Well-known LA Surgeon, Stanford Noel in Practice 50 Years, Dies

Stanford M. Noel, M.D., a retired Los Angeles, California, orthopedic surgeon passed away on September 2, 2022, at the age of 87 after a long illness.

Noel was a well-known orthopedic surgeon in the Los Angeles area practicing there for more than 50 years specializing in hip disorders in both children and adults.

Noel was born on December 16, 1934, in Sherman, Texas, to Jewell H. and Oscar H. Noel. He graduated from Rice University with his undergraduate degree and then earned his medical degree at the University of Texas, Galveston.

He then served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Korea as a general surgeon. He spent two years practicing general surgery in Stockton, California, before realizing that his true calling was orthopedics.

He spent one year in research at Harbor General Hospital in Los Angeles, California, and then completed a three-year orthopedic residency at Orthopedic Hospital, also in Los Angeles. He also did a three-year fellowship in hip disorders there as well.

Afterwards, he formed a partnership with Dr. William Craig to treat private patients with hip disorders and together they ran a hip clinic at Orthopedic Hospital for underprivileged children. When Dr. Craig retired, Noel continued the hip clinic and private practice.

He was instrumental in treating challenging and complex hip disorders. “He had compassion with his patients and their families. They trusted him. He was rightfully proud of his work, and especially with the clinic children,” his family and friends wrote.

Noel was one of the first orthopedic surgeons to study with Dr. John Charnley—arguably the father of hip replacement—in Whittington, England. Noel would later design his own total hip prosthesis for special patient situations.

He was president of the medical staff at Orthopedic Hospital for three terms and was involved in the hospital’s teaching program for residents. He was also a member of the National Hip Society. He was chosen as one of two in the state of California for a three-year term as a lobbyist of Congress in Washington representing the National Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Noel was extremely well-read and loved to research a variety of topics. He also enjoyed golf, fly-fishing at the family cottage in Canada.

He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Jewll Noel. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Clark Noell, brother Harold Noel and wife Melinda and sister Margie Noel, brother-in-law Dr. Robert Clark and wife Sherry, and beloved nephews Jeffrey and David Clark, and cousins Willies Ballou and wife, Cathye.