It is rare that one person affects the lives of so many. Dean Lorich, M.D., associate director of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and director of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at New York Presbyterian Hospital, was such a man. Dr. Lorich passed away on December 10, 2017 at the age of 54.
Dr. Lorich is survived by his wife Deborah (nee Clark) and three daughters, Tristan (20), Bianca (14) and Tatiana (11) years old.
Dr. Lorich earned his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and followed that with an orthopedic residency at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
David Helfet, M.D., chief emeritus of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at HSS, said, “Dean was a superb, well-respected surgeon, teacher, colleague and friend to me and the entire Hospital for Special Surgery and NewYork-Presbyterian community. It is truly a great loss—throughout his 18-year career he impacted the lives of thousands of patients both near and far. On behalf of the entire Orthopedic Trauma Service, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and patients.”
One of a team of healthcare providers from HSS who rushed to aid the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Dr. Lorich did perform many surgeries and save lives. But he also ended up helping in a way that he likely didn’t anticipate…he shone a light on shortcomings in the “giving” system. He bravely exposed severe inadequacies on the part of the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations…and he wanted his colleagues to know the reality of providing aid in that disaster.
As Dr. Lorich—along with colleagues Drs. Soumitra Eachempati and David L. Helfet—wrote in a January 25, 2010 article that appeared on CNN, “Still, nobody with a clear plan is in charge, and care is chaotic at best. Doctors are coming into the country with no plan of what they are going to do, and nobody directing them how to do it. Surgeons who expect to show up and operate will be mistaken. Without a complement of support staff and supplies, they are of limited to no value.”
A funeral service was held for Dr. Lorich on Monday, December 18, 2017 at “The Riverside,” W. 76th St. and Amsterdam Ave. in New York City.
In lieu of flowers, the following are suggested: Uniform Firefighters Association, 204 East 23rd St., NY, NY 10010, C/O The UFA Widows’ and Children’s Fund, Checks Payable to UFA Widows’ and Children’s Fund, Tax ID 13-3047544.
