Research
Devin Lecture Series Highlight
Remembering a Colleague
On Dec. 10, 2021, we lost Clinton “Clint” James Devin in a plane accident near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery started the Clint J. Devin, MD Memorial Lectureship and Legacy Fund to honor his memory.
Dr. Devin was a gifted orthopaedic surgeon, researcher, colleague, mentor and friend. Beloved by his patients and respected by colleagues, he attended the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at VUMC and returned after his spine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to join the Vanderbilt faculty, initially as head of spine trauma and ultimately as chief of the spine division.
His contributions to the field included practice-changing research that improved outcomes and reduced length of stay for patients undergoing lower back surgeries. Dr. Devin was known for his compassion and his advocacy of patient education, physical therapy and steroid injections to relieve back pain before resorting to surgery. Countless patients have benefited from his skill as a physician. Even after leaving Vanderbilt to establish a practice in Steamboat Springs, he continued delivering innovative spine care, remaining engaged in outcomes research, and maintaining close ties with his former colleagues.
The inaugural Clint J. Devin Memorial Lectureship in Spine was held on June 4, 2022 with James D. Kang, MD, as visiting professor and keynote speaker. Colleagues celebrated Dr. Devin’s legacy by remembering his contributions in clinical medicine, research, teaching and mentoring. The 2nd annual lectureship will be held on April 28, 2023, by Wellington K. Hsu, MD, the Clifford C. Raisbeck Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We look forward to hosting Dr. Hsu and remembering Dr. Devin at this important event.
