The late Arthur M. Pappas, MD, has been recognized as an American Orthopaedic Association Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession for his role as a pioneering visionary and tireless founding architect of the UMass Medical School Department of Orthopedics & Physical Rehabilitation.
Dr. Pappas, who died in 2016 at age 84, was chairman emeritus and professor of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, stepping down from the chairmanship in 2001 after a career distinguished by accomplishments in sports medicine, rehabilitation and the special challenges faced by children born with severe physical disabilities.
Pappas believed that contemporary medicine would be best served by making the resources of academic medical centers available to community hospitals and initiated an affiliate hospital system in 1991, a key step in ensuring the availability of academic physicians at community hospitals throughout Central and Western Massachusetts. As chair of orthopedics, he built an orthopedic surgery training program that drew eminent faculty physicians from around the country and prepared UMMS students for leadership positions in academic medical centers; the program continues to offer one of the most sought after residency programs in the profession.
At the time of the creation of UMass Memorial Health Care, Pappas assumed a critical role in advising and managing relations with community and member hospitals, and retained the title of vice president for affiliate relations for the rest of his career.
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Arthur M. Pappas, MD, founding chair of orthopedics, dies at 84
