Larry S. Matthews, M.D., professor of orthopaedic surgery in the Medical School, retired from active faculty status on October 8, 2002, following a most productive career as a clinician, teacher and researcher.

Dr. Matthews received his A.B. and M.D. degrees from Harvard College in 1959 and 1963, respectively, and completed his internship at the University of Michigan in 1964. From 1964-66, he served in Vietnam as a captain in the United States Army. Following his discharge from the military, he returned to the University of Michigan, where he was a resident in orthopaedic surgery from 1966-70. From 1970-71, Dr. Matthews served as a special research fellow with Dr. Carl Hirsch in biomechanics at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1971 as an instructor and was promoted to assistant professor in 1972, associate professor in 1976, and professor in 1980.

Dr. Matthews' special area of interest is adult reconstruction and joint replacement, and he has published over 85 articles and numerous chapters and abstracts on this and other subjects in orthopaedic surgery. Early in his career, Dr. Matthews, together with Dr. Herbert Kaufer, developed the spherocentric knee, an innovative knee joint replacement that appeared on the cover of Scientific American in January 1978. Dr. Matthews also served as head of the Section of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1986-95. He was a co-founder of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratories in 1981 and served as co-director of the laboratories with Dr. Steven Goldstein. Together, they brought the lab to its present level as one of the premier orthopaedic research laboratories in the United States.

The Regents now salute this distinguished health educator for his dedicated service by naming Larry S. Matthews professor emeritus of orthopaedic surgery.