Joseph Paul Harvey Jr., MD 1922-2010Joseph Paul Harvey Jr., MD, Emeritus Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), died of pulmonary failure on July 12, 2010, at his home in Pasadena, surrounded by his family.
Dr. Harvey was born in Youngstown, Ohio, the eldest of two sons of Joseph Paul Harvey Sr., an internist, and Mary Justinian Collins Harvey, a decorated World War I army nurse. He attended Dartmouth College and graduated from Harvard Medical School. Following that, he became a Medical Officer in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Philippines and Korea.
After his Army service, Dr. Harvey completed an internship in general surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, followed by a two-year residency at the University Hospital in Cleveland, where he found his calling in orthopaedic surgery. From 1953 to 1959, he served as a resident and research fellow at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, and subsequently was an exchange fellow at the Royal Academy Hospital in Sweden. He continued at the Hospital for Special Surgery as an attending surgeon and was on the faculty of the Cornell Medical College during this time.
Dr. Harvey's life and accomplishments were unique and far reaching, and he influenced the lives of many people. He was an outstanding man in every facet of his life. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and he was an outstanding orthopaedic surgeon and leader. He was also an innovator, educator, researcher, and mentor, and he served his country with distinction as a Medical Officer.
In 1962, he came to the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He was Chairman of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1964 to 1978. He continued as Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery until his retirement in 1992, after which he remained there as Emeritus Professor.
Dr. Harvey was a legend in the field of orthopaedic surgery. During his thirty-year period of service to USC, Dr. Harvey brought enormous prestige as well as national and international recognition to the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery because of the outstanding clinical and educational programs that he established and the orthopaedic research that he initiated. He received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his academic professional career. He served as Editor of Contemporary Orthopaedics from 1977 to 1999, authored numerous academic papers, served on many national and international committees, and was a visiting professor throughout the world. He was a founding member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, whose first meeting was held at the Los Angeles County+University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center. In the 1960s, he was an initial investigator for AO-compression plating in the United States, studying the efficacy of its use in fracture management.
Dr. Harvey was conscientious, compassionate, a hard worker, a man of great integrity, and an excellent role model for young orthopaedic surgeons and students. He was a superb teacher and strong advocate for the education of residents and medical students. Dr. Harvey was interested in all areas of orthopaedic surgery, but was especially interested in orthopaedic trauma. His weekly orthopaedic trauma night conferences for the Los Angeles orthopaedic community were unique and appreciated. He enjoyed moderating these conferences and always worked with the organizing resident to present the most problematic and difficult cases for discussion. He was always available and led by example. He worked sixteen-hour days, seven days a week. He could always be found at the LAC+USC Medical Center.
He stressed that his resident should be a "complete doctor," and emphasized that a thorough history and complete physical examination were paramount and that "no shortcuts" should be taken. He often warned students not to become a "Cadillac Doctor" and enter medicine looking for lucrative salaries. He had an impact on the lives and careers of hundreds of future orthopaedic surgeons and physicians. On completion of their training, many of his orthopaedic residents went on to prominence in the field of orthopaedic surgery throughout the country. Three of his former residents became the chairpersons of prestigious orthopaedic departments in hospitals in the United States.
In 1987, for a surprise sixty-fifth birthday, former residents presented him with a brand new, 1987, dark-blue Cadillac, with personalized name license plates. He was very touched by this very special gift and cherished his car, as it was given to him by "his boys," as he affectionately called his residents.
Following Dr. Harvey's retirement, he continued to be active at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He taught classes in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, and he attended Orthopaedic Pediatric Clinics at the LA County+USC Medical Center. He was a regular attendee at many of our orthopaedic continuing education courses, and he volunteered his services to nonprofit organizations that were involved in providing outreach services to underdeveloped and war-torn countries around the world. In 1992, the USC Orthopaedic Department established an annual visiting professor lectureship in his honor.
The USC Orthopaedic Department has received numerous e-mails from Dr. Harvey's former residents and colleagues throughout the country, emphasizing the tremendous impact that he had on their orthopaedic education and career. A former resident wrote: "‘Dr. Harvey was a guiding light in our education in orthopaedics. We all owe him our gratitude for being an honest teacher and an advocate of integrity in the practice of medicine. We shall truly miss him.’ Class member of ‘71."
A lifelong Catholic, he was a Knight of Malta and served on the Advisory Board of the USC Catholic Center. In his latter years, he grew roses, loved reading history and listening to classical music, and enjoyed looking at the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Dr. Harvey was truly a great orthopaedic surgeon—a giant among his peers—a man for all time.
Dr. Harvey is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Martha; five daughters (Maryalice Harvey Gelhaus, Martha Harvey Forster, Frances Harvey, Lucy Harvey Lo Re, and Laura Harvey Buchanan); four sons-in-law; twelve grandchildren; and a brother, John Collins Harvey, MD.
—M. J. P.