Ralph James Gessner, M.D., affectionately called “Doc,” died peacefully at home on September 2, 2022. He was 85 years old.
New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon Ralph Gessner Passes Away At 85
1 min read Premium comments
Remembrances#obituary#ralphgessner
As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gessner was known for his care and compassion, which came through the most with the medical community post Katrina.
“Dr. Gessner worked tirelessly after Katrina from a FEMA trailer to help patients in need. He loved being a physician and reluctantly retired from practicing medicine at the age of 80. He truly lived by the credo of doing everything you can for people as long as you can,” his family and friends wrote.
“Dr. Gessner had a gift of connecting with others and making them feel important and cared for. He will be deeply missed by the medical community, co-workers, friends and relatives.”
He was born on February 17, 1937, and was a lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. Gessner graduated from Tulane University and then he entered the United States Marine Corp. for four years.
Gessner graduated from Louisiana State University medical school and then went on to have a distinguished medical career as an orthopedic surgeon in New Orleans.
He also enjoyed all things New Orleans from the great restaurants, Preservation Hall jazz, and the people. He could often be found at one of his favorite restaurants, Mandinas or at his table at Ruth’s Chris with his family and friends. He loved to participate in the Mardi Gras krewe Babylon and was an avid reader and a talented artist.
He loved his family above all else. He is survived by his wife Susan Gessner and his five children, Paige Holzenthal of New Orleans, Susan Marchbanks of Charlotte, North Carolina, James Gessner of Waterford, Connecticut, Ashley Gessner of New Orleans and Bret Gessner of New York City.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Karl Holzenthal, Jr., Jake Holzenthal, Nick Gessner, Nola Gessner, Lodovico Vignes, III, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased in death by his parents, Thomas and Emily Gessner and his brothers, Riley and Jerry Gessner.
React:
Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
Join the conversation
Orthopedic professionals are discussing this. Sign in and upgrade to read every comment and add your voice.