Harry W. O'Dell M.D.

1920 - 2017

Harry W. O'Dell M.D.

Harry W. O'Dell, M.D., 96, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2017.

Dr. O'Dell was a devoted and beloved husband, father and grandfather; an esteemed, dedicated and accomplished orthopedic physician and surgeon; an innovator of medical devices and procedures, a passionate educator, and a gentle, caring person who lived life to the fullest. In Dr. O'Dell's words, he has moved up to "The Great Cast Room In The Sky."

Born in Indiana, Dr. O'Dell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Indiana University, a Master of Medical Science Degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from Indiana University. He completed his orthopedic residency at the Medical Center of New Jersey, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School and The Cleveland Clinic. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Camp Lee, Virginia.

Much of Dr. O'Dell's life was dedicated to his orthopedic medical practice, research and education, and the development of innovative medical devices and procedures. He was Chief of Staff at Akron Children's Medical Center (1972-1973) and Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Akron General Medical Center (1962-1974) where he was instrumental in elevating the division of orthopedic service to a full-fledged department. He was Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine and a member of the courtesy staff and teaching staff at Akron, Barberton and Lodi hospitals. Dr. O'Dell was a founding member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and he was inducted into Distinguished Physicians Society of Akron General Medical Center. He was also a member of numerous other professional associations.

Dr. O'Dell pioneered many procedures that advanced the field and practice of orthopedics. These included a new method of repair for recurrent shoulder dislocation that was first performed at The Cleveland Clinic in 1950; the development of a patented radio-osteometer, with Dr. Paul Wygand, which provided a new method of bone measurement; the establishment of protocol with Dr. Buel Smith for total joint surgery of the knee and hip; and the establishment of a Basic Science Program with Dr. Walther Hoyt for attending staff, resident staff and interns of Akron hospitals a program that continues to this day. In addition to these medical advances, Dr. O'Dell published numerous articles on orthopedic medicine, and in 1953, he co-authored and published a book titled, Recurrent Dislocation of the Shoulder.

Many honors and awards were bestowed upon Dr. O'Dell including the Distinguished Educator Award from Akron General Orthopedic Residents (1976), Akron General Residents Teaching Award (1982-1983), Akron City Hospital and Akron General Research Award (1989), Handicap Action Humanitarian Award (1986) and The Harry O'Dell Education Resource Center, dedicated by Akron Children's Medical Center Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery (1998).

Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Jo Ann. He is survived by his daughters, Ann of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Dr. Nancy of Akron; and his grandchildren, Samuel and Suzanne Dettling.

The family would like to thank the fabulous women who took such wonderful care of their dad and treated him like their own father.

Calling hours will be Friday, January 27th, 4 to 7 p.m. and a service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 28th, both at the Billow Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road. There will be a private family internment. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Orthopedic Research and Education Fund at Akron Children's Hospital, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, www.akronchildrens.org; Victory Gallop, P.O. Box 551, Bath, OH 44210, www.victorygallop.org; or the Orthopedic Research Fund or Hospice of VNS, Akron General Foundation, One Akron General Ave., Akron, OH 44307.

To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)