Dr. Ramon B. Gustilo, world-renowned orthopedic surgeon, scientist, inventor and author, peacefully passed away in his home in Minnesota, USA, surrounded by his family on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Gustilo, who is from Manapla, Negros Occidental, was 94.
“We have lost a world esteemed kasimanwa and we are now in a state of mourning”, Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III said on Saturday.
We offer all our Manaplahaon prayers to our dearest Dr. Ramon Gustilo. We will always love him,” Escalante said, citing Gustilo’s multiple efforts to improve the lives of Manapla’s residents.
Gustilo’s wife, Gloria, died in Manapla in August last year and he returned to the United States soon after with his children.
“In the final months of his life, he was blessed with visits from family and friends, and many more reached out to him through video calls. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support you all showed our Dad – it meant the world to him and to us,” his son Chris said.
“In honor of his dedication to improving his hometown of Manapla, we kindly ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Ramon and Gloria Gustilo Foundation Inc. This foundation supports college education for talented local students and provides funding for indigent patients in Manapla,” his son added.
Gustilo , who was named an outstanding Negrense in 2011, had 18 patents on his knee joint replacement implants and other inventions and was author of numerous books.
Gustilo’s name was in the 2024 “World’s Top 2 Percent Scientists” list of Stanford University, released through the prestigious Elsevier Data Repository. The Stanford List compiles the names of the top two percent most-cited researchers or scientists globally across different fields annually.
Gustilo, whose father was a sugarcane farm caretaker, was a farm boy who beat poverty to become a renowned orthopedic surgeon and inventor in the United State where he made his fortune.
Opting not to retire in the lap of luxury, Gustilo returned to Manapla to build the Dr. Ramon B. Gustilo Hospital to provide world-class health services, a resort and entertainment center, and subdivision that have created jobs for hundreds of his townmates and scholarships for the poorest and brightest.
Gustilo was “rockstar” in the medical profession, doctors who had the opportunity to work with him in the operating room considered it an honor, Dr. Hector Gayares, chief executive officer of Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital in Nepal and former CEO of the Adventist International Health System Philippines, said.
Gustilo’s classic papers – “The classification of open fractures and management” and “Subclassification of Type 3 open fractures” are the most cited references in medical publications on orthopedics and are read by everyone who go through medical school around the world. His reputation as a mentor and orthopedic surgeon is legendary, Gayares said.
Numerous tributes have been posted on Gustilo’s Facebook page following news of his death.
“Dr. Ramon Gustilo was indeed a towering figure in the field of orthopedics, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to fracture care and the development of the Gustilo-Anderson classification system for open fractures, as well as his advancements in joint replacement. His work has profoundly shaped the practice of orthopedic trauma globally, saving countless lives and improving the quality of life for innumerable patients,” Dr. Larry Diaz wrote.
“The contribution that you have given to the Orthopedic world will be always be remembered and will always be with us,” Boneman Yogendra Agrahari said.
“He was not just an excellent orthopedic surgeon, but a true Filipino patriot. I will always remember him not just for his surgical skills, innovative mind, but more on showing us how to treat patients with compassion, show bedside manners, treat subordinates fairly, and to always offer a helping hand to those who need our expertise and assistance. It was truly an honor and privilege to have been trained and worked with the GOAT of orthopedics,” Dr. Geraldo Herrera wrote.
Gustilo is survived by his children Melissa, Nick, Lily, Chris and Tara.*