To serve our communities by providing high quality patient care based on our strong commitment to practice compassion, innovation, and collaboration.
The group practice of Associated Orthopedists of Detroit has been around a long time – over 60 years. Indeed, it may be the oldest practice of orthopedics in the state. In 1945, Dr. Angus Goetz returned from World War II to open his office in downtown Detroit. Dr. Goetz was a famous Michigan football star, the only man ever elected captain of the team two years in a row. He trained at Michigan, and played professional football on weekends. He ultimately became chief of orthopedics at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He formed a partnership with Dr. Andrew Jackson Day in 1946.
Dr. Day was a Harvard graduate who also trained in Ann Arbor. He had a special interest in children's orthopedics. He published many papers on children's diseases, amputations, and other orthopedic topics. He was a leader in the group of hospitals which became the Detroit Medical Center. During his career he became Chief of orthopedics at both Harper Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
Another early member of the AOD practice team was Dr. H. Ross Hume. Dr. Hume (who also trained at Michigan) had a special interest in sports medicine. As an undergrad at Ann Arbor, Dr. Hume held the NCAA track record for the mile run. He loved orthopedic practice, but he also loved skiing, and spent weekends during the winter on the ski patrol at Nub's Nob.
Dr. William Salot joined the group in 1967. Dr. Salot trained at Wayne State. Early in his practice he journeyed to England to study the new operation of hip replacement. Joint replacement surgery remained a special interest throughout his career. Dr. Salot held the office of President of the Detroit Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the Michigan Orthopedic Society, and the Mid-America Orthopedic Association. He served as Secretary of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and was a trustee of the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation. From 1998 through 2005, when he retired from surgical practice, Dr. Salot was Chief of orthopedics at St. John Hospital.
No history of this orthopedic practice would be complete without mentioning Dr. James Zurawski, who joined the group in 1974.Dr. Zurawski trained at Wayne State. As an undergraduate at Marquette, the young Zurawski was a golf "phenom" who played (and defeated) such luminaries as Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead! For almost thirty years Jim Zurawski combined the skills of a master surgeon with unique talents as a "people person" to build a practice which often overflowed the waiting room. Health problems forced an early retirement in 2004, but Jim Zurawski remains "of counsel" to the group.
These orthopedic surgeons of the past have created a professional climate of excellence in compassionate patient care rendered over many years. The present partners are committed to the continuation of this tradition.