Spine surgeon Vaccaro elected president of Rothman Institute

Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, has been elected the new president of Rothman Institute and appointed Chairman of Orthopaedics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia. He will oversee the clinical, educational and research enterprises in this new role for both Rothman and Jefferson, according to a press release.

Alexander R. Vaccaro

“I am honored to be selected from among my peers for these two leadership roles,” Vaccaro stated in the release. “I look forward to the privilege of leading both Rothman and Jefferson through this challenging period of health care reform. We are entering into a period of clinical transformation where we will continue to provide the best evidence-based medicine for all orthopaedic conditions. We will do this continuing the principals of quality, service and cost effectiveness established by Dr. Rothman.”

Vaccaro was previously vice chair at Rothman Institute and vice chair of orthopaedics at Jefferson. He was selected after a 6-month internal and external search.

“Dr. Vaccaro’s demonstrated leadership as a clinician, medical educator, researcher and administrator made him an ideal candidate for both positions,” Mark Tykocinski, MD, dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, stated in the release.

“I have known Alex since the first day of his orthopaedic training and over the years have watched him develop into one of the finest spine surgeons in the world.” Richard H. Rothman, MD, PhD, founder of Rothman Institute, stated in the release. “His dedication to his patients and to the training of medical school students, residents and fellows is unparalleled. 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 orthopaedics are in the best hands to transition into the future of modern health care.”