Page 7 - Rochester Medicine | 2019 Volume 1 | University of Rochester Medical Center

URMC Pioneers

When Orthopaedics set off as a
division of Surgery in 1926, its first
leader, R. Plato Schwartz, founded the
Myodynamics Laboratory to study
the basics of human locomotion.
He aimed to accurately record and
define parameters for normal and
abnormal gait.
From that preliminary study of
walking, the department’s physicians O’Keefe Baumhauer
and researchers have forged a steady

path for new and better approaches to Even in a department rich with clinician-researchers, former chair/
patient care. In their hands, what were CMSR director Regis O’Keefe, MD (Flw ’88, Res ’92, PhD ’00), and
then new and untested ideas, such Judith F. Baumhauer, MD (MPH ’09, Flw ’09), are standouts. O’Keefe
as the Harrington Instrumentation to is nationally recognized for advancing musculoskeletal research,
particularly with respect to bone disease, and Baumhauer led the
treat adolescent scoliosis, arthroscopic seven-year study that brought synthetic cartilage implants to the U.S.
surgery to repair torn cartilage and
ligaments, and total joint replacement
to restore mobility to patients with
end-stage arthritis, have become
common and indispensable tools to
treat musculoskeletal conditions.
These pioneers have inspired modern-
day counterparts to explore today’s
new and little-known possibilities,

including biologic treatments for
joint health, artificial intelligence to
facilitate research, and population
health strategies to make care more Evarts Gorczyca
effective, accessible, and affordable
for future generations. C. McCollister (“Mac”) Evarts (’57 MD, Res ’59, Res ’64), is renowned
Here are some examples of how for his leadership as the department’s first chair, and for mentoring
one era of discoveries can inspire generations of trainees, many of whom rose to national leadership.
John T. Gorczyca, MD, the Dr. C. McCollister Evarts Professor in
next-generation physicians’ work Orthopaedics and residency program director, guides the program’s
and progress. continued growth and embrace of high-tech training and work-life
balance to recruit the nation’s top talent.
Illustrations by Michael Osadciw, University of Rochester

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