In Memoriam

Neil Green, MD
- 2016

Neil E. Green, of Hilton Head Island, formally of Nashville Tennessee, died peacefully on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at age 75.  He was the son of the late Irene Wouk Green and the late H. Howard Green, M.D. of South Norwalk, CT and the brother of Alan Green, MD (Frances Cohen) of Hanover, NH and Cambridge, MA and the late Mark Green, M.D. (Judith) of Charleston, SC.  He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lesley Nield Green and children, Bruce Green (Lynn) of Nashville, TN, and Lisa Green Brock (Charlie) of Lookout Mountain, TN and 4 grandchildren: Lesley Brock, Taylor Brock, Laura Brock and Grant Green.
 
Neil always knew that he wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon and follow in his dad’s footsteps.  He earned his bachelor’s degree at Franklin and Marshall College and his medical degree at Albany Medical College.
 
Upon completion of his internship and residencies in general surgery and orthopaedic surgery at Duke University Medical Center, Neil served in the US Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base. Upon completion of his military obligation, he joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he recently retired after 38 years of service.  While at Vanderbilt, Neil was Vice Chairman of the Orthopaedic Department, Director of the Residency Program and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics. He also served as Chair of the Vanderbilt Hospital Medical Board. While he loved surgery and his leadership obligations, his biggest pleasure came from educating his residents and mentoring them in their careers.
 
A world-renowned pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, Neil authored or co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed scientific publications and 30 book chapters.  He gave more than 200 presentations and guest lectures in the United States and around the world.  Neil was the editor of Skeletal Trauma in Children, later renamed Green’s Skeletal Trauma in Children.  The American Orthopaedic Association honored him as the Alfred Shands Guest lecturer. He has been a visiting professor at various institutions, including being Visiting Professor in Residence in Paris, France.  Thus began his long love of France and everything French, including wine.
 
Neil served as President of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Twentieth Century Orthopaedic Association, the Southern Orthopaedic Association, the Tennessee Orthopaedic Society, and the Nashville Orthopaedic Society.
 
The Neil E. Green Lectureship was recently instituted at Vanderbilt. It recognizes Neil’s many contributions as a leader and role model in advancing the missions of education, research and advocacy of the orthopaedic profession and the impact Neil has had on the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons with whom he has interacted and influenced.