July 20, 2001

Visiting physicians and friends from around the country and the world,along with MGH and Partners Orthopædics, recently honored renowned MGH orthopædic surgeon William H. Harris, MD, with a special two-day scientific symposium and black-tie banquet celebration. Both were organized to recognize his long career as a surgeon, teacher and researcher.

Edith Weinberg, administrator of the Orthopædic Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, presents to Harris a framed picture of his lab and clinical office staff.

"The scope of Dr. Harris' accomplishments is vast and ranges from the discovery of the nature of osteolysis to the development of important surgical techniques and implants," says Harry Rubash, MD, chief of MGH Orthopædics. "Hundreds of thousands of patients have led longer and fuller lives as a result of his work. The diversity of this symposium symbolized his tremendous career and the legacy of critical investigation, thorough analysis and innovation that he has cultivated in the work of his students and colleagues."

The tribute to Harris was called a "festschrift" ¬ translated from German, "fest" means celebration and "schrift" means writing. The product of a festschrift celebration is a volume of writings by different authors presented as a tribute. Scientific papers from the Harris Festschrift will be published in a supplement of the Journal of Arthroplasty.