The Man Behind the Mask : The Journey of an Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mallory was one of the first surgeons in the United States to see the potential for joint replacement technology, and in this memoir he describes not only the nuances of introducing hip replacement surgery but also the systems that he established to make it a highly successful operation. His innovations, along with those of Dr. William Head, resulted in the Mallory-Head Hip System a technology still in use today which has offered relief to thousands. Tracing the joys and sorrows of his career, Mallory dispels the myth that surgeons are emotionally invulnerable and cold. He offers his perspective on the pursuit of medicine as a profession, on the doctor-patient relationship, and on litigious challenges to physicians. He also commends the benefits of family and leisure and the blessing of life in general while offering insight into the management of an incurable disease.

  The perils of aging are many, but the debilitating effects of serious illness loom large. In this stirring memoir, readers will discover a man who improved the lives of many arthritis sufferers before himself succumbing to a cruel debilitating disease. The Man behind the Mask tells the story of Thomas Mallory, who was inspired to become a doctor after undergoing surgery for a high school football injury. He went on to become a renowned surgeon and a pioneer in joint replacement. In 2002, his successful career came to an abrupt halt when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

            Mallory was one of the first surgeons in the United States to see the potential for joint replacement technology, and in this memoir he describes not only the nuances of introducing hip replacement surgery but also the systems that he established to make it a highly successful operation. He tells how he overcame initial resistance to the procedure and became a respected teacher of the technology, training many surgeons who went on to successful careers, lecturing about his procedure around the world, and also seeing VIP patients who journeyed to Ohio just to be operated on by him.

            As a pioneer in this type of operation, Mallory first recognized the value of using prosthetic innovation and development. He became a proponent of modularity in joint replacement surgery, which allowed a surgeon to customize a prosthesis to a patient’s joint in the operating room. His innovations, along with those of Dr. William Head, resulted in the introduction in 1983 of the Mallory-Head Hip System—a technology still in use today and one that has offered relief to thousands of patients.

            Tracing the joys and sorrows of his own career, Mallory dispels the myth that surgeons are emotionally invulnerable and cold. He offers his perspective on the pursuit of medicine as a profession, on the doctor-patient relationship, and on litigious challenges to physicians. He also commends the benefits of family and leisure and the blessing of life in general while offering insight into the management of an incurable disease.

            In our skeptical era, Thomas Mallory is a shining example of a prominent scientist who has maintained his faith in God throughout the highs and lows of life. The Man behind the Mask is an inspiring account for fellow professionals and general readers, as well as for those who have benefited from the procedures he introduced.

"In this memoir, readers will discover a man who improved the lives of many arthritis sufferers before himself succumbing to a cruel debilitating disease. The Man behind the Mask tells the story of Thomas Mallory, who was inspired to become a doctor after undergoing surgery for a high school football injury. He went on to become a renowned surgeon and a pioneer in joint replacement. In 2002, his successful career came to an abrupt halt when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease." "Mallory was one of the first surgeons in the United States to see the potential for joint replacement technology, and in this memoir he describes not only the nuances of introducing hip replacement surgery but also the systems that he established to make it a highly successful operation. He tells how he overcame initial resistance to the procedure and became a respected teacher of the technology, training many surgeons who went on to successful careers, lecturing about his procedure around the world, and also seeing VIP patients who journeyed to Ohio just to be operated on by him." "As a pioneer in this type of operation, Mallory first recognized the value of using prosthetic innovation and development. He became a proponent of modularity in joint replacement surgery, which allowed a surgeon to customize a prosthesis to a patient's joint in the operating room. His innovations, along with those of Dr. William Head, resulted in the introduction in 1983 of the Mallory-Head hip system - a technology still in use today and one that has offered relief to thousands of patients." "Tracing the joys and sorrows of his own career, Mallory dispels the myth that surgeons are emotionally invulnerable and cold. He offers his perspective on the pursuit of medicine as a profession, on the doctor-patient relationship, and on litigious challenges to physicians. He also commends the benefits of family and leisure and the blessing of life in general while offering insight into the management of an incurable disease." "In our skeptical era, Thomas Mallory is a shining example of a prominent scientist who has maintained his faith in God throughout the highs and lows of life. The Man behind the Mask is an inspiring account for fellow professionals and general readers, as well as for those who have benefited from the procedures he introduced."--BOOK JACKET The Man behind the Mask The Journey of an Orthopaedic Surgeon......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1. How It All Began......Page 14 2. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1957–1961......Page 18 3. The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1961–1965......Page 27 4. Orthopaedic Residency, 1966–1969......Page 40 5. Chief Resident, 1969–1970......Page 48 6. The Hip Fellowship in Boston, 1970......Page 60 7. Return to Columbus......Page 76 8. A Specialty Practice in Joint Replacement......Page 88 9. The Hip Center at St. Ann’s Hospital......Page 96 10. Home and Family Life......Page 108 11. Episodes and Occurrences......Page 114 12. The Orthopaedic Manufacturing Industry......Page 121 13. The Orthopaedic Speakers’ Circuit......Page 126 14. On the Home Front......Page 130 15. The Entrepreneurial Quest......Page 134 16. When Systems Fail......Page 140 17. Being Fit Was Always Fun......Page 146 18. My Three Sons, from Boys to Men......Page 150 19. A Brief Retirement......Page 153 20. They Call Me Chief......Page 157 21. Now the Patient......Page 166 22. Wrestling the Gorilla......Page 172 23. The Patient, the Doctor, the Lawyer......Page 182 24. Maybe I Was Poisoned......Page 185 25. Life Comes Bearing Gifts......Page 188