James Russell Neff, an
internationally recognized faculty member and orthopaedic surgeon for the
University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, died on July 12,
2005, at the age of sixty-five after an extended battle with cancer.
James (Jim) Neff was born in Beloit, Kansas, in 1940, but spent his
childhood years in Topeka, Kansas, where he attended public school until his
graduation from high school in 1958. He received his undergraduate degree from
Kansas State University in 1962, and went on to receive his medical degree
from the University of Kansas College of Medicine in 1966. Jim spent the years
of 1966 through 1968 at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, completing an
internship in surgery, followed by a residency in general surgery.
Jim's training was interrupted by the call of duty, and he spent a year
aboard the submarine USS George Marshall as a lieutenant commander. Following
a year at sea, he was stationed at the United States Naval Submarine Base in
Groton, Connecticut, as an orthopaedic surgeon.
His duty honored, Jim resumed his training in Michigan, completing his
orthopaedic residency in 1973, followed by a fellowship in musculoskeletal
pathology at the University of Florida. While there, he was exposed to novel
limb-sparing procedures for patients afflicted with osseous and soft-tissue
malignant tumors.
Until the early 1970s, immediate amputation for malignant tumors of bone
and soft tissues had been the standard of care for unfortunate patients with a
five-year survival rate of less than 20%. With the almost simultaneous
development of isotope bone-scanning, sophisticated angiography, and
chemotherapy, studies that led to the delineation of low-risk limb-preserving
procedures were cautiously embarked upon. Jim played an important and integral
part in all of these studies. He was a gifted orthopaedic surgeon on arrival,
and by the completion of his fellowship he was a consummate tumor surgeon with
extraordinary skills in both the intricacies of tumor removal and the
reconstructive techniques required to achieve a successful functional result.
In due course, he would make his mark as an innovative surgeon on the
regional, national, and international scene.
Jim left the University of Florida a much richer institution for his
contributions and returned to the University of Kansas in 1975, where he
pioneered the development of an outstanding program of patient care,
education, and research. He was later appointed professor of surgery at the
University of Kansas, and, in 1991, he joined the University of Nebraska
Medical Center as professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery and Rehabilitation.
A specialist in treating cancer of the bone and soft tissues, Jim was known
around the world for performing innovative procedures to help people lead a
more normal life following cancer. Two such procedures were the rotationplasty
and the hemipelvectomy.
The rotationplasty, a procedure used for patients with osteosarcoma,
allowed Jim to avoid amputation of the entire leg, providing those patients
with much more mobility and flexibility. Jim received training for this
procedure in Vienna and was one of only a handful of surgeons who performed
this complex surgery in the United States.
Jim was an innovator who was always thinking, always tinkering with new
ideas. He created a workshop in his basement to test out his ideas and
invented a device used for arthrodesis of the knee in patients in whom knee
surgery had failed. The device, created nearly twenty-five years ago, is known
as the "Neff Nail" and continues to be frequently used by
orthopaedic surgeons today.
Jim also developed a custom hemipelvis and modular implant system to be
used during a hemipelvectomy that could be adjusted in the operating room to
fit the patient's precise needs.
Jim's presence at the University of Nebraska Medical Center was evident far
beyond the realm of orthopaedics, impacting the departments of Radiology,
Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pediatrics, Pathology, Genetics, and Physical
Therapy. The orthopaedic residency program was revolutionized by the vast
amount of knowledge that Jim contributed in all of these areas, expanding the
education and training of the residents far beyond orthopaedics.
Over the years in Kansas and Nebraska, Jim's group characterized more than
5000 bone and soft-tissue tumors genetically. He elevated the standard of care
for these life-destroying diseases, and his group literally rewrote the
textbooks, especially in regard to the pathogenetic mechanisms central to
these conditions. These works have had a major impact on patient care.
Jim's resume was laden with accomplishments and honors. He published over
150 articles in scientific journals and authored fourteen books or book
chapters. He gave 149 presentations at scientific meetings, including those
held internationally in Sweden, Italy, France, Japan, Singapore, Germany,
Australia, Greece, and Scotland.
Over the years, Jim was active in many national and international
leadership roles, was a member of countless organizations, and served on
dozens of boards and committees. For nearly two decades he served as an
examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and for twenty-five
years he was an associate editor for Clinical Orthopaedics and Related
Research.
Jim served on the osteosarcoma committee of the National Children's
Oncology Group, as president of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, on the
executive committee of the American Orthopaedic Association, and on the
musculoskeletal tumors and diseases committee of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons. He represented the University of Nebraska as an academic
member of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, the world's largest bone
bank and a major source of research funding for aspiring young orthopaedic
surgeons, and rose to become the president of its Medical Board of Trustees
and a member of the Board of Directors. In addition, Jim played an enabling
role in the establishment of the North American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
and the International Society of Limb Salvage, which is known as a group of
premier thinkers and visionaries. Just recently, he was selected to receive
the University of Kansas Distinguished Medical Alumni Award.
Jim was described by friends and colleagues as "a giant in his
field," "a world-class pioneering surgeon," "a true
leader," and "an innovator." Both colleagues and patients,
including children, often praised his compassionate demeanor. A caring smile,
charm, wit, knowledge, and quiet confidence were the qualities felt by
patients, and as he spoke with and examined a patient, one would begin to see
the tension in the faces of the patient and his or her family lessen. A child
diagnosed with osteosarcoma more than a decade ago wrote that "he makes
cancer seem not so bad after all." Other patients described him as
"caring and courageous," "calm and compassionate," and
a "gifted healer." Hundreds of patients thanked Jim's family for
allowing him to share his time and devotion with so many who desperately
needed his healing hands.
Jim kept his own twelve-year battle with cancer a secret. He wanted to be
defined by what he did, not by his hardships. For example, Jim would rise at 4
am to undergo radiation treatment and then prepare for his
surgeries later that morning. He was most concerned about the care of his
patients and would often place their health needs before his own. Jim was
blessed with a balanced and just moral compass. This guided him and served as
the sextant for generations of acolytes whom he trained.
Since his passing, many people have shared memories of their personal
experiences with Jim. Patients, operating-room personnel, nurses, support
staff, and colleagues have offered their feelings of respect, affection, and
reverence for Jim, both personally and professionally. The medical community
has lost an intellect, his patients have sustained the departure of a trusted
friend and healer, his students are bereft of their mentor, colleagues will
miss his counsel, and friends are left with memories.
Jim is survived by his wife, Julia Bridge, MD, a professor in the
Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center; daughters, Rachael and Kirsten; son, Gregory; and stepson, Stuart.
At a memorial service on August 6, 2005, at the Dundee Presbyterian Church
in Omaha, Nebraska, many people gathered to pay their respects to a surgeon, a
colleague, a husband, a father, and a friend. In a heartfelt statement written
by Jim prior to his death, he stated, "I have so many people to thank
for my rich and eventful life-patients, colleagues, friends, and family... I
bid you farewell as I assume the role in my next challenge. I implore you to
make the most of life."
On October 5, 2005, Dr. James Russell Neff was buried at Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, with full military honors.