Rothman Orthopaedics Announces the Retirement of Michael E. West After 22 Years as CEO

Michael E. West, CEO of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, will retire after 22 years with one of the largest private medical practices in the country. Mr. West announced his plans to retire last June and will officially step down on March 31, 2021.

“I am humbled by the opportunity I was given to be part of this remarkable organization, founded and built on Dr. Richard Rothman’s vision of being a national leader in innovation and excellence in musculoskeletal clinical care, teaching and research,” said Mr. West. “As I reflect on my 22 years at Rothman, I am exceptionally proud of all that we have accomplished together. I believe that Rothman will continue to be a leader in healthcare as it expands to additional communities throughout the country. It has been a great honor and privilege to work with the world class physicians of Rothman Orthopaedics, and to lead and develop the exceptional management team and staff during my tenure. I will always treasure the lasting relationships and bonds I formed with the physicians and employees at Rothman”.

“Mike has been a fundamental part of the growth of Rothman throughout the past 22 years,” said Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, President of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.“He joined Rothman Orthopaedics at a crucial time for our practice—and our successes wouldn’t have been possible without his leadership and guidance. We grew significantly during Mike’s tenure as CEO, making Rothman Orthopaedic Institute one of the largest and most reputable musculoskeletal practices in the country. Mike was a key driving force behind our growth and expansion and developed the business model that has taken us where we are today. He truly lived the Rothman Mission, Vision and Values of the organization every day. We will absolutely miss Mike’s partnership, determination, enthusiasm for the entire Rothman community and everything else he has brought to our organization.”

Mr. West has led the organization as CEO since 1999 when the practice employed seven physicians and had one office in Philadelphia, PA. Under his transformational leadership, Rothman Orthopaedics has grown to include offices in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and most recently Florida.The enterprise currently includes approximately 200 physicians, and over 90 operative and office sites.Of these sites, Rothman Orthopaedics has ownership in 17 ambulatory surgery centers, two specialty hospitals and 14 medical office real estate buildings.

In addition, Mr. West worked closely with the clinical research department of Rothman Orthopaedics, as well as the basic science division at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Department of Orthopaedics.

“There is no one who has worked harder than Mike West to create seamless access for patients with musculoskeletal problems,” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, president of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health. “Rothman Orthopaedics is a great clinical, academic, innovation, and philanthropic partner and Mike embodied that. Most importantly I will miss the fact that Mike would always answer my 4 a.m. emails by 4:30!”

“Mike has been a terrific partner of Main Line Health for many years,” says Jack Lynch, President and CEO, Main Line Health. “His leadership has been forward thinking and very strategic resulting in creative, mutually beneficial partnerships for Rothman Orthopaedics, Main Line Health, Jefferson and our patients. Mike will be missed but his leadership partnership with Dick Rothman, M.D. and Alex Vaccaro, M.D. over many years positions Rothman Orthopaedics and its partners to enjoy continued success in the future.”

As Mr. West looks to the future, he is proud of the strong foundation he and the Rothman team have built together, positioning Rothman Orthopaedics for continued growth and innovation in the ever-evolving healthcare market. He is looking forward to the next chapter of his life with his wife Lynn and their children and grand-children.Mr. West will continue as Executive Advisor thru June 30, 2021 in order to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Rothman Orthopaedics will announce Mr. West’s successor in the coming weeks. For more information, visit RothmanOrtho.com.