Elton Strauss, M.D., chief of Orthopaedic Trauma and Adult Reconstruction from 1984 to 2013 at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, passed away of complications from T-cell lymphoma on July 8, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill, New York. He was 69 years old.
In addition to his wife Karen Strauss, son Eric Strauss and daughter Elisa Strauss, Dr. Strauss is survived by his mother, Shirley Strauss, of Brooklyn; sister, Bonnie Strauss Carroll of Montclair, New Jersey; and four grandchildren.
Born April 24, 1948, in Brooklyn, Elton Strauss earned his bachelor of science in biology from Long Island University C.W. Post in 1970, and graduated from medical school at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico in 1974. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
His obituary reads, “He would often see nearly 100 patients on a Tuesday and Thursday, operate the rest of the week, and do follow-up rounds early Saturday morning,” said Eric Strauss, 44, of Brooklyn. “My sister and I would tag along occasionally. We saw a man who had great compassion in the room with the families and patients, and wasn’t above giving people a strongly worded pep talk.”
In a letter recommending Dr. Strauss for the Jacobi Medallion, Darwin Chen, M.D. of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai noted, “Elton was always the attending surgeon you could count on to do the right thing for the patient, regardless of the time of day, insurance status, or social standing. He set the standard for us not only on how to behave as orthopaedic surgeons, but also how to act as human beings.”
Michael Hausman, M.D., Lippmann Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai, added, “Elton has never, ever shirked from a challenge or a risk. He has always ‘been there’ for the house staff and for his patients. He has tackled unfashionable challenges, such as the orthopedic clinic, and made them work for the residents and patients alike. In the case of Sinai, the resident clinic, usually the unacknowledged orphan of education, was transformed under Dr. Strauss’ aegis into a popular and outstanding component of our residency that makes Sinai’s program unique and desirable. The system he helped organize has become a model for a number of programs across the nation.”
At Dr. Strauss’ request, the song “We Are the Champions” by Queen was played at his private family service held July 16, 2017.
Mount Sinai Health System held a memorial service in memory of Dr. Strauss on Wednesday, August 9, 2017.
I am so deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Strauss.
He did a very complicated surgery including a bone graft from the hip of a shattered calcaneous on my ex, and an AC joint surgery on me in 1994 and 1995 respectively.
He was a wonderful surgon, and was always supportive and uplifting to me both as a patient and as the spouse of a patient.
He was also charming and very funny.
My deepest sympathies to his wife and children, colleagues and friends.
Flights of Angels.
I am an old friend from Brooklyn of Elton and would like to contact his son or daughter via e-mail. Thank you!
I shadowed Dr. Strauss as a young high school student from Brooklyn in the summer of 2004 at Mt Sinai Hospital. I followed Dr. Strauss every single day to watch each of his patient interactions. I will never forget Dr. Strauss getting on the phone in the OR to fight for a patient who wasn’t getting the attention he deserved. Those few moments changed the arc of my career and inspired me to go into healthcare. Will also never forget how fiercely patients loved Dr. Strauss. Thank you, Dr. Strauss, for taking me under your wing so many years ago and teaching me so many important and foundational lessons. You will be missed.
Dr. Strauss repaired my knee in 2004 (ruptured patella tendon). My knee is actually better then pre-injury. He was technically excellent but also had very rapport with patients. He was a great guy.
I was saddened to learn of Dr. Strauss’ passing. When I owned my own studio in NYC, Dr. Strauss sent many healing patients to work with me. He guided me with particular protocols for each person and taught and mentored me to be the best coach I could be. His patients shared stories with me of his generous heart and his indomitable spirit. Dr. Strauss was a mensch, and because of him, so many people found joy in their bodies and their lives. RIP, Dr. Strauss.