Paul T. Rubery, MD, chief of the division of spine surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center, was named chair of the department of orthopedics.
The appointment is still pending the University Board of Trustees approval.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Rubery:
1. He has served as the acting chair since September 2014 when Regis J. O'Keefe, MD, left to become the chief of orthopedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
2. No stranger to leadership, Dr. Rubery has led the spine surgery division since 1999 and been the director of the Strong Health Spine Center since 2000.
3. Already as acting chair Dr. Rubery has recruited trauma, total joint and sports medicine specialists to the department, who will join this summer.
4. The department is currently expanding services to add access at Strong West, and will offer non-operative sports medicine services and hand surgery there this summer.
5. Dr. Rubery earned his medical degree at Cornell University Medical College and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at URMC.
"I am extremely pleased Paul Rubery will lead the department as chair," said Mark Tauman, CEO of URMC and Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. "I'm confident Paul will continue the department's tradition of excellence; under his direction, orthopedics will continue to flourish in the areas of patient care, physician and scientist education and research."