March 13, 2009

Kregor to hold new Mast Chair in Orthopaedic Trauma

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Philip Kregor, M.D., left, with Jeffrey Mast, M.D. Kregor was named to hold the Mast Chair in Orthopaedic Trauma and Hip Surgery. (photo by Dana Johnson)

Kregor to hold new Mast Chair in Orthopaedic Trauma

Philip Kregor, M.D., director of the Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, has been named the Jeffrey W. Mast Chair in Orthopaedic Trauma and Hip Surgery.

Mast is considered a national pioneer in orthopaedic trauma.

“This chair was made possible by a donor who was personally grateful to Dr. Mast for his innovation and dedication to the fields of orthopaedic trauma and hip surgery,” said Kregor.

“He was responsible for introducing some highly innovative procedures, as well as designing numerous surgical tools and fracture fixation devices. He developed surgical methods for the treatment of pelvic, acetabular and hip abnormalities. He gave us the concept behind locked plating, which allows us to deal with extensive fractures in patients with osteoporosis, a growing problem.”

The $1.5 million anonymous gift will allow Kregor to concentrate on all aspects of orthopaedic trauma and hip surgery techniques, while also fostering learning in younger surgeons.

“The donor wanted to honor Vanderbilt as a leader in orthopaedic trauma and hip surgery as well as pay tribute to Mast, a true giant in orthopaedics,” said Kregor. “Jeff Mast has been extremely generous of his wisdom, here at Vanderbilt and with a huge number of surgeons over the last 30 years. This chair will carry that torch for a long time.”

Mast visited Vanderbilt in early March to celebrate the naming of the chair as well as to participate in several lectures and surgical procedures.

Kregor, a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2002.

He completed his surgical internship at Duke University in 1989, his residency at the University of Washing-ton/Harborview Medical Center in 1993 and a 15-month, traveling fellowship in pelvic and hip surgery in 1995.

He has performed more than 1,000 acetabular fracture surgeries, with a concentration on all problems of the hip and pelvis.

Mast, currently co-chairman of AO North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of patient care in orthopaedics, was most recently a member of the medical staff for Northern Nevada Medical Center and was professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Wayne State University in Detroit. He developed the orthopaedic trauma service while chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1984.

“Dr. Mast's name is synonymous with orthopaedic innovation and hip preservation and reconstruction,” said Kregor. “He is a true icon in orthopaedics.”