Alfred B. Swanson MD, FACS

Throughout his prolific forty-nine year career, Dr. Alfred B. Swanson remained very active as an orthopaedic and hand surgeon, researcher, educator, and humanitarian.  He focused on the care of children with polio, cerebral palsy, congenital limb differences, and on surgical treatment of arthritic deformities and impairment evaluation.  He was deeply dedicated to the education of physicians, dissemination of knowledge, international medicine, and the environment.  Dr. Swanson's contributions have earned him international recognition as pioneer in orthopaedic and hand surgery.

Born of Swedish parents on April 16, 1923, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Alfred Bertil Swanson was fourth of five children.  He received his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Illinois (MD 47) and his training in orthopaedic surgery at the Universities of Illinois, Northwestern and Indiana.  During the Korean War, Captain Swanson served two years in the US Army Medical Corps at Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington (1952-54).

Starting his career at the time of the thalidomide disaster and the great polio epidemic, Dr. Swanson was attracted to Grand Rapids by the opportunity of caring for many children at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.  In March 1954, he joined the orthopaedic practice of Professors John T. Hodgen and Charles H. Frantz at Blodgett Memorial Hospital.  Dr. Hodgen was Founding Director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at Blodgett Hospital and of Mary Free Bed Hospital (1933).  Dr. Frantz, his first resident, helped establish the Mary Free Bed Area Child Amputee Center in 1946. 

Dr. Swanson was Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency of the Blodgett (1954-79), Blodgett-Butterworth and the Grand Rapids Hospitals Programs (1980-2001).  He was the Founding Director of Orthopaedic Research and Hand Surgery Fellowship at Blodgett Memorial Hospital (1962-2001).  He contributed to the training of 124 orthopaedic surgeons and 97 hand surgery fellows from 32 countries.  A number of his students have reached high academic and leadership positions in the field of Hand Surgery.  Dr. Swanson was Professor of Surgery at Michigan State University and served three terms as Chief-of-Staff at Mary Free Rehabilitation Hospital (1963-65, 1967-68 and 1973-78).

A member of numerous national and international societies, Dr. Swanson presented lectures and surgical demonstrations worldwide.  He authored more than 300 publications, including a book on flexible implant reconstruction in the hand and extremities.  He was President of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (1979-80), Secretary General (1976-1983), President (1983-1989) and Historian (1990-2003) of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand.  Dr. Swanson was Editor of the International Federation Supplements along with his wife Geneviève de Groot Swanson, MD.  In tribute to his contributions, the Federation recognized Dr. Swanson as Pioneer in Hand Surgery (1995) and established the “Swanson Lectureship” as feature of the Triennial Congresses (2007-).  

Dr. Swanson devised a number of new methods in medicine.  He introduced a classification of congenital limb differences that received wide acceptance.  His method for evaluating permanent impairment of hand function was endorsed by the IFSSH and adopted by the American Medical Association for use in their Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment in 1988.  With Alfred Swanson and Geneviève de Groot Swanson serving as section chairs and editors, it formed the basis of the Upper Extremity Section.

In 1962, Dr. Swanson pioneered the concept of using flexible implants for reconstruction of the small joints of the extremities and performed the first ever biocompatibility studies of silicone in bone in his Orthopaedic Research Unit at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center.  His concepts of non-rigid prosthesis and development of silicone elastomer, titanium, and other implants for small joint reconstruction revolutionized the surgical treatment of the arthritic hand, upper extremity and forefoot.  While his work has benefited millions of arthritic sufferers worldwide, more than 50 years later, his finger joint silicone implant remains the golden standard of care.

In 1970, Swanson pioneered the use of closed-circuit television for live surgical demonstrations at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center at the occasion of the first Grand Rapids International Symposium on Implant Arthroplasty of the Upper Extremity.  In 1985, the course reached 32 sites in the United States via satellite transmission.  More than 3,000 physicians from 41 countries attended the series of 22 annual courses.  

Dr. Swanson received a number of prestigious awards, including the Kappa Delta Award for outstanding orthopaedic research from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (1982), the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award (1985), the National Kidney Foundation Galaxy Award (1994), American Medical Association Scientific Achievement Award (1996) and National Arthritis Foundation Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award (2003).  He was recognized Pioneer in Orthopedics by Orthopedics Today (2002), was inducted in the Grand Rapids Magazine Medical Hall of Fame (2001) and in the Spectrum Health Distinguished Physicians Society (2002).  He received Honorary Membership in the American Society of Hand Therapists for promoting the development of hand therapy as a specialty (2004).

Dr. Swanson organized a medical aid and hand surgery-training program for South Vietnam.  Staffed by many international volunteer surgeons, the program functioned from 1962 until the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. He organized a polio immunization program that benefited two million Vietnamese children and similar programs for Peru (1982-1987).  He received a number of humanitarian service awards including the Medal of Honor of the South Vietnamese Government (1967), Michigan International Citizen Award from the Michigan International Council (1977), Michigan State Medical Society National President’s Award (1979 and 1984) and Community Service Award (1993), and the Orthopaedic Overseas Special Award for 25 years of service (1987). 

Concerned about the impact of the environment on future global climate changes and believing that trees are essential for preservation of life on our planet, Swanson promoted environmental awareness, tree protection and planting worldwide. His organizations donated more than 300,000 trees to school children and Scout groups for planting in Western Michigan.  His daughter, Karin Maupin worked alongside her father developing and implementing the Children's Tree Planting Program.  The tree distribution program remains active under the auspices of the Alfred B. Swanson Foundation and directorship of Dr. Geneviève de Groot Swanson.  By involving community leaders in his environmental promotion, Dr. Swanson influenced policies favoring environmental conservation in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas.  In recognitions of his efforts, he was awarded the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund (1994), and Michigan State Senate Citations.  More than 50 years ago, Dr. Swanson joined Rotary International where he participated in the Polio and environmental committees.  Over all these years, he rarely missed a meeting and always looked forward to Thursday noons! 

Building experimental planes and barnstorming with his two older brothers, Al Swanson became fascinated with aviation and earned a pilot's license at 17.  An avid aviator, he flew his plane to meetings and enjoyed soaring in his sailplane.  An expert golfer, he had a +2 handicap at the peak of his game.  “Cowboy Al” who loves singing and playing the guitar entertained the children at the annual Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Christmas Party assisted by orthopaedic residents dressed in cartoon costumes (1954-2004).  He has left us, but the tradition remains.  

Alfred B. Swanson, MD, age 93, of East Grand Rapids, returned to his Creator on April 27, 2016.  He was preceded in death by his son Miles R. Swanson; parents Esther Thompson and Oscar Swanson; and his siblings Carl Thompson, Bernard Swanson, Linnea Powers and Gerda Elisabeth Firant.  He is survived by his “Life” and loving wife, Geneviève de Groot Swanson, MD; son Eric Alfred Swanson; daughter Karin (Dr. Kent) Maupin; grandchildren Kristin (Aaron) McDonald, Kevin (Rebecca) Maupin, Baylor Eric Swanson, and Natalie and Griegory (Miles) Swanson; great grandchildren Ava and Gabriel McDonald, and Lochlan Maupin.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 1:00 PM at East Congregational Church (1005 Giddings Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506) with the Rev. Ruth Fitzgerald and Rev. Gary Burdick officiating.  Interment in Woodland Cemetery.  Visitation at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, May 2, 2016, and at the Church on Tuesday May 3, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.   Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Free Bed Foundation (235 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids MI 49503).

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