David W. Altchek, MD, our revered colleague and a legend in the field of sports medicine, died on July 17 at the age of 68 following a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his family. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones, colleagues and the thousands of patients whose lives he touched.
Dr. Altchek was a truly beloved member of the HSS community throughout his long and esteemed career. After completing his residency and fellowship at HSS in 1988, he joined the orthopaedic faculty, rising to become Chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service. Outside of HSS, David’s surgical acumen and personalized approach to patient care were admired by many and he shared his expertise with numerous sports organizations, including as medical director for the New York Mets, medical consultant for the National Basketball Association and North American medical director for the Association of Tennis Professionals.
Across HSS, Dr. Altchek’s boundless energy and upbeat attitude lifted up everyone with whom he came into contact, contributing to the warm and inclusive environment that HSS embodies today. For those fortunate enough to receive care from Dr. Altchek, from top-flight athletes to average New Yorkers, he changed their lives in a dramatic way by allowing them to return to the level of performance that preceded their injury.
Dr. Altchek was a remarkable teacher, training so many leading orthopedic surgeons both at HSS and across the United States. His legacy will live on amongst those residents and fellows who learned from his prodigious talents and methodologies as a surgeon.
In addition to his leadership role in sports medicine, Dr. Altchek held a number of senior positions at HSS, including as Founding Medical Director and surgeon leader of HSS Florida and Medical Director of the Sports Medicine Institute West Side. In all of these positions, he brought a steadfast commitment to upholding world-class orthopedic care and ensuring that things were done in the HSS way.
Finally, Dr. Altchek was among the most gifted surgeons of his generation. The breadth of his expertise spanned numerous surgical specialties, from ACL repairs and shoulder replacements to ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstructions, each performed with a level of skill that was unmatched.
Above all, he cared tremendously about his family, including his wife, Anne; each of his children, Charles, Christopher, Chloe, and Sophie, and their spouses; and his seven grandchildren. They are in our prayers.
Through his visionary work, Dr. Altchek transformed the field of sports medicine and helped to make HSS a stronger, better place. He will be dearly missed.
Thomas H. Lister, Co-Chair of the Board; Robert K. Steel, Co-Chair of the Board; Bryan T. Kelly, MD, President, CEO and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus; Douglas E. Padgett, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director
