UNMC names Sean McGarry, M.D., to inaugural musculoskeletal oncology chair

Sean McGarry, M.D., an associate professor in the department of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has been named the inaugural holder of the James R. Neff, M.D., Musculoskeletal Oncology Chair.

James Neff, M.D., for whom this chair is named, was professor and chair of the UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation from 1991 to 2000.

Dr. McGarry joined the UNMC faculty in 2005. He grew up in central Iowa, attending Creighton University for college and medical school and the University of Colorado for his orthopaedic residency. He earned both clinical and research fellowships in orthopaedic oncology from the University of Florida.

During 2005, while completing his research fellowship and serving as an instructor at the University of Florida, Dr. McGarry was called into service at UNMC following the death of Dr. Neff. He traveled to Omaha each month for eight months so that people in the region would have a specialist at UNMC that could treat their musculoskeletal oncology problems.

Since 2005, Dr. McGarry has become an expert in the field of musculoskeletal oncology and is widely known for his focus on limb salvage. He has written 20 journal articles and five book chapters dealing with orthopaedic oncology, produced 10 online education materials and presented more than 20 talks on regional, national and international platforms.

He co-chairs the Sarcoma and Melanoma Tumor Board with Nicole Shonka, M.D., an associate professor in oncology and hematology in the UNMC College of Medicine. This board meets twice a month to discuss and plan treatment for difficult cases as a team, including oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and clinicians from Nebraska Medicine.

The James R. Neff, M.D., Chair of Musculoskeletal Oncology Fund was established through the University of Nebraska Foundation. This permanent endowment was funded for the purpose of advancing research, education and clinical work in the area of musculoskeletal oncology at UNMC. It is stipulated that the recipient of this chair be a full-time faculty member in the orthopaedic department, have a focus on the field of musculoskeletal oncology and be widely recognized as an expert clinician and/or researcher.

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