Dr. John Richard Steadman
Marriages
Gay Steadman
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A4; A7-9 - January 23, 2023
Dr. J. Richard Steadman, the renowned innovator and mentor in the field of orthopedic sports medicine who founded The Steadman Clinic, died peacefully in his sleep early Friday morning at his home in Vail. He was 85.
Steadman was internationally known for the development of several advanced surgical procedures for the knee. These included "microfracture" and the '"healing response," which harnesses the body's own healing potential. Steadman, who was also the founder and co-chair of Steadman Philippon Research Institute, a global leader in orthopedic research and education, retired from active practice in 2014.
"Dr. Steadman was an incredible surgeon and leaves a remarkable legacy of innovation in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine," said Dr. Marc J. Philippon, managing partner of The Steadman Clinic and co-chair of Steadman Philippon Research Institute, in a news release. "He knew the value of outcomes research, and was a true pioneer not only in techniques but also in the importance of science and the practice of evidence-based medicine. Steady was a champion for his patients, a kind and dedicated physician with a healing touch. He truly, deeply cared for every patient he met, and prioritized their outcomes."
Philippon added: "Those who knew Dr. Steadman knew what a remarkable surgeon and person he was. He was a great friend, and an important part of my family. He made a tremendous impact on our local Vail community, the skiing world, and the entire field of orthopedics and sports medicine. It was a true honor to work alongside him at The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and he will be greatly missed, but his legendary work continues to live on."
"When reflecting upon the impact that Dr. Richard Steadman made in his life, it was so significant," said Dan Drawbaugh, CEO of The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute. "His techniques and treatments, quite literally, changed the entire landscape of orthopedics and sports medicine. A true innovator, Steady revolutionized his field and provided a level of patient care that was unmatched and has inspired thousands of physicians in their approaches to medicine. He helped thousands of athletes and patients continue to live active and meaningful lives. Dr. Steadman was not only a leader, but a wonderful friend. I feel blessed with enduring memories of our friendship."
Steadman treated countless Olympians and professional athletes across various sports and was sought out by some of the world's best-known athletes and public figures for treatment. His ability to return high-level athletes with injuries to medal-winning victories following surgery and rehab made him an iconic figure in sports medicine. Steadman's success in helping elite athletes who had suffered potentially career-ending injuries return to major athletic achievements included professional soccer players, NFL athletes, MLB players, NBA athletes and skiers.
Pro Football Hall of Fame member Bruce Smith, who helped lead the Buffalo Bills to a record four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s and finished his career as the all-time NFL leader in sacks, was one of those athletes who saw his career saved by Steadman's expertise.
For Smith, his interaction with Steadman went much further than an operation on his damaged knee. He gained a friend for life.
"From the moment that I met him," Smith said in an interview in the summer of 2019, "I knew that he was the right surgeon to operate on me. From his bedside manner to just the way that he spoke to you, you knew immediately that it just wasn't a doctor-patient relationship. Steady was in it for you, not only to protect you, but also to make sure that your quality of life was first and foremost."
Steadman's initial surgery on Smith — and subsequent procedures — allowed him to return to the field and play for 10 more years. Without Steadman's surgical skills, Smith's career may not have lasted long enough to reach the Hall of Fame.
Steadman's direct involvement in providing care for elite athletes got its start with his association with the United States Olympic ski teams in the 1970s. He served as the team physician for the U.S. Alpine Ski Team for nine consecutive Winter Olympics, beginning in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1976.
American downhill skier Andy Mill, a two-time Olympian, said Steadman's influence went beyond his surgical skills.
"When you were in his presence, you knew you were going to be in great care," Mill said in an interview in 2016. "Not only as a surgeon but as a great friend. A lot of times we were inspired to come back, not only because of our own hearts and our own passions, but because of him and his efforts in trying to help you get back. He inspired us so much that a lot of times we wanted to do it for him as much as we wanted to do it for ourselves."
Cindy Nelson, a three-time Olympian and a 1976 bronze medal winner in the women's downhill, was one of the first athletes to benefit from Steadman's work.
"Every time I think of Dr. Steadman, I smile, because not only is he a genius in his medical profession but he's a gentle giant of a man," Nelson said in an interview in 2001. "I was Dr. Steadman's first elite athlete of any nature back in 1974. Really all the greatness at the end of my career, I owe to him because he was the one who kept me together. But truly his legacy is through his foundation (now Steadman Philippon Research Institute), because through his foundation he is going to be able to continue to impact others, physicians as well as people, for many years to come."
A true pioneer
In 1982, the complexity of the knee and its critical importance to athletic performance persuaded Steadman to focus nearly exclusively on disorders and injuries to that joint. Between 1989 and 1991, he worked to develop a treatment for a specific type of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, which came to be known as the "healing response."
Steadman was a pioneer in physical therapy and post-operative rehabilitation. Though unconventional at the time, he believed it was better to move an injured joint post-surgery rather than stabilizing it with a traditional plaster cast. His bold idea changed the way orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy professionals treat injuries around the world.
It is estimated that Steadman's microfracture surgical procedure has been used to treat more than 500,000 patients per year worldwide. Moreover, the technique has been adapted to treat other joints such as the shoulder, hip and ankle. The use of the microfracture procedure has allowed countless athletes of all levels to stay competitive in their sports, and its benefits can delay or even eliminate the need for more invasive procedures such as joint replacement surgery.
John Richard Steadman was born in Sherman, Texas, on June 4, 1937. He graduated from Texas A&M University, where he played football for legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant during his freshman and sophomore years.
In 1963, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Following his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Steadman and his family spent two years in Germany, where he served in the U.S. Army. He returned to Charity Hospital for his orthopedics residency, which he completed in 1970. At that time, he and his family moved to South Lake Tahoe, Calif., where he joined Dr. Paul Fry's general orthopedics practice.
Between 1971 and 1973, Dr. Steadman was asked by the U.S. Ski Team to join its doctors pool, which covered races in the U.S. and Canada. Subsequently, he was asked to travel to South America and Europe to provide medical coverage for the team, and in 1976, he was named chief physician for the U.S. Ski Team. In the late 1970s, he donated his services at what became the first U.S. Olympic training center in Squaw Valley, Calif., now known as Palisades Tahoe, Calif.
Steadman created his nonprofit Steadman Sports Medicine Research Foundation in 1988 in Lake Tahoe. That organization exists today as Steadman Philippon Research Institute, which is known worldwide for its clinical research database and study of orthopedic injuries. For more than three decades, Steadman Philippon Research Institute has been collecting clinical data and tracking clinic patients and their treatment outcomes. It is perhaps the largest orthopedic research database in the world that focuses on patient outcomes and the dissemination of data that promotes the practice of evidence-based medicine.
"Dr. Steadman was a gentle giant, a kindhearted soul who touched stars and everyday folks around the world, and he also made innovation his friend," said Mary Noyes, a 30-year member of the board of directors for Steadman Philippon Research Institute. "His unconventional approaches led to leading-edge practices and protocols in orthopedics and sports medicine rehabilitation. He was a pioneer with a bedside manner that made you feel safe and confident that all would be okay, regardless of the severity of the injury."
In 1990, Steadman moved to Vail to open The Steadman Clinic and broaden the scope of his orthopedic research work. Longtime Vail resident and business leader George Gillett was one of Steadman's closest colleagues and was instrumental in convincing him to move his practice from Lake Tahoe to a small village in Colorado's Rocky Mountain region.
"We were blessed to have this extraordinary resort in Vail," recalled Gillett about his first meeting with Steadman in 1987. "The medical side of this village and the hospital at the time were good and solid, but the orthopedic side of it wasn't up to par for the kind of opportunity that Vail presented."
"I had suffered through a bad accident and Cindy Nelson introduced me and (wife) Rose to Dr. and Mrs. Steadman, and they couldn't have been more charming," continued Gillett. "They were on their way to the 1987 World Championships in Austria. Dr. Steadman asked me to come see him at the San Francisco airport before his flight overseas. So, Rose and I flew out to San Francisco. He took one look at my knee, and he said, 'We're going to take you to my clinic in Lake Tahoe.' He delayed his trip by a day, and he operated on me. And it changed my life. Not just because of the successful surgery, but it gave us the opportunity to meet that extraordinary gentleman and his lovely wife. My knee got better and our relationship with the Steadmans continued to stay strong. We started working on it and it took me three years to convince them to consider moving to Vail."
"We were prepared to assist him in fulfilling his research dreams," continued Gillett. "We had an opportunity here to build a very, very serious world-class research facility. We started on it. He had a dream. We had a dream, and we shared that dream, and it worked out."
The Steadman Clinic has thrived in Vail and has grown to become one of the world's most respected and influential orthopedic organizations. Combined with the research expertise of Steadman Philippon Research Institute, the clinic will keep the Steadman name at the forefront of sports medicine and groundbreaking research for years to come.
Steadman is survived by his wife, Gay Steadman, son Lyon Steadman, daughter Liddy Lind, and the entire Steadman family and extended family and friends.
Information regarding memorial services for Dr. Steadman is pending.
For further information or other inquiries about The Steadman Clinic or Steadman Philippon Research Institute, contact Lynda Sampson, Vice President of External Affairs (lsampson@sprivail.org).
Vail Daily page A16 - January 27, 2023
Dr. Richard "Steady" Steadman, a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Vail, Colorado on January 20th at the age of 85. He is survived by his loving wife, Gay, his sister Mary, his son Lyon, his daughter Liddy, his six grandchildren, and his four great grandchildren.
Dr. Steadman was known for his many accomplishments in the operating room and his contributions to research, but his greatest accomplishment was as a devoted husband, brother, son, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.
Dr. Steadman met his wife Gay on a blind date 63 years ago. Gay shared that "she knew the minute they met that she would marry him." They were partners in everything, and she was his biggest champion in everything he did. After moving to the Vail Valley in 1990, they built their life long home here. Despite his hectic schedule Dr. Steadman never missed an important event in his family's lives, and could often be found cheering on his grandchildren at sports complexes around the country. To the community, he was known as Dr. Steadman or Steady. But to his family, he was "Dad" and "Grandad." The highlight of his week was hiking the forest service road with his wife and dogs, while wearing his Wild Bill's Stetson hat. When remembering their father, his children shared, "We could always count on him to give us the best guidance. He was a strong, steady presence." His grandchildren cherish memories with him enjoying First Tracks on the mountain together.
Dr. Steadman's extended family includes all of the wonderful patients he cared for. He always said he never worked a day in his life because he truly loved what he did. Whether a super-star athlete or an everyday hero, each patient was equally important to him. He answered their calls, day or night, and encouraged each of them to achieve their greatest recovery potential. His unrivaled bedside manner and sage advice made him beloved by his patients and colleagues alike. But to his family, it's his light-hearted humor and compassion that will be missed most of all.
The family will hold a private service. A community celebration of life in honor of Dr. Steadman will be held on June 4, 2023, (which would have been his 86th birthday). Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI) in support of the important research he was so passionate about.
For more information about Dr. Steadman's career, we welcome you to visit – https://www.vaildaily.com/news/dr-j-richard-steadman-pioneering-orthopedic-surgeon-and-founder-of-the-steadman-clinic-dies-at-85/
Vail Daily page A2; A16 - January 28, 2023
Growing up, Shirley Carlson's daughters knew their mom's boss, Dr. Richard Steadman, and wanted to find a boss just like him. They're both still looking.
Steadman, 85, died Jan. 20 at his home in Vail. His passing was peaceful, in his sleep.
In the days after his death, those who knew him told largely the same story of a quiet, passionate man who was also a trailblazing orthopedic surgeon. Steadman, a knee specialist, worked on any number of athletes, from the world-famous to high schoolers. He innovated the idea that patients shouldn't spend weeks in a plaster cast. Instead, those patients started working on movement as soon as possible after surgery.
Former ski racer Cindy Nelson, who won a bronze medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics, credited Steadman's skill and encouragement with boosting her career.
"I owe all my successes to Dr. Steadman," Nelson said.
Steadman was like a second father to a host of U.S. Ski Team athletes, many of whom stayed in the Steadman family home before and after surgery.
"It was such a fabulous experience in very trying times," Nelson said. "He helped develop our own character outside of skiing."
A house full of athletes
Having a house full of ski racers created some bed-juggling for Steadman's son, Lyon, and daughter Liddy.
Lyon once said to Nelson, "So you're the one who took over my bedroom."
After a day of work, Steadman would often come home and work late into the night helping athletes with physical therapy. He'd be out early the next morning to start the routine again.
Despite a career dedicated to serving as many patients as possible, Lyon recalled his father as being "very participating" in his childhood.
Lyon noted that when his father was doing residency work in New Orleans, the family would often have lunch at the hospital cafeteria.
But, Lyon added, his father was always running late — spending an extra 10, 15 or 40 minutes with a patient — so there was a lot of waiting.
"My mom (Gay) had to figure out a way to entertain two young kids, so she invented a slow walking contest," Lyon recalled.
In those New Orleans days, Lyon and other kids would gather on the family home's front lawn, playing football and other games.
Steadman, who briefly played football at Texas A&M under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant before focusing on a medical career, taught his son how to throw and catch, and would sometimes join the neighborhood kids.
"I was the coolest kid on the block," Lyon recalled.
A real team effort
As Steadman built his practice, he and the family relocated to South Lake Tahoe, California. It was there he built a core team of nurses and physical therapists. It was there where Steadman met and recruited Carlson, along with Cristal Adams. Both remained with Steadman for more than 30 years, and relocated from South Lake Tahoe to Vail.
"From Day 1, I knew it was a total gift" to work with Steadman, Adams said. "It's one of the biggest blessings of my life."
As the team developed, Carlson was soon Steadman's surgical nurse while Adams focused on patient care before and after a procedure.
Athletes from just about every imaginable sport came under Steadman's care, from renowned professionals to high school athletes.
The list included legends in tennis (Martina Navratilova) and golf (Greg Norman) to a who's-who of Hall of Fame NFL quarterbacks — Dan Marino, Joe Montana and John Elway each had Steadman operate on their knees.
"I'm sure there were many (athletes) who came in very nervous and anxious," Adams said.
Then they'd meet with their surgeon.
"He was quite confident and calming," Adams said. "He'd say, 'I'm going to repair (your knee) and you're going to come back stronger than ever.'"
And, Adams said, no matter if someone was famous or just hurt, when Steadman sat down with a patient, that person had the doctor's full attention.
Adams said she learned over the years that Steadman would always sit on a stool so he'd look up at a patient.
"That spoke volumes to me," Adams said. "I've heard it dozens and dozens of times — (a patient) felt like they were the only patient in the world."
Again, it didn't matter who the patient was.
In South Lake Tahoe, Carlson's husband, John, was an assistant football coach at a small school just across the Nevada border.
Steadman learned that there wasn't a team doctor for the squad, so he and his wife, Gay, were soon on the sidelines during the games, and would treat injured players.
Years later, when the Carlsons were invited to the clinic's suite at the Denver Broncos' stadium, John would say, "remember when you stood on the sidelines" at that small high school.
Former Vail Associates owner George Gillett was among the non-elite athletes who came under Steadman's care. Nelson was working for the ski company at the time, and recommended her old ski team doctor to her new boss. Gillett's knee surgery and recovery were successful, Nelson recalled. That led Gillett in the late 1980s to think Vail needed first-class orthopedics to match the mountain's first-class skiing.
A package was put together and an offer was made to move the practice to Vail.
Before moving, though, Steadman asked every team member, individually, if they were willing to move. If anyone said no, the move was off.
Adams recalled hearing about Vail from Carlson, adding that it "took about 90 seconds" to convince her.
Surgery and research
The move to Vail, and a partnership with Dr. Richard Hawkins, a shoulder specialist, created the Steadman Hawkins Clinic. As the practice grew, the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver was established. Hawkins later moved to South Carolina to continue work there and establish the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas. In Vail, Dr. Marc Philippon, a hip specialist, joined the practice. The Steadman Philippon Research Institute soon was created to further explore new surgical and recovery techniques.
That recovery work included Topper Hagerman and John Atkins, who also came to Vail from South Lake Tahoe. Their physical therapy practice was linked to the clinic and eventually became the Howard Head Sports Medicine practice.
Surgery and recovery were "a team effort," Hagerman recalled. The small physical therapy room was just down the hall from the small surgical center in Tahoe.
Doctors would come down the hall to talk about patients and vice versa.
"We were spoiled — we'd start at 8 a.m. and go to 8 p.m.," Hagerman recalled. "The fellowship was excellent, and we became very good friends."
Beyond their own patients, Steadman and other clinic surgeons were eager to help as many people as possible through the efforts of fellowships and research results.
The clinic and foundation were "very special," Hagerman recalled. They wanted other physicians practicing techniques that had been successful in Vail.
Hagerman, like others, praised Steadman's unfailing calm and courtesy with coworkers, patients and others.
Lyon, who spent a couple of stints running the business side of the operation, said his father "made me a lot better, even on the business side of things." That's unusual for doctors, he noted.
"He taught me to (be generous), to be diplomatic and be kind to people," he said. Steadman also left his son a legacy of generosity.
"A trademark of his was whenever he'd take people to dinner, he'd always pay; it didn't matter who," he noted.
Hagerman noted that sometimes, at the end of a long day, Steadman would walk down the hall to the physical therapy room and just talk.
"We'd talk about life, the day and so on… He's a legacy and a legend," Hagerman said.
