Endowed Chairs in the Department of Orthopaedics

The Charles H. Herndon Professorship has been held since 2003 by Randall E. Marcus, MD, the Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics. This Professorship honors the vast achievements of Dr. Herndon who, beginning in 1953, chaired and advanced the Department for nearly 30 years. Created in 1982, this endowed professorship remained the Department’s only one until the year 2006.

The Kingsbury G. Heiple and Fred A. Lennon Professorship of Orthopaedics pays tribute to Dr. Heiple, an outstanding and innovative orthopaedic surgeon who chaired the Department from 1982 to 1988—and to Fred A. Lennon, a distinguished Ohio engineer who founded the Swagelok Company in 1947. Matthew J. Kraay, MD, the Director of Joint Reconstruction and Arthritis Surgery at UH Cleveland Medical Center, has held the inaugural Professorship since 2006.

The Barbara Peterson Ruhlman Chair in Orthopaedics—held by Patrick J. Getty, MD, the Medical Director of Musculoskeletal Surgical Oncology in University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center—honors Barbara P. Ruhlman, who is a company director, foundation president and dedicated supporter of University Hospitals.

The Henry H. Bohlman MD Professorship is held by Christopher G. Furey, MD, Chief of the Spine Center at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. This Professorship, created in 2008, gratefully remembers Dr. Bohlman, an internationally acclaimed leader in spine surgery at University Hospitals for over 35 years.

The Harry E. Figgie III MD Professorship pays tribute to the memory of Dr. Figgie, a popular faculty member from 1985 to 1993 who specialized in joint replacement. Edward M. Greenfield, PhD, the Director of Research in the Department of Orthopaedics, has held the inaugural professorship, endowed by the Figgie Foundation, since 2012.

The Jack and Mary Herrick Endowed Director of Sports Medicine is James E. Voos, MD, the UHCMC head physician for the Cleveland Browns. The Herricks have been longtime supporters of University Hospitals. Mary has served on the Board of Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, and Jack chairs the Orthopaedics Leadership Council. This Endowed Directorship was created in 2015.

The Victor M. Goldberg Master Clinician’s Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery honors the memory of Dr. Goldberg, an outstanding surgeon, teacher and researcher who chaired the Department of Orthopaedics from 1989 to 2002. Raymond W. Liu, MD, a pediatric orthopaedist, was awarded the inaugural professorship in 2015.

The Clyde L. Nash, Jr. Professorship in Orthopaedic Education is held by Heather A. Vallier, MD, an orthopaedic traumatologist based at MetroHealth Medical Center. Dr. Nash, now Clinical Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedics, was Chair of Orthopaedics at MetroHealth Medical Center and a world-renowned specialist in treating children’s spinal deformities.

The Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Orthopaedic Traumatology is John H. Wilber, MD, who leads the MetroHealth Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics. Hansjörg Wyss is the founder of Synthes USA.

The Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering is Clare M. Rimnac, PhD, Associate Dean of Research in the School of Engineering at CWRU—with a secondary appointment in our Department of Orthopaedics. This endowment is based in the School of Engineering. Wilbert J. Austin was a 1904 engineering graduate from Case who was the first to contribute engineering expertise to the field of architecture.

Endowed Annual Lectureships in the Department of Orthopaedics

Each of the five Endowed Annual Lectureships in the Department of Orthopaedics supports a visit and presentations by a nationally renowned orthopaedic surgeon or scientist. Attending the lectures by these Distinguished Visiting Professors are our faculty, fellows, residents and students—and many colleagues from other UH/CWRU departments.

The Victor M. Goldberg MD Lectureship honors the memory of Dr. Goldberg, a dynamic leader, researcher and teacher who chaired the Department of Orthopaedics from 1989 to 2002.

The Rainbow Visiting Lectureship in Pediatric Orthopaedics sponsors the visit by a nationally acclaimed pediatric orthopaedist.

The Dr. Scott Inkley Visiting Lectureship honors Dr. Inkley, a former University Hospitals president, now a Professor Emeritus at CWRU. This endowment supports the annual graduation speaker for the orthopaedic residents. Brooks and Anne Jones, longtime supporters of University Hospitals, have been the benefactors of this endowment.

The Henry H. Bohlman Visiting Lectureship supports the visit by a national expert in spine surgery in honor of Dr. Bohlman.

The Carter-Makley-Theros lectureship in Musculoskeletal Pathology honors three distinguished scholars in Musculoskeletal Oncology: John T. Makley, MD, now Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedics; the late John R. Carter, MD, a former chair of the UH/CWRU Department of Pathology who worked closely with Dr. Makley; and the late Elias G. Theros, MD, a nationally renowned radiologist.