IN REMEMBRANCE
( continued from page 29 ) to patient care that these conditions posed while the hospital was being managed by an outside company . David ’ s stature as a Chief of Surgery and his learned professional opinion shared in the local media , led to some improvements in the staffing problems and helped to avert a crisis . This was yet another lesson that patients ’ welfare is always first , and physicians should never remain silent and complicit in the face of blatant wrongdoing and neglect , even if speaking up may be viewed as threatening to a health care company or a government bureaucracy .
I ’ m very grateful to have known Dr . David Richardson , to have been one of his students , to have shared patients with him , and to have watched him in action with patients , colleagues and the public over the course of 40 + years . The medical community has lost a truly great man .
-Fred Williams Jr . MD , FACP , FACE
Dr . J . David Richardson passed away on Sept . 7 , 2021 at the age of 76 . He is survived by his wife , Maxine , children Amy , Melissa and Britt , brothers Ron and Paul , as well as his grandchildren Tasia , Charles , Amelia , Benjamin and Evelyn Suzanne . He was predeceased by his parents and wife of 50 years , Suzanne .
Dr . Richardson attended Morehead State University and graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Medicine in 1970 . He began general surgery residency at the University of Kentucky and transferred to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to complete residencies in general surgery and thoracic surgery . His accomplishments included becoming one of the nation ’ s few quadruple board-certified surgeons : in general surgery , thoracic , vascular and surgical critical care . Dr . Richardson joined the University of Louisville Department of Surgery in 1976 as assistant professor , and by 1982 reached the rank of professor . He served for many years as the Berel L . Abrams , MD Endowed Chair in Surgery , Chief of the Division of General Surgery , and Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery . He received multiple University of Louisville Distinguished Faculty Awards and was named the Ephraim McDowell Physician of the Year . He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine , the Distinguished Service Award from the Southeastern Surgical Congress , an honorary doctorate degree from Morehead State University and was named an honorary fellow of the Southern Surgical Association , among many other honors and awards .
Dr . Richardson was a prolific scholar , publishing over 375 articles , 58 book chapters and one book . A gifted and popular speaker , he delivered no less than 50 named lectureships and served as visiting professor at 98 additional institutions . He served on many editorial boards and was the long-time Editor-in-Chief of The American Surgeon .
Dr . Richardson was a leader in many surgical organizations . He served as President of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma , the Southern Surgical Association , the Western Surgical Association and the Southeastern Surgical Congress . He was Treasurer of both the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the Society of University Surgeons . He served on the Residency Review Committee for Surgery and became Vice-Chair . He was a long-time Director of the American Board of Surgery and served as Chair . Dr . Richardson served in numerous capacities at the American College of Surgeons , eventually becoming Chair of the Board of Regents . In 2015 , he became the 96 th President of the American College of Surgeons .
Dr . Richardson was also well known for his passion and success in thoroughbred racing , horse ownership and breeding . He raised and sold over 1,000 horses that ultimately won races . Dr . Richardson served as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and as Chair of its American Graded Stakes Committee . He also served as a long-standing member of the Breeders ’ Cup and was a past director of the board . While he was at home rubbing elbows with horseracing ’ s elite , he was even more at home with those who worked in the stables . He spent a lifetime trying to provide better medical care for those on both the frontside and the backside of the track .
Dr . Richardson was a compassionate physician , a master surgeon , an award-winning educator , a prolific researcher and scholar , a leader in academic surgery , an accomplished horseman and a devoted family man . This certainly indicates a full life , well lived .
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