Richard C. Troutman, MD: a Pioneer

OBITUARY

Richard C. Troutman, MD: A Pioneer

Douglas Lazzaro, MD

Dr Richard C. Troutman.

ichard C. Troutman, MD, passed away on April 5, 2017, in Bal Harbour, Florida. Dr R Troutman was recognized as a gifted surgeon, an exceptional teacher, a beloved ophthalmologist, and the devoted husband of Suzanne Véronneau, MD. Dr Troutman remained active in the field into his early 90s and was still current in his knowledge of contemporary corneal transplantation and refractive surgery techniques. Dr Troutman was born in Ohio on May 16, 1922. His father, an EENT specialist, was his inspiration for pursuing a career in medicine. He enlisted in the navy as World War 2 started and went back to Ohio State University to finish medical school, where he graduated in 1945. A chance meeting with a graduate of Ohio State University in NYC led to a brief meeting with John McLean, recent Chairman at Cornell, and a week later, he was accepted into the residency program. His residency was interrupted to complete his military service. Residency was completed in 1949. He was accepted into a Fulbright Fellowship in France, but that was interrupted by a positive x-ray for tuberculosis, necessitating a year of treatment at the Trudeau Sanatorium in upstate New York. Dr Troutman’s early foray into clinical research began with work on orbital implants while still a senior resident and work was presented on this topic at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1951. He was asked to chair 3 major committees by the Academy during his career. R. Townley Paton gave him his first academic job as resident instructor at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital after his training, where he was responsible for coordinating the training of 12 residents. In June 1955, already recognized as an important innovator, Dr Troutman accepted an appointment as Professor and Head of the Division of Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He served in this capacity for 27 years, retiring in 1983. Dr Troutman established one of the first subspecialty ophthalmology programs in the United States at Downstate, which was approved by the American Medical Association, and the program quickly attracted a large and noteworthy pool of applicants.

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In the mid-1950s, Dr Troutman met with Dr Joaquín Dr Troutman was the first ophthalmologist to perform Barraquer of the Instituto Barraquer in Barcelona, and they microsurgery for correction of severe corneal astigmatism worked with dissecting microscopes on anterior segment after penetrating keratoplasty, the wedge resection. A founder surgical applications and collaborated on the development of and past president of the Castroviejo Society (now Cornea ophthalmic microsurgery instrumentation and techniques. Society), he and Dr Casimir Swinger, his first fellow funded These efforts eventually led to the formation of the Interna- by the Microsurgical Research Foundation, were among the tional Ophthalmic Microsurgery Study Group (IOMSG), first North American ophthalmologists to be trained in which met for the first time in 1966 in Tübingen, Germany. lamellar refractive surgery by Dr José Barraquer at the Dr Troutman would help create the International Instituto de las Americas in Bogota, Columbia. Drs Troutman Society of Refractive Keratoplasty Study Group (ISRKSG), and Swinger were the first to perform and publish Dr a predecessor to the International Society of Refractive Barraquer’s lamellar refractive surgical techniques in the Keratoplasty (ISRK) and today’s ISRS. When founding ISRK United States. in 1979 with Drs Jose Barraquer, Casimir Swinger, and Miles Through the Microsurgical Research Foundation, 2 Friedlander, Dr Troutman wished to emphasize “interna- prizes are funded: the $5000 Troutman Prize, awarded to tional” in the new society’s name to “recognize and the author of the best original article of the year in the official encourage the international contributions that had given birth ISRS Journal, and the $10,000 Troutman-Véronneau Prize to refractive keratoplasty.” Dr Troutman served as the awarded at the Biennial meeting of the Pan American society’s president from 1982 to 1984. During his tenure, Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) for the most original, he convinced Dr Bruce Spivey, the Academy’s executive vice previously unpublished clinical or experimental work on president at the time, that ISRK should represent the sub- either cornea and/or corneal refractive surgery. ISRS Presi- specialty at an annual meeting session. In 1983, the dent Dr Kanellopoulos said, “Wherever I trained or practiced Academy’s Program Committee awarded ISRK with time in New York, as a resident, fellow, or director of residency for a session, making it the first international society in the training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, history of the Academy to have this distinction. Dr Troutman’s presence and legacy was lasting.” Another By 1961, Dr Troutman, while serving as Downstate Troutman Award is given at the Annual Cornea Society/Eye Chief and while also continuing his private practice in Bank Association of America meeting to the author of the Manhattan, was appointed a Surgeon Director at Manhattan best paper in Cornea by a young investigator. Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital. He also served there for 2 I had the great fortune of being very close to Dr years as Chairman of the Eye Department. In 1962, Dr Troutman the last 18 years. Dr Troutman was quite impressed Troutman initiated at Manhattan Eye and Ear the subspecialty with the direction of the department and with Dr Veronneau clinic system that he had pioneered at Downstate. Concur- subsequently established the Richard C. Troutman, MD, rently, he organized, with Drs Byron Smith and John Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Converse, the First International Symposium on Plastic and Microsurgery. Coincident with this, a library and museum Reconstructive Surgery of the Eye and Adnexa. One of the were created in Downstate’s medical library to house 3 of the primary subjects included in this symposium was his ground- first cataloged Troutman designed Weck microscopes, along breaking work on microsurgery of the anterior segment. with the Barraquer cryolathe used in 1977 to perform the Dr Troutman was appointed chair of the Academy’s country’s first keratomileusis procedure. In the museum can Eye Bank committee and served as a member of several be found Dr Troutman’s instruments and worldwide honors medical advisory boards. In 2000, Dr Troutman received the from his most distinguished career. Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy Dr Troutman loved going to the annual Academy of Ophthalmology. He was one of the first 7 ophthalmologists meeting and attended his last one a few years back. He to receive this award from the American Academy of presided over the annual Saturday night Troutman fellows’ Ophthalmology (AAO). dinner, which was open to his fellows, and fellows of his Dr Troutman authored or coauthored 9 books and more fellows. We always looked forward to the great stories told by than 150 articles and book chapters in scientific publications, all, which was punctuated by Dr Troutman’s comments after many of which detail his innovative microsurgical techniques. all others spoke. Personally, he was one of my most His work was instrumental in designing the first hydraulic, significant mentors, and I have been privileged to hold the chair-supported ophthalmic surgical microscope for use in the endowed Troutman Chair at Downstate. Last year, he wrote operating suite. He instituted annual Microsurgery Practical the foreword to my coedited Textbook of Ophthalmic Courses at Downstate and at the AAO, the model for many Trauma, which is in production now, a testament to his contemporary “skills transfer courses” that continue to be ongoing contributions to our field. His outstanding legacy a regular feature of the AAO. will be felt for years to come.