David B. Stevens MD, former president of The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS), died on February 6, 2017 at his home in Lexington, KY, USA. He was 87 years old.
A celebrated orthopaedic surgeon who cared deeply about public health, Dr. Stevens (Fig. 1) worked tirelessly to make Lexington a healthier community. It is a testament to Dr. Stevens that when discussing his life of service, his colleagues point to both his accomplishments as an orthopaedic surgeon and as a civic leader in Lexington, where he served three terms as an at-large council member and as the 5th District representative from 1992 to 2008 (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1.
Dr. Stevens worked tirelessly to make Lexington a healthier community.
Fig. 2.
Dr. Stevens spearheaded the passage and implementation of Kentucky’s first municipal smoking ban. (Published with permission from the Lexington Herald-Leader).
“He was influential not only in his medical societies, but in the political arena as well,” Henry J. Iwinski, Jr. MD, Chief of Staff and pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center—Lexington told Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®. “He demonstrated a servant’s heart, always willing to step up and represent what he felt was right, be it for his patient or for the community.”
In 2003, Dr. Stevens spearheaded the passage and implementation of Lexington’s first municipal indoor smoking ban, a monumental accomplishment considering the state’s high smoking rates among adults. Since its passage, more than 20 communities in the state have enacted some form of smoke-free legislation [1].
“Dr. Stevens was instrumental in getting the smoking ban enacted in our restaurants and other establishments,” Dr. Iwinski said. “It was an unpopular decision at first, but by force of will and knowing it was the right thing to do, he prevailed.”
Raised in Louisville, KY, USA, Dr. Stevens and his wife Sally moved to Lexington after he completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Michigan. After a 20-year career as a private practice orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Stevens was named Chief of Staff at the Lexington Shriners Hospital, where he stayed for the next 20 years. During that time, he also joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
As the first full-time Chief of Staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children Medical Center–Lexington, Dr. Stevens trained residents and medical students on their pediatric orthopaedic rotation.
“He involved all staff, residents, medical students, nurses, therapists, and social workers in new patient presentations,” Janet L. Walker MD, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center—Lexington told CORR®. “This served as education for all the professionals and encouraged team involvement in patient care decisions.”
Dr. Stevens’s tremendous memory helped him build personal relationships with his patients and their families. He not only knew his patients by name, but often remembered a little fact about each patient’s background, where each lived, and perhaps even a historical fact about his or her county.
“I hope to touch a fraction as many lives in my career as he did,” Vishwas Talwalkar MD, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center—Lexington told CORR®.
Outside of orthopaedics and local government, Dr. Stevens always found time for golf, his lifelong passion. He also enjoyed flying his Cessna with Sally, sailing on lake Charlevoix in Michigan, and running the Bluegrass 10K every fourth of July.
“[He ran] not just to finish, but to compete,” Dr. Iwinski said. “One year, he tripped on the final stretch while trying to run someone down and sustained a black eye and cut to his face. He not only got up and finished the race but fulfilled his promise to be in the parade that ensued. He was a very tough man of his word.”
Dr. Stevens’ wife of 61 years, Sally, preceded him in death. He is survived by his two children, Dr. Scott (Julia) Stevens of Lexington, and Patty Stevens (Samuel) Ardery of Bloomington, IN, USA; grandchildren Carolyn (Ian) Duggan, Rachel (Ben) Iler, Laura Stevens, Grace Ardery, Sarah (Michael) Berro, Mary Ardery, and David Lane Stevens; and one great grandchild, Lane Jerome Duggan.
Footnotes
The author certifies that neither he, nor any members of his immediate family, have any commercial associations (such as consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR® or The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®.
Reference
- 1.Eblen T., Stevens David, longtime Lexington council member who led smoking ban, dies at 87. Available at: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article131258319.html. Accessed January 31, 2018.