On Wednesday, Dec. 20, the medical staff and employees from Community Memorial Hospital gathered to celebrate the career of Dr. Ivan D. Gowan, long-time orthopedic surgeon, who is retiring after treating patients at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton for 34 years.
Gowan, a native of Straits Corners, came to the Hamilton area from Los Angeles and was appointed to the hospital July 30, 1985. During his tenure, Gowan treated more than 500 patients per year at Community Memorial.
“It has been a rewarding experience to work at Community Memorial,” said Gowan. “In my time, we have made some great strides in the quality of care, shortening the average length of stay with outstanding outcomes in joint replacement, all accomplished in the most cost-effective manner. The staff at all levels of the organization are professional and friendly and take pride in the cleanliness of the facility. Patient care is at the center of all we do; every patient coming through the doors is treated like their next-door neighbor.”
“Dr. Gowan has made a significant impact on the well-being of the residents in our community,” said Dr. Robert Delorme, vice preside of medical affairs. “His expertise in orthopedic medicine using groundbreaking methods has advanced the quality of care at Community Memorial Hospital. His energy and passion for medicine will be missed by all staff, and we wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life.”
Since 2000, the hospital has continuously received a five-star rating from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading healthcare rating company. HealthGrades has recognizing Community Memorial as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement and as one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Overall Orthopedics and most recently in 2017.
Gowan earned a bachelor of science, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Colgate University in 1974. He attended medical school at Cornell University in Ithaca and completed his general surgery internship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Gowan completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York.
In July 1984, he was the recipient of the Lewis-Clark-Wagner Award for Outstanding Resident’s Paper of the Year. His fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine was at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles, Calif.
Gowan was the recipient of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine O’Donahue Award for the best research paper, “A comparative EMG analysis of the shoulder during pitching ‒ professional vs. amateur pitchers.” The paper was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in November 1987. Gowan is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgery, Fellow in the American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
“It has been an honor to have Dr. Gowan as part of the Community Memorial family for 34 years,” said President and CEO Sean Fadale of Community Memorial Hospital. “He has helped countless numbers of children, adults and senior citizens. For this, and his continued commitment to the mission of Community Memorial Hospital we are forever grateful.”