Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, has been elected president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute and appointed chairman of orthopedics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Vaccaro succeeds Todd J. Albert, MD, as president of the practice. Dr. Albrt recently became surgeon-in-chief at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Vaccaro was promoted from vice chair at Rothman Institute and vice chair of orthopedics at Jefferson.
The search for the next Rothman Institute president took six months and included both internal and external candidates. Dr. Vaccaro has been a member of the practice for several years, and is "one of the finest spine surgeons in the world," according to practice founder and renowned orthopedic surgeon Richard Rothman, MD.
"His dedication to his patients and to the training of medical school students, residents and fellows is unparalleled," said Dr. Rothman. "He is a preeminent researcher, who has added volumes to the academic literature of spinal care. I am sure that both Rothman Institute and Jefferson orthopedics are in the best hands to transition into the future of modern healthcare."
Rothman Institute has been on the forefront of the changes in today's healthcare landscape, growing into one of the largest orthopedic practices in the country through mergers and new satellite offices opened over the past few years. The group also includes a surgical hospital and ambulatory surgery centers. Rothman Institute is a member of the National Orthopedic & Spine Alliance as well, created to collect data and provide lower-cost healthcare to large employers.
"I look forward to the privilege of leading both Rothman and Jefferson through this challenging period of healthcare reform," said Dr. Vaccaro. "We are entering into a period of clinical transformation where we will continue to provide the best evidence-based medicine for all orthopedic conditions. We will do this continuing the principals of quality, service and cost effectiveness established by Dr. Rothman."
Dr. Vaccaro is no stranger to leadership, as he is the president of the Association of Collaborative Spine Research and previously served as elected president of the American Spinal Injury Association. He was also the first full-time orthopedic surgeon elected to co-chair the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine editorial board.
Recently, Dr. Vaccaro was honored with the Becker's Healthcare 2014 Spine Surgeon Leadership Award. He has a special interest in treating spinal cord injury and is an assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has also served as co-director of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's spine fellowship program.
"Over the past 25 years, he has changed the lives of thousands of Jefferson patients and trained generations of physicians," said Mark Tykocinski, MD, dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. "We look forward to his continued commitment to the patients of not only Philadelphia and the region, but those who seek care at Jefferson from all across the country and world."
Dr. Vaccaro earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of California, San Diego and he earned his PhD in the field of spinal trauma.