Way too soon, Robert Gabriel Squillante, Jr. M.D. (Dr. Bob), an orthopedic surgeon who took a less traditional path to medicine, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 62 on July 2, 2023.
Spine Surgeon Robert Gabriel Squillante Dies Age at 62
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Remembrances#obituary#robertsquillante
Squillante grew up in Hollywood, Florida. Throughout high school and college, he worked different types of jobs, from bagging groceries to parking cars for wealthy executives. This is where he learned his strong work ethic.
His undergraduate degree, which he earned at Northwestern University, was NOT in biology, which would be the more customary route to a career in orthopedic surgery, but rather, Robert Squillante, was a chemical engineering grad.
Armed with a Northwestern University degree in chemical engineering, the future Dr. Squillante decided to move back to his home state of Florida and…get a job as a futures trader in Miami.
Once Squillante experienced the raucous, roller coaster ride of commodity futures trading, he realized that his true passion was medicine.
Squillante enrolled at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and over time decided to specialize in musculoskeletal care. Following medical school, Dr. Squillante was selected to enter one of the top residency programs in the United States—the program at the University of Pennsylvania which was then followed by a fellowship in spine surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Cornell Weill University.
Following his stints in New York, Dr. Squillante joined the practice of Fredericksburg Orthopedic Associates in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
“There, his remarkable skill and unwavering dedication transformed lives, alleviating pain and restoring mobility for his patients at Mary Washington Hospital,” his family wrote.
Squillante, in his spare time, also enjoyed helping out his community in nonmedical ways. He would host fundraiser events for various charities with his wife, Joni, at the Oaks, their historic home in Richmond.
He is predeceased by his mother Catherine Ann Squillante and his father Robert Gabriel Squillante, Sr. He is survived by his wife Joan Bellefield Davis, his son Nicholas, and his daughters Catherine, Julia, and Lily. He also leaves behind his sisters Alice and Jane, and his lifelong friend Robert Taylor.
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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.
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