemann University Hospital, he was a professor and program director at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
A former colleague told the Inquirer that Dr. Johnson was known for his compassion.
"When we are faced with a tough case or patient, we all ask ourselves: 'What would Norm do?'" the unnamed physician said.
Dr. Johnson died of complications from diabetes, according to the report.