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John Connolly, M.D. |
Dr. Connolly, who was orthopaedics chairman from 1974 to 1990, died July 31 in Orlando, Fla., at age 71.
While at UNMC, Dr. Connolly developed and chaired a nationally recognized residency program.
“Professionally, Dr. Connolly was an outstanding mentor and teacher. On a personal level, I’ll remember him as an all-around great person,” said Kevin Garvin, M.D., the current UNMC chairman of orthopaedics. “I was shocked and saddened to hear of his death as he was here late last year and had so much life and energy ”
Upon leaving UNMC, Dr. Connolly went to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he turned the hospital’s relatively small orthopaedics residency program into a national leader.
Dr. Connolly focused most of his research on the healing process of difficult fractures and conducted pioneering work on bone marrow stem cells, including the stimulation of bone marrow through biologic and electrical techniques to promote cartilage and bone healing.
He authored more than 200 articles and chapters and wrote seven medical textbooks, including the “Third Edition of DePalma’s Management of Fractures and Dislocations,” which became an international reference on the topic.
To commemorate Dr. Connolly’s interest in research, the UNMC orthopaedics department annually gives the John Connolly, M.D., Award for Outstanding Research to a chief resident.
Born in Teaneck, N.J., Dr. Connolly earned his medical degree at the New Jersey College of Medicine — formerly Seton Hall — in 1961.
Dr. Connolly also served two years as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and was on the faculty at Vanderbilt University before coming to UNMC.
Dr. Connolly is survived by his wife of 43 years, Anne; six daughters, Mari, Katie, Ednamarie, Jeanine, Anne McGrath and Claire; and 15 grandchildren.
Dr. Connolly’s family asks that any memorials made in his remembrance be sent to the Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund in Orlando.