URGENT UPDATE: Dr. David Altchek, the legendary New York Mets medical director and pioneering surgeon, has died at the age of 68. His death was announced just moments ago by the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he served as co-chief emeritus.
Dr. Altchek’s passing is a significant loss for the sports community, particularly for baseball, where he performed over 2,400 Tommy John surgeries during his illustrious career. Known for his innovative techniques and compassionate care, Altchek’s contributions to sports medicine have left an indelible mark.
His death follows a battle with a brain tumor, which he disclosed to colleagues last year. Altchek was the Mets’ head team physician from 1991 to 2001 and served as the medical director from 2005 to 2024. He also held roles with the U.S. Davis Cup team and as North American medical director of the ATP Tour.
“While Dr. Altchek’s intelligence and innovations certainly benefited his patients and sports medicine in general, his biggest impact was his warm, friendly caring personality,” said Glenn S. Fleisig, biomechanics research director at the American Sports Medicine Institute.
Dr. Altchek was born to a family of medical professionals and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1982. He interned at The New York Hospital and completed his residency at HSS, where he advanced under the mentorship of renowned surgeon Dr. Russell Warren.
In a revealing interview from 2024, Altchek recounted the demanding nature of his first Tommy John surgery in 1993. “It took 2.5 hours and I was exhausted. I realized then that we had to do something about Tommy John surgery,” he explained.
With a focus on improving surgical outcomes, he developed the “docking procedure,” which has become a standard practice in the field. “We tested it on about 100 elbows, and it worked amazingly well,” he noted, highlighting the durability of the technique over decades.
Dr. Altchek’s reassuring presence was vital for athletes facing career-threatening injuries. He often emphasized the high success rate of Tommy John surgeries, stating, “Once it heals, the likelihood of you going back to pitching at the same level or above is 95%.”
Acknowledged for his excellence, Altchek received Columbia’s John Jay Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Anne Salmson, their sons Charles and Christopher, and daughters Chloe and Sophie.
As the sports community mourns his loss, Dr. Altchek’s legacy as a healer, innovator, and beloved mentor will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and medical professionals alike. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
