Honoring George H. Thompson, MD and His Leadership

Rainbow Orthopaedic Update | Winter 2024

Every legendary leader from University Hospitals Department of Orthopedics and Case Western Reserve University has been honored with an oil portrait that hangs prominently in Hanna House on the University Hospitals main campus. This tradition serves as a visual tribute to the giants who have left their mark in our field. One man stands out among these exceptional surgeons: George H. Thompson, MD, whose portrait now adorns the walls of the department he built more than 40 years ago at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

A special ceremony was held to present Dr. Thompson’s portrait on October 25, 2023 at the Shaker Heights Country Club, with his supporters, colleagues, friends and family in attendance. Guests were treated to a slide show chronicling Dr. Thompson’s life and accomplishments. We were grateful to have the current leadership of UH Pediatric Orthopedics there as we toasted Dr. Thompson alongside Michael Glotzbecker, MD, Randall Marcus, MD, Jack Wilber, MD, Connie Poe-Kochert, CNP, and others. Dr. Thompson gave his warm regards to all. 

We are so proud of Dr. Thompson and pleased to honor him with this beautiful oil painting, created by artist Robert Hartshorn over the course of a year. Every detail in the painting represents the essence of Dr. Thompson – right down to his finger adorned with the University of Oklahoma class ring, lapel pins from the societies he holds most dear, and the third edition of his popular textbook, The Growing Spine, resting in his lap. The artist was even able to capture the twinkle in his eye, which we all fondly recall when thinking of him.

Pictured Left to Right: Michael Glozbecker, MD, Justin Mistovich, MD, Christina Hardesty, MD, George H. Thompson, MD, Allison Gilmore, MD, Raymond Liu, MD, and Katharine Hollnagel, MD