NEW YORK — Dr. David Altchek, a trailblazing orthopedic surgeon renowned for performing over 2,400 Tommy John surgeries and serving for decades as a cornerstone of sports medicine, passed away Thursday at the age of 68. His death, attributed to a brain tumor he disclosed in 2023, was confirmed by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), where he served as co-chief emeritus.
Dr. Altchek’s name became synonymous with innovation in sports injury treatment. As a longtime leader in the field, he was the preferred surgeon for elite athletes suffering ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries — commonly requiring Tommy John surgery. His adaptation of the procedure, known as the “docking technique,” became a gold standard for its reliability and longevity in professional athletics.
“My first Tommy John surgery was in 1993,” he recalled in a 2024 interview with the Associated Press. “It took 2½ hours and I was exhausted. I knew then we had to improve the procedure — and we did.” The technique was tested on over 100 cases and, as Altchek said, “worked amazingly well,” remaining largely unchanged for more than two decades.
Altchek served as the New York Mets’ head team physician from 1991 to 2001 and medical director from 2005 to 2024. He also held key positions as medical director for the ATP Tour in North America and served the U.S. Davis Cup team between 1999 and 2003. At HSS, he co-led the sports medicine and shoulder service from 2005 to 2014, mentoring generations of orthopedic surgeons and sports physicians.
His impact extended far beyond the operating room. Glenn S. Fleisig, biomechanics research director at the American Sports Medicine Institute, praised Altchek’s unique warmth and humanity. “His biggest impact was his warm, friendly, caring personality,” Fleisig said. “Colleagues, friends, and patients all loved David and are thankful for the time we had with him.”
Born to orthopedic surgeon Martin Altchek, David grew up in Middletown, New York. He attended Columbia University for his undergraduate studies and earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1982. After an internship at The New York Hospital, he completed a residency at HSS and a fellowship under the esteemed Dr. Russell Warren, then the Giants’ team physician.
Altchek was known not just for his technical mastery but also for his ability to reassure athletes at their most vulnerable. “You tell them this is unfortunate, but your career is not over,” he once explained. “We have a procedure that can restore your ligament and give you a 95% chance of returning at or above your previous level.”
In 2003, Columbia University honored him with the prestigious John Jay Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Anne Salmson; sons Charles and Christopher; and daughters Chloe and Sophie. His eldest son, Charles, is president of MLS Next Pro, a third-tier league of Major League Soccer, and was twice named Ivy League Men’s Soccer Player of the Year while at Harvard.
Dr. David Altchek leaves behind a legacy defined by medical excellence, patient compassion, and unwavering dedication to the athletes he treated. His absence will be deeply felt across the sports and medical communities he served with such distinction.
