Michael W. Chapman, MD, FAOA is being recognized as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession for his leadership, mentoring, and lifelong contributions to orthopaedic surgery during his distinguished career. The champions for this effort on his behalf are Michelle A. James, MD, FAOA, R. Lor Randall, MD, FAOA, and Marc F. Swiontkowski, MD, FAOA.
Bio
Michael W. Chapman is one of the founders of modern orthopaedic trauma surgery, with an international reputation for his groundbreaking work.
Dr. Chapman completed his undergraduate studies at UC Davis and received his M.D. degree from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1962. His research career focused on the treatment of trauma and the use of bone-graft substitutes for bone loss. He studied at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London and was an NIH Fogarty International Fellow at the A-O Research Institute in Davos, Switzerland. He was a founding member and served as president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (1985), as president of the AOA (1990-1991), as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and as a Director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Chapman’s contributions to the field of orthopaedic surgery include developing innovative treatment methods for patients with multiple system injuries. His dedication and aggressive approach to surgical treatment led to improved recovery times and outcomes for severe fractures, establishing him as a pioneer in modern trauma surgery. He has also conducted extensive research on joint biomechanics and bone-graft substitutes. He holds eight U.S. patents and has authored over 190 publications, including four editions of Chapman’s Comprehensive Orthopaedic Surgery.
Early in his medical career, Chapman held the position of Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and achieved the rank of U.S. Army major. At UC Davis, Chapman chaired the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for two decades and was the chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service.
Because of his immense contributions to UC Davis and advancing the field of orthopaedic surgery, Michael Chapman was the first medical doctor to be honored with the UC Davis Medal.
During the Campaign for UC Davis, Dr. Chapman and his wife Elizabeth were integral to the building of the UC Davis Medical Center’s Surgery and Emergency Services Pavilion — Northern California’s only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center. In honor of his role as a leader in orthopaedic trauma surgery, the pavilion’s emergency department and trauma center bears his name.
The AOA gratefully acknowledges Dr. Chapman’s lasting legacy and influential contributions to the orthopaedic profession and proudly recognizes him as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession.
Tribute
Dr. Chapman is a veritable cornerstone in the field of orthopaedic surgery. His legacy and influence in our field are extensive. He not only helped pioneer the global standards still used today to care for polytrauma patients but also established benchmarks in orthopaedic education and knowledge for future generations. Chapman’s Comprehensive Orthopaedic Surgery has been a standard-bearer for learning all there is to know about our specialty. He was a founding member and a President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and, in fact, personally wrote the first set of by-laws and documents to found the organization. He was President of the American Orthopaedic Association and chaired the board of trustees for the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. He has also served as Director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. From 1979 to 2000, Dr. Chapman served as the longest sitting Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC Davis, crafting a clinical and academic foundation that continues to herald excellence at all levels of orthopaedics thanks to his efforts. Most importantly Dr. Chapman served as a mentor to hundreds of faculty, fellows, residents, students and peers with his stalwart example of professionalism, organizational commitment and a personal emphasis on patient, faith and family first and personal ambition a distant second.
Michelle A. James, MD, FAOA
R. Lor Randall, MD, FAOA
Marc F. Swiontkowski, MD, FAOA
Dr. Chapman’s Co-Champions