Todd Albert, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), astutely and deftly led two of the preeminent orthopedic programs on the planet (Rothman Institute in Philadelphia and HSS in New York City) these past couple of decades.
While he is probably best known for his leadership and superb surgical techniques, he also trained hundreds of budding orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Albert has, we’re sure, a dash of alchemical wizardry in his toolbox.
But who made his success possible?
“My parents, children of immigrants from Eastern Europe, they constantly reminded my three sisters and me of the role of education in altering our lives. If I brought home a 95 on a test, my Dad would ask me what happened to the other 5 points. Overall, they were incredibly supportive parents—and they had to manage the mayhem of six people sharing one bathroom.”
As an undergraduate at Amherst College, Todd Albert was often on the football or rugby field. Traveling to the University of Virginia (UVA) for a rugby tournament during a spring break, Albert became enthralled with that institution and set his sights there for medical school.
Before college, Todd Albert was initially drawn to family medicine. But a day with his good friend and teammate from Amherst’s renowned father would change Albert’s mind. “Dr. Mac Evarts, my friend’s dad, was the Chair of Orthopedics at the University of Rochester. He welcomed me into the OR, where I stood transfixed watching my first knee replacement. While being a family doctor would surely have its rewards, I came to see that being an orthopedic surgeon had so many more elements—patient care, surgery, administration, mentorship, and research. And his patients seemed so happy. I was hooked.”
Finishing medical school in 1987, the newly minted M.D. headed to Philadelphia on a recommendation. “I didn’t know anything about Thomas Jefferson University, but my medical school roommate was from Philadelphia and he returned there for a 4th year elective. He came back just exuberant, saying that the residents at Jefferson and The Rothman Institute were so happy. I applied, interviewed, and instantly connected with Dick Rothman and Bob Booth. They actually offered me a spot the day after the interview (there was not a universal match at that time).
