# Dr. Newton Shaffer (1846-1928): Renowned Orthopedic Surgeon and Founder of the American Orthopaedic Association

## TL;DR

Dr. Newton Shaffer was a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who helped establish orthopedics as a distinct medical field in the United States.

## Contribution

Shaffer founded the American Orthopaedic Association and advocated for orthopedics as a separate specialty.

## Key findings

- Shaffer made major contributions to treating clubfoot and tuberculosis.
- He opened the first state-run hospital for underprivileged children needing rehabilitation.
- Shaffer declared orthopedics as a distinct field at the 10th International Medical Congress.

## Abstract

An unsung hero of American orthopedic surgery is the largely forgotten Dr. Newton Melman Shaffer (1846-1928). Upon graduating from medical school at New York University, Shaffer began his career training at the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled in 1867. Shaffer then went on to practice at St. Luke’s Hospital and New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital where he became chief. Here, Shaffer made major contributions to the field in treating clubfoot and tuberculosis. He then declared orthopedics as a separate entity from general surgery at the 10th International Medical Congress. He helped start the American Orthopaedic Association to push for the recognition of American orthopedics to the international community. In 1900, Shaffer opened the first state-run hospital for underprivileged children requiring rehabilitation. During his career, Shaffer advocated for conservative orthopedic treatments, aided in the invention of medical devices, contributed largely to academic orthopedics, and successfully advocated for the inception of the field of orthopedic surgery.