RICHARD ROTHMAN M.D.

ROTHMAN
RICHARD, MD

81, an architect of the hip and founder of Rothman Institute, transformed the field of ortho-paedic surgery, helping people around the world avoid joint pain and get back to living life. He passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 21, 2018, with his family by his side, after a long quiet battle with cancer.
"In anyone's lifetime, if you are fortunate, you might meet one or two people who are larger than life," says Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President, Thomas Jefferson University and CEO, Jefferson Health. "Dr. Rothman will be remembered for his amazing accomplish-ments, his surgical skill, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his inspirational mentorship. But beyond all those aspects of his life, there are thousands of doctors and patients whose lives have been positively altered because of Dick's presence."
Dr. Rothman was born in Cheltenham, PA, on December 2, 1936, the son of Polish immigrants. He went to college and earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania; he later received a PhD in anatomy at Thomas Jefferson University.
In 1969, he traveled to England to train under Sir John Charnley, an early surgical pioneer in performing hip replacements. At the time, orthopaedics was a relatively minor surgical specialty; if you were living with a bad hip in Philadelphia back then, you were out of luck. Dr. Rothman instinctively under-stood the potential the field had to improve lives.
"If you can't stand or walk, it's very hard to earn a living, keep a family together, and enjoy life," Rothman said. "Right at the center of economic and physical well-being is that your joints have to work. You wear out a hip or knee, and it really limits your ability to stay productive and healthy."
A few years into his practice, Dr. Rothman replaced the hips of publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg. Grateful for his care and impressed with Dr. Rothman's skill and sharp wit, Annenberg asked Dr. Rothman what his goals in life were; Dr. Rothman said he dreamed about building a "center of excellence in hip surgery." Annenberg donated several million dollars to the dream, and the Rothman Institute (now Rothman Orthopaedics) was born.
They remained lifelong friends until Annenberg's passing in 2002. Dr. Rothman never forgot the lesson that one person can change someone's life, and he lived his life in service to help-ing others.
"Dr. Rothman is one of the most inspirational figures in my life," says Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, president of Rothman Orthopaedics. "He has taught me and my colleagues not only how to be the best surgeons we can be, but how to care for patients in need and bring a sense of hope to their suffering no matter their disability. Dick Rothman was a surgeon's surgeon who has trained the future leaders in medicine for the next 30 years. We will miss him dearly."
Dr. Rothman believed that to deliver good healthcare, you had to be a good businessman-and he was as canny as they come. He built his institute into one of the world's largest ortho-paedic organizations. Today, Rothman Orthopaedics is affiliated with Jefferson Health and seven other health systems, with 29 locations in Pennsyl-vania and New Jersey and plans to move into New York next year. It also ranks second among orthopaedic groups in research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Rothman physicians serve as the orthopaedics department for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and as team physicians for local sports teams, includ-ing the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, 76ers, and Villanova University.
In addition to his practice of orthopaedic surgery, he served as the editor-in-chief and later emeritus editor of The Journal of Arthroplasty, which is the most-read peer-reviewed journal dedicated to total joint replace-ment. He published more than 200 original research papers and over 15 orthopaedics text-books encompassing spine and joint replacement surgery.
Dr. Rothman believed deeply in the importance of education. A voracious reader, he began each day with three newspapers. You could find him quizzing his children, grandchildren, and even staff on current events. He loved a good debate.
He was an entrepreneur and inventor. Among his notable innovations was the develop-ment of the Accolade total hip system, which has become one of the most prominent and widely used hip systems in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Asia. This artificial hip has been used in over 200,000 patients, helping restore them to active, independent lifestyles.
"I felt a very special cama-raderie between Dick and me," says businessman, entrepreneur, and investor John Sculley. "His brilliant and curious mind, his vision of both the possible and the probable, his love for his family, and of course Dick's remarkable sense of humor."
Dr. Rothman lived an active life-style, running in 10 marathons over the years. That helped keep him fit for the demands of his surgical practice over five decades. Earlier this year, after 50 years in the operating room and performing some 50,000 knee and hip replacements, Dr. Rothman finally hung up his scalpel.
Dr. Rothman believed that enduring happiness was found through service to people, to community, to family, and to friends. He an exceedingly generous benefactor, giving to a myriad of charitable causes. He also devoted his time and talents, serving as Vice Chair-man of the Board of Trustees at Thomas Jefferson University, and as a former Trustee of the College of General Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the Brandywine Museum. He was also on the Board of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Among the awards he has received were the Sir John Charnley Award for outstanding service and achievement in total joint replacement and the Frank Stinchfield Award of the Hip Society.
Dr. Rothman was predeceased by his beloved brother, Daniel A. Rothman. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Marsha; his children, Jane Silverman (Jeff), Richard H. Rothman, Jr., Macon Jessop (Michael), and Rachel O'Connell (Ryan); his grandchildren Samuel Kapp, Daniel Kapp, Galen Jessop, Owen Jessop, and Gilly O'Connell; his sister-in-law, Nancy Rothman; his brother-in-law, Jeffrey Van Syckle (Elizabeth Droz); and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rothman Institute Orthopaedic Foundation c/o Chris Ahearn at 125 South 9th Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19107.