ROBERT E. BOOTH, JR., MD (1945-2026)

On January 15, 2026, an enduring legacy of clinical brilliance, scholarship, and leadership has been left by the passing of Robert E. Booth Jr., MD, a pioneering orthopaedic surgeon and one of the most influential individuals in the history of knee arthroplasty. In addition to being a surgeon whose work helped define modern total knee arthroplasty, he was well recognized as a fundamental leader within The Knee Society.

During a crucial period for the field, Dr. Booth made contributions to knee surgery in the areas of implant design, surgical technique, and outcomes research. At a time when knee reconstruction was still developing, his work contributed to the establishment of long-lasting principles, and his clinical judgment and scientific rigor won him the admiration of peers all over the world. This year, he will receive, posthumously, The Knee Society Lifetime Achievement Award in appreciation of his accomplishments, which demonstrated the breadth and durability of his influence on the field.

Dr. Booth's tenure as a mentor and educator was equally important. Many of the orthopaedic surgeons he educated and encouraged are now prominent figures in academic medicine and The Knee Society. High standards, intellectual integrity, and a strong dedication to improving patient care via deliberate practice were hallmarks of his mentoring.

Additionally, Dr. Booth was well known for his enlightening presentations, which were always among the most anticipated and memorable at any knee meeting. His charismatic talks were enjoyable, thought-provoking, vividly illustrated, and based on experience; they blended clinical knowledge, historical perspective, and technological proficiency. They pushed viewers to think critically, challenge presumptions, and keep improving their knee replacement techniques.

The Knee Society's mission to advance patient care through research, education and innovation, foster collaboration and leadership to improve outcomes and promote best practices in knee surgery were personified by Dr. Booth. The surgeons he educated, the standards he assisted in establishing, and the lasting example he established as a physician, educator, and leader will all continue to have an impact. For many years to come, The Knee Society's identity and mission will be fundamentally shaped by his legacy.

With his wife Kathy, Dr. Booth raised three wonderful children, Courtney (Gus), Robert III (Jessica), and Thomas (Erin), and took pride in their six grandchildren: Robert IV, Taylor, Natalie, Eleanor, Catherine, and Sam.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Dr. Booth during this difficult time.

KENNETH A. KRACKOW, MD (1944-2026)

Kenneth A. Krackow, MD (born 1944), a pioneering orthopaedic surgeon, teacher, and innovator whose work helped shape modern knee arthroplasty, died on January 9, 2026, in Buffalo, New York.

A longtime leader in the knee community, Dr. Krackow served as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University and later at the University of Buffalo and as a departmental Chief at Buffalo General Hospital/Kaleida Health, where he trained generations of residents, fellows, and medical students.

Dr. Krackow’s contributions to knee reconstruction were both foundational and forward-looking. His landmark text, The Technique of Total Knee Arthroplasty (first published in 1990), influenced how surgeons conceptualized alignment, balancing, and reproducible technique in total knee arthroplasty. He also helped usher in the era of technology-assisted arthroplasty; in 1997 he performed what was reported as the first computer-assisted total knee replacement in the United States, using a navigation system he developed.

Dr. Krackow served as President of The Knee Society in 1999. In recognition of his lifelong impact, Dr. Krackow received The Knee Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), an honor befitting a career defined by rigor, originality, and mentorship. He will be remembered not only for what he built; technique, teaching systems, and ideas that endure, but for how he built it: with clarity, discipline, and generosity toward colleagues and trainees.

Dr. Krackow is survived by Gretchen Krackow, daughters Sydney and Andrea, and grandson Gabriel. 

CHITRANJAN S. RANAWAT, MD (1935-2025)

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Chitranjan S. Ranawat, MD, on September 26, 2025. A visionary leader, pioneering surgeon, and compassionate mentor, Dr. Ranawat was the Founder and first President of The Knee Society, and one of the most influential figures in modern orthopaedic surgery.

Born in Sarwania, Madhya Pradesh, India, in 1935 to Bhairon Singh and Udai Kumari Ranawat, he completed his early education at The Daly College and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Indore before continuing his surgical training in India, Canada, and Albany, New York. He joined the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in 1966 as a hand fellow and became the institution’s first arthroplasty fellow on the Surgical Arthritis Service. In 1969, he was appointed Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at HSS, where he served for over five decades, ultimately becoming Chief of the Service, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Chairman of the Ranawat Orthopaedic Center.

Dr. Ranawat’s contributions to joint replacement surgery are legendary. He co-invented several implant systems, including a hip replacement design marketed by Biomet, and was instrumental in advancing surgical techniques that transformed patient outcomes worldwide. His career was defined by innovation, excellence, and a deep commitment to education. Over the years, he trained hundreds of fellows and residents, many of whom became leaders in orthopaedics across the globe.

His leadership extended far beyond the operating room. In addition to founding The Knee Society (serving as its inaugural President from 1983–1984), Dr. Ranawat also served as President of The Hip Society (2010), the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the Eastern Orthopaedic Society, and the New York Academy of Medicine. He was a founding member of the Journal of Arthroplasty and contributed to numerous editorial boards and professional societies.

Dr. Ranawat received countless honors throughout his distinguished career, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Knee Society, The Hip Society, the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology, the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty, the Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society, and the Indian Arthroplasty Association. In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors.

His philanthropic work was equally remarkable. Through the Ranawat Orthopaedic Foundation, founded in 1986, and the Ranawat Orthopaedic Conference, he supported education, research, and access to care globally. He facilitated the donation of over $10 million in orthopaedic implants to hospitals in India and personally trained more than 75 Indian surgeons who now perform nearly half of all hip and knee arthroplasties in the country.

Dr. Ranawat’s enduring legacy is honored through the Chitranjan S. Ranawat, MD Award, presented annually by The Knee Society for excellence in research, and through The Hip Society’s Rothman-Ranawat Traveling Fellowship, which continues to inspire and educate future generations. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both societies—The Knee Society in 2011 and The Hip Society in 2014.

Dr. Ranawat is survived by his beloved wife, Gudrun (“Gudi”), his children Dr. Amar S. Ranawat and Dr. Anil S. Ranawat, both distinguished surgeons at HSS, and Karen, as well as his grandchildren and extended family around the world. He was predeceased by his son Chet.

Our thoughts are with Gudrun, Amar, Anil, Karen, and the entire Ranawat family during this most difficult time. Dr. Ranawat’s vision, mentorship, and humanity will continue to shape our field and our lives.