Harilaos T. Sakellarides M.D., PHD, FAAOS, FACS, FRCS
Aug 13,1922 – April 27, 2011 .The worlds of orthopedics and hand surgery have lost one of its giants this past Wednesday with the passing of Dr Harilaos Sakellarides after a brief hospitalization. Dr. Sakellarides, author of numerous articles concerning techniques of musculoskeletal and hand surgery, and contributor to several of the world’s most commonly used orthopedic texts, has been known and renowned among his orthopedics colleagues for more than a half-century. Dr. Sakellarides was born in Greece where he attended medical school, graduating in 1950. He trained as a resident surgeon throughout the decade of the 1950’s in Europe’s most acclaimed orthopedic programs in both Paris and London, before completing fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. In 1958, he joined several other Greek and Greek-American surgeons as a founder of the Hellenic Hippocratic Orthopedic Society – where he would later serve as President. He was soon invited to the Mass General Hospital, where he was one of the founders of the Department of Hand Surgery, and participated as an attending surgeon from 1959 thru 1964. In 1963, he was recognized by both colleagues and journalists for his new and innovative techniques, and was featured in a 2-page article in TIME magazine as one of America’s future prominent surgeons. He did not disappoint and of his many designations Fellow American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Fellow Royal College of Surgeons and Hall of Fame, Fellow American College of Surgeons, Pioneer of Hand Surgery –International College of Surgeons, Francais, Academie de Surgerie to name a few.
In 1965, he joined the staff at Boston University Medical Center. Assistant Clinical Professor of both Hand and Orthopedic Surgery for the next 3 decades. During this time, he also served as Chief of Hand Surgery at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, past President and presently Vice Chairman of the American Academy of Neurologic and Orthopedic Surgeons, and Visiting Professor of Hand/Orthopedic at teaching hospitals in Greece, among them Ioannina Medical School and University of Larissa, and in India, Roumania It has been estimated that he performed more than 20,000 orthopedic and hand surgeries during his career, which spanned more than 6 decades. He was a member of numerous prestigious medical societies, and his resume lists his participation in 39 international and national organizations and societies. He traveled tirelessly to medical conferences around the world. He was dedicated to the welfare and recovery of his patients, welcoming friends and old patients into his office until just days before his passing. His motto was to do no harm. He leaves behind his wife Loukia and daughter Joanne , son Theodore H .of Chestnut Hill, daughter Maria and her husband Dr Yianni Vlachiotis of Ekali Greece. Funeral Service at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England, 514 Parker St, Boston, MA on Wednesday at 4:00PM. Visitation begins at 3:00PM. Relatives and friends invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Hellenic Cardiac Fund for Children c/o Children’s Hospital, 1 Autumn St. #731, Boston, MA 02215 or to Hellenic Nursing Home, 601 Sherman St., Canton, MA 02021.
Guestbook Entries
When I read today of the passing of Dr.Sakellarides I wanted to write this note to tell you how sorry I am. When my daughter was 7yrs old she got blood poisoning and lost the back of her thumb from a cat scratch. She almost died. She was at the Franciscan Hospital for six operations. Dr. Sakellarides saved her finger with an implant into her stomach. I have thought of the life he gave her back and how he has helped so many people. Leanne is now 44 years old and a Doctor of Marine Biology in Florida. She would have never accomplished this without the care of Dr. Sakellarides. My family and I will keep him in our prayers.
I was saddened to hear about the passing of my doctor, my friend and someone who became ‘family’ to me. I have been in Dr. Sakellarides’ care for over thirty years because of a back injury, and later two knee surgeries. He helped me so long ago when no other doctors would treat me. He was a tremendous person who cared deeply for his patients and one who would care for them until he no longer could. I didn’t think that day would ever come but unfortunately for all of, that day did come. To his family, Thank You for sharing this wonderful man with all of us. At work it was Katherine who was always there to help him, Thank You. We love you and will miss you. Thank You, Dr. Sakellarides, my doctor, my friend.
I just discovered the passing of an adopted Son of Hellenic birth to our USA. He celebrated his Greek Heritage by becoming a contributor of knowledge, orthopedic skills and research for the benefit of the patient and global medical community. He was featured in the national press for his landmark study of the function and restoration of the intricate web of TENDONS that give the human hand its amazing function. I first met , HARRY”, in the research lab assigned to him by the consummate RESEARCHER IN BONE METABOLISM AND NATURE, DR. MELVIN J. GLIMPCHER, M. D., Ph. D. , in 1961. His life had great value and continues to underwrite his discipline for many years to come. He was able to transfer his knowledge and clinical applications at BOSTON UNIVERSITY’S many teaching hospitals.
As a testament to Dr. Sakellarides commitment to all patients, I leave the following.
I had broken my left index finger at the knuckle, and could no longer do simple tasks, or even play guitar without it painfully dislocating.
He fixed it on Christmas Day and it still functions better than the joints I was born with, more than 40 years later. I thanked him then, but really continue to feel tremendous gratitude to his skill and dedication. I treasure your contribution and memory Dr. Sakellarides.
I met this wonderful man when on holiday to Rhodes Island.
He attended a Internatonal Meeting. We became friends and he also visited Amsterdam.
We met as good friend several times in Athens and I was impressed how he was so full of live and energy at a high age.
Unfortunately we lost contact and since I have been living and working at Rhodes Island, I wondered what happened and today I read the sad message. RIP my dear friend Haris.
Betty van Tienhoven
My mother had surgery on her hand and knew I was having tremendous difficulty in finding an orthopedist to treat me and recommended him. His bedside manner was amazing he respected me as a patient and when he had difficulty finding the source of pain he just continued with more and more tests until he found the source of my pain.I will always remember the moment he put his hand on my shoulder and reassured me he would find my ailment and fix it.