This year, Becker's reported on 11 spine and orthopedic surgeons who died this year including founders, leaders and physicians respected by colleagues and patients.
1. Charles Silberstein, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who served as the head physician for the Baltimore Orioles MLB team from 1978 to 2009, died at age 90. He began practicing orthopedic surgery in 1964 and was on staff at several Baltimore-based health facilities.
2. Alfred Blue, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and team physician for the Seattle Thunderbirds, died. Dr. Blue served as a team physician for Seattle hockey teams since 1963 and was a practicing attorney specializing in medical legal cases.
3. Orthopedic replant specialist John Sack, MD, died at 82. He completed more than 160 replant surgeries during his career. and logged the most hours on call in Seattle-based University of Washington's orthopedic department.
4. Malcolm Brahms, MD, orthopedic practice founder, founding member of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society and former Cleveland Browns team surgeon, died at 103. He served as team surgeon for the Browns, a National Football League team, from 1965 to 1980. Dr. Brahms founded Brahms, Cohn and Leb Orthopedics in Beachwood, Ohio, which is still in operation today.
5. J. Richard Steadman, MD, who founded the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., died at age 85. He founded the Steadman Clinic in 1990 and was chair emeritus. He was also co-chair of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, which he founded in 1988.
6. David Frim, MD, PhD, who was chief of neurosurgery at the University of Chicago Medicine, died Aug. 22 at the age of 63. Dr. Frim was an internationally recognized pediatric neurosurgeon with expertise in congenital brain anomalies, according to a Sept. 26 UChicago News feature. He joined UChicago Medicine in 1996 and served as chief of neurosurgery from 2007 to 2020.
7. Phillip Marone, MD, orthopedic surgeon and former team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies MLB team, has died at 93. Dr. Marone completed his orthopedic residency at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and went on to launch the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1978.
8. William Bundrick, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist and leader at Shreveport, La.-based Bone and Joint Clinic, has died at 85. He treated a number of famous athletes, including NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
9. Trinity Pilkington, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Bayhealth in Dover, Del., died at the age of 49 while attending a conference in Florida. After completing his residency, Dr. Pilkington set up a practice in Dover that focused on patient-centric care.
10. Orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Mauck, MD, was fatally shot in July during a patient visit at Campbell Clinic's Collierville, Tenn., office. He was a hand surgeon, and he earned his medical degree at the University of Tennessee-Memphis and completed his residency at Campbell Clinic. A person of interest was charged in July.
11. Devon Hoover, MD, was found fatally shot at his home in Detroit. Dr. Hoover specialized in neck and back disorders. In November authorities said their investigation could conclude before the end of the year, Click on Detroit reported.