Orthopedic pioneer J. Richard Steadman, MD, dies at age 85 years
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J. Richard Steadman, MD, founder and chair emeritus of The Steadman Clinic and founder and co-chair of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, died on Jan. 20.
“Dr. Steadman was an incredible surgeon and leaves a remarkable legacy of innovation in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine,” Marc J. Philippon, MD, managing partner of The Steadman Clinic and co-chair of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, said in a release from The Steadman Clinic. “He knew the value of outcomes research, and was a true pioneer not only in techniques, but also in the importance of science and the practice of evidence-based medicine. Steady was a champion for his patients, a kind and dedicated physician with a healing touch. He truly, deeply cared for every patient he met, and prioritized their outcomes.”
Born in Sherman, Texas, on June 4, 1937, Steadman was a renowned innovator and mentor in the specialty of orthopedic sports medicine and was internationally known for the development of several advanced surgical procedures for the knee, including microfracture and the healing response, according to the release. The release noted Steadman earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his orthopedic residency in 1970 at Charity Hospital.
A member of the doctor’s pool for the U.S. Ski Team between 1971 and 1973, the release noted Steadman was named chief physician for the team in 1976 and served for nine consecutive Winter Olympics.
According to the release, Steadman created his nonprofit Steadman Sports Medicine Research Foundation in 1988, which is now known as the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and opened The Steadman Clinic in 1990.
In addition, Steadman was a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine for nearly 40 years where he served on several committees and published numerous articles in the society’s peer-reviewed journals, a spokesperson from the AOSSM told Healio. Steadman received the Robert E. Leach, MD, Sports Medicine Leadership Award in 2005. The award was presented for outstanding service in the orthopedic community. He was also inducted into the AOSSM Hall of Fame in 2015.
“Those who knew Dr. Steadman knew what a remarkable surgeon and person he was. He was a great friend, and an important part of my family. He made a tremendous impact on our local Vail community, the skiing world and the entire field of orthopedics and sports medicine,” Philippon said in the release. “It was a true honor to work alongside him at The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and he will be greatly missed, but his legendary work continues to live on.”
Orthopedic professionals mourn
Richard was the consummate sports medicine surgeon, pioneer and visionary in orthopedics. He was a great human, a great surgeon, a great teacher and an even better person. We should all aspire to be like him – gentle, kind, compassionate and the best patient advocate. Richard, you will be missed, and thank you for leaving an incredible legacy for us to follow.
Matthew T. Provencher, MD, MBA, MC, USNR (Ret.)
Complex shoulder, knee and sports surgeon
The Steadman Clinic
Dr. Steadman was committed to treatment of the whole athlete. His research and innovations advanced the field of sports medicine and made us all better physicians. As a team physician, a mentor and member of the AOSSM for almost 40 years, he embodied our promise to keep active people of all ages and abilities “in the game.”
Mark D. Miller, MD
S. Ward Casscells Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Virginia
President of the AOSSM
Dr. Steadman is an absolute legend in the field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. I know that so many people have amazing stories of how he has transformed the sports medicine world by being an incredible pioneer, inventor, surgeon and healer. All of these traits are true; however, I will most remember Dr. Steadman as an amazing gentleman and mentor. Despite not being one of his fellows, Dr. Steadman always treated me like I was one of his own. Before I started my orthopedic career, I was a clinical researcher in orthopedic sports medicine at Duke University between my undergraduate and medical school years. At this time, I was lucky enough to meet another legend, Dr. John Feagin, who first introduced me to Dr. Steadman at a meeting in the late 1990s. After this one brief interaction with a lowly pre-medical student, Dr. Steadman never forgot and made every effort to inspire me to not only become an orthopedic surgeon, but someone dedicated to making a significant impact on our field. I’m blessed to have so many wonderful mentors in my career, and Dr. Steadman’s spirit will live on within me and so many others as we continue to strive to his level of personal and professional excellence. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Daryl C. Osbahr, MD
Chief of orthopedic surgery, Rothman Orthopaedics Florida
Chair and executive medical director, AdventHealth Orthopedic Institute
Richard Steadman was a fine host when I first visited him during a sabbatical from Switzerland to Lake Tahoe around 1989. I was interested to learn about the way he treated ACL ruptures and about his well-known rehab program. He and his wife, Gay, were extremely generous in that they left me their house for an entire week plus a car, saying they had just moved in another house.
At that time, mosaicplasty was the cartilage repair technique I was most familiar with. Steadman was developing an instrumental modification of the original old Pridie drilling technique from 1959, which he had called microfracturing, with new methods of preparation of the bare surfaces and using special awls suitable, as well, for arthroscopic use — a technique that was gaining ground worldwide quickly. His scientific collaborator Bill Rodkey prepared the experimental ground well and they became active members of the new International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) founded in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1997.
However, Steadman’s instruments were also used for incomplete ruptures of the ACL where he started with his “healing-response technique,” freshening the bed of the proximal tear site, leaving the ACL residue to heal by itself, a technique we took over, developing a special brace that dynamically avoided anterior translation of the tibia, and thus led to astonishing results that were published later.
The key for the success of Dick Steadman, in my opinion, was his approach to patients who came from all over the planet, and that has not only to do with medical and surgical competence, skill and originality, but more with successful psychological guidance of his patients, many of them renowned athletes.
Dr. Steadman appeared as a humble person and was liked a lot, with many excellent followers who had established successful professional careers near him.
We shall miss him and his smile.
Roland P. Jakob, MD
Prof. Emeritus, University of Berne, Switzerland
Founding president, ICRS
I met several times with Dick during knee meetings, where sports medicine and his experience were on top of my clinical interest.
Obviously, his technique on cartilage treatment overruled our world and improved patients’ well-being immensely.
We all owe him much, in that respect. He will be missed.
René Verdonk, MD, PhD
Université Libre de Bruxelles | ULB · department orthopaedics and trauma
Steady was a well-renowned surgeon by the development of a simple method to repair the cartilage injuries a knee surgeon frequently faces in daily practice. However, his innovative ideas, like quick rehabilitation after knee trauma or surgery, healing response in ACL avulsions and implants to restore the lost meniscal tissue, were also remarkable and contributed to building Steady’s reputation. I got to know him in 1997, when I joined the [collagen meniscus implant] project for meniscal regeneration. He was always a great leader and a gentleman for those of us who had the privilege of working with him and sharing his thoughts. On the shoulders of a giant, your view is always better/longer.
We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Steady and we will miss him. However, his long shadow will endure.
Joan C. Monllau, MD, PhD
Head, department of orthopedics and traumatology
Hospital del Mar
Barcelona
On behalf of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy community
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