The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the passing of a pioneer in the sports medicine business on Thursday. Most known for performing the first Tommy John surgery, Dr. Frank Jobe, changed and influenced the lives of athletes all around the world through his groundbreaking research in sports medicine.
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In addition to his tenure as team physician and medical director for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dr. Jobe was a consultant for a number of Los Angeles organizations, including the Los Angeles Lakers. As an orthopedic consultant for the Lakers, Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti was able to develop a great relationship with Dr. Jobe and learned from his success.
He was one of the pioneers and giants of the sports medicine business, and basically wrote the book on the field. Although he was primarily involved with baseball, his contributions carried over to many other sports,” Vitti said of Dr. Jobe after learning of his passing. “I had a great relationship with him, and appreciate him personally and for what he meant to me in my career in sports medicine.”
Dr. Jobe was also co-founder of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic of which Lakers team physician, Dr. Steve Lombardo is a part of. Though the sports medicine industry won’t be the same without him, his legacy will live on through the careers that would not have been possible without him.
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