William W. Tipton Jr., MD, who served the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons as a volunteer, as executive vice president, and, later, as executive
director of medical affairs, died on May 19, 2005. Dr. Tipton was known and
respected not only in the orthopaedic community but also in the larger
health-care arena for his untiring efforts to build coalitions and effect
change.
A renowned orthopaedic surgeon and educator, Dr. Tipton maintained a
general private practice in Sacramento, California, for twenty-five years and
also served as associate clinical professor at the University of
California-Davis, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, before moving to Chicago
in 1994 to assume the chief staff position with the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons. During his ten years at the Academy's helm, Dr. Tipton
helped build a responsive, diverse, and expansive organization.
Before assuming the leadership role at the Academy, he completed many years
of service as a volunteer with the Academy as well as with other medical
organizations. He served as the Academy's alternate delegate to the American
Medical Association's House of Delegates from 1989 to 1991. He also served as
president of both the Western Orthopaedic Association and the California
Orthopaedic Association.
He was active on the Academy's Board of Councilors and served as its
chairman during 1991 and 1992. He also served on both the Resolutions
Committee and the Committee on Health Care Financing and was a member of the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Directors from 1990 to 1992.
Dr. Tipton stepped down as chairman of the Council on Health Policy and
Practice to assume the position of executive vice president of the
Academy.
Under his leadership, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons was
established, as was the Corporate Advisory Council and numerous research
(Unified Research Agenda, Research Lobby Day), education (Council on Academic
Affairs, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,
Orthopaedics Knowledge Online), and public outreach campaigns (playground
build, "Sign Your Site" program, Your Orthopaedic
Connection). A veteran of the Vietnam War, Dr. Tipton was the driving
force behind the "Legacy of Heroes" project, which recognizes the
accomplishments of orthopaedists in World War II.
Dr. Tipton also was responsible for developing an innovative working
relationship between the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the
Hyatt Corporation, which resulted in the building of the Hyatt Rosemont right
next door to the Academy's offices.
He was the recipient of the first California Orthopaedic Association
Founders Award as well as numerous other honors, including an honorary
membership award from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses and an
Alumni Achievement Citation from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, for
"distinguished service to his profession and humankind."
When he retired in 2004, Dr. Tipton recalled, "My greatest
professional satisfaction has come from helping people. I had the wisdom to
pick orthopaedics as a career. I'm lucky that I married my best friend and
that we have marvelous kids. I am mindful of how lucky I have been to have
served the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons members, their patients,
and the staff."
Those who knew him also felt lucky. Robert D. D'Ambrosia, MD, president of
the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons from 1999 through 2000,
remembered him as "a very special human being with a passion for
accentuating the positive and always looking for the best in everyone around
him. His enthusiasm for life was infectious and drew people to him. He brought
those qualities to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and that is
the enduring legacy he left behind."
Dr. Tipton is survived by his wife, Pat; his three children, Garth, John
Wesley, and Tamara; and two sisters.