The community of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) has pulled together to fund a new endowed chair honoring orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey Eckardt, M.D. The gifts of more than $1 million come from 42 foundations, families, and individuals. The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA received lead gifts from Maxine and Eugene Rosenfeld, the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation, Jean-Marc Chapus, and Christine and Steven F. Udvar-Hazy.
A pioneer who developed a limb salvage procedure that replaced amputation for bone cancer patients, Dr. Eckardt passed away on November 13, 2020. In 1975 a young Jeffrey Eckardt began his UCLA journey as a medical resident and then became a faculty member in 1980. He later served as distinguished professor of orthopaedic surgery and chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery. In 2001, he was named UCLA’s Helga and Walter Oppenheimer Professor of Orthopaedic Oncology.
Dr. Eckardt designed new and enhanced existing oncologic implants, while also training hundreds of surgeons in the treatment of bone tumors. His stewardship led to dozens of clinical trials to study less-toxic agents in sarcoma care, added gait analysis studies to understand and improve function after surgeries, and developed an “avatar” program of precision medicine to try to understand each patient’s individual tumor.
Nicholas M. Bernthal, M.D., associate professor, and chief of the Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is the inaugural Jeffrey J. Eckardt, M.D., Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Drs. Bernthal and Eckardt were close, with the younger surgeon completing his residency at UCLA in orthopedic surgery and doing fellowships in orthopedic research and musculoskeletal oncology at UCLA and the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Founder of the Global Orthopaedic Initiative at UCLA, Dr. Bernthal focuses his research on enhancing the quality of life for people with sarcoma as well as reduce the incidence of orthopedic implant infections by improving the implants and patients’ immune systems. His lab, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, is developing new implant coatings to enhance patients’ ability to fight off bacteria.
Dr. Bernthal told OTW, “Infection is the most common cause of failure for orthopaedic surgery, and it is nothing short of devastating. Bacteria adhere to the implant and become completely resistant to antibiotic therapy. As such, we are pioneering ways to enhance the immune system at the time of surgery to improve the patient’s defenses against infection from Day 1.”
“Additionally, we are designing ‘smart’ implants that recognize bacteria and release antimicrobials to prevent the bacteria from finding safe harbor. I find the entire field to be the ‘best’ of modern medicine—taking a massive clinical problem and coalescing a team of dedicated clinicians, committed patient, and cutting-edge engineers, microbiologists, and immunologists committed to making surgery safer and more successful.”
One of Dr. Bernthal’s notable multiple awards was the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the Gold Foundation, which recognizes physicians who demonstrate both clinical excellence and outstanding compassion in the delivery of care, and who show respect for patients, their families, and health care colleagues.
“Dr. Jeff Eckardt was an icon,” stated Dr. Bernthal to OTW. “A pioneer in the field and a personality to match, Dr. Eckardt had an entourage behind him at all times. He dressed impeccably and carried himself with the highest dignity. He was larger than life.”
“And yet, to all who knew him well, it was the little things he did that made him who he was—he always sat with the patient and gently told them they would be ok as they faded off to sleep with anesthesia; he always carried a $50 bill in his pocket to clinic because if any patient had transportation issues or challenges, he always had cash to help them with a cab fare or the like; he always helped clean the room, move the equipment, or help with the bed sheets—he always said, ‘You’re either part of the solution or part of the problem.’ His lessons, his dignity, and his character will not be forgotten.”
