DAVID G. MURRAY, MD (1930-2024)

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David G. Murray, MD, one of the founding members of The Knee Society.

Dr. Murray, 94, orthopedic surgeon, passed away Tuesday, October 1st , at his home with his loving wife by his side.

David was born on July 1, 1930, in Ames, Iowa, to William Gordon Murray, an academic agricultural economist, and Mildred Furniss, a pioneer in women’s health education. As a child, he loved building things with his hands, working on his family farm, and tagging along with his grandfather, Dr. Frederick Murray, the local physician. David decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, earning a full scholarship to Cornell University as a pre-med biology major. At Cornell, he excelled academically while becoming president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, and participated in rowing and fencing. He was accepted into Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis after only three years at Cornell, thereby never receiving a Cornell degree. Sixty-seven years later, Cornell finally granted him his diploma. He said his mother would have been so proud.

After receiving his MD in 1955, he completed a surgical internship at Vancouver General Hospital and entered the United States Navy as a lieutenant. David came to SUNY Upstate for his general surgical training from 1958 to 1959 before completing his orthopedic surgical residency at the University of Iowa in 1962. Dr. Murray returned to join the faculty of SUNY Upstate in 1962, becoming Chair of Orthopedic Surgery in 1966, one of the youngest orthopedic chairs in the country. Under Dr. Murray’s over 30-year leadership, the department became one of the most highly regarded in the United States, and the residency became one of the most sought after. During his 30-year tenure as Chair, he trained more than 120 orthopedic surgeons, as well as many other physicians and support staff. Many of Dr. Murray’s residents have gone on to become leaders in the field. Dr. Murray was an enlightened man and an advocate for professional women, being one of the first to accept women into his training program and onto his faculty, before most departments even accepted their applications for surgical training.

David Murray was admired and respected by his peers. He was elected President of the Onondaga County Medical Society, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, The Knee Society, and the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation. In 1999, he was named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England for his numerous contributions to orthopedic surgical research.

Dr. Murray was a distinguished surgeon-scientist, developing the artificial knee. Many of his design features remain part of the current artificial knee. He also supported his faculty in conducting research. At Upstate, the David G. Murray, MD, Endowed Professorship in Orthopedic Surgery was established to ensure continued research related to musculoskeletal cancer.

David was a talented technical orthopedic surgeon, one of the first joint replacement surgeons. Many people thank him for their ability to walk painlessly. Dr. Murray worked tirelessly with local officials and hospital leaders to design, build, and finance the SUNY Upstate Institute for Human Performance. In addition to the time devoted to medicine, David gave generously of his time to local organizations. He served on the board of Planned Parenthood, Hospice, Francis House, The Elder Care Foundation, and the Syracuse Symphony, to name just a few.

In retirement, David became a “doctor of clocks” by attending clock repair school and serving as a repairman for many of his own antique clocks, as well as for clocks belonging to friends who heard about his new skills. David also returned to his farming roots when his son, Bruce, purchased land on Seneca Lake. They worked the land together to help create the vineyard, Boundary Breaks, in Lodi, New York. And once again, he could ride his beloved John Deere tractor.

Dr. David Murray’s legacy is vast and broad, with his iconic smile and commitment to always doing the right thing. He shaped the health and well-being of many, the careers of numerous doctors, and the future of several organizations.
 

PAUL F. LACHIEWICZ, MD (1951-2024)

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing yesterday of Paul F. Lachiewicz, MD.

Dr. Lachiewicz was a consulting professor at Duke Ortho and an attending surgeon at the Durham VA Medical Center.  He was an AOA graduate of Cornell Weill Medical School, completed residency and fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He was a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill before retiring from UNC in 2009.

Dr. Lachiewicz's daughter, Anne, wrote:  "My father always said being an orthopedic surgeon was the best profession in the world and that he loved being part of The Hip and The Knee Societies."  Dr. Lachiewicz served as President of The Hip Society in 2014.

He also was a member of the Southern Orthopaedic Association (SOA) since 1985 and served on the Board of Directors as Program Chair and President in 2011.  In 2023, Dr. Lachiewicz received the SOA L. Andrew Koman, MD, Distinguished Southern Orthopaedist Award at its 40th annual meeting.  He also was a member of the International Hip Society.

Dr. Lachiewicz has over 200 scientific papers and book chapters specializing in clinical research on thromboembolism prophylaxis, total hip and knee revision surgery, and peri-operative pain management.

He and his wife, Dr. Ave Lachiewicz, have five grown children and many grandchildren.  Dr. Lachiewicz' family and loved ones are in our thoughts during this most difficult time.