More about Dr. J. William Littler...

He worked on new ways to reconstruct missing thumbs, including replacing them with parts of forefingers, and he transplanted healthy bundles of nerves and arteries to areas that had lost feeling, a procedure known as a sensory neurovascular island transfer. To revive arms and hands paralyzed by nerve damage, he transferred tendons from areas that were unharmed.

In the 1950's, Dr. Littler founded the hand surgery unit at what is now St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, a teaching hospital of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Now called the C. V. Starr Hand Surgery Center, the unit was the first to devote itself to civilian hand injuries, according to the hospital. Hundreds of hand surgeons trained there under Dr. Littler.

James William Littler was born in Manlius, N.Y., near Syracuse, on Oct. 7, 1915, and received his bachelor's degree and medical degree at Duke University. After a medical internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he enlisted in the Army.

He then completed residencies in general surgery at The Roosevelt Hospital and plastic surgery at Presbyterian Hospital, now part of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. In 1946, he helped found the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and was its president from 1962 to 1963.

His survivors include a daughter, Anne, of Paradise Valley, Nev., and a brother, Ted, of Providence. His family also listed his longtime secretary, Joyce Jones Welles, among his survivors. LITTLER, J. WILLIAM, M.D.

Published: March 2, 2005

LITTLER--J. William, M.D. The entire family of St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, acknowledge with deep sadness the passing of our good friend, and long-time colleague, J. William Littler, M.D. Dr. Littler is often credited as one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the distinctive discipline of hand surgery in the US. When he established The Hand Surgery Unit at Roosevelt in 1950, no other such program existed in the country. A measure of his central role is the fact that many directors of hand surgery post-graduate training are alumni of the Roosevelt Program. Dr. Littler also served as a Trustee, and later, an Honorary Trustee of The St. Luke'sRoosevelt Board, and received countless honors and awards attesting to his surgical skills. He was greatly loved by his patients and all who knew him and worked with him. To his family, friends, and countless admirers, we extend heartfelt condolences. Morton P. Hyman, Chairman Board of Trustees Richard F. Daines, M.D., President and CEO Steven Z. Glickel, M.D, Director, The C.V. Starr Hand Surgery Center

LITTLER, WILLIAM, J.

Published: March 1, 2005

LITTLER--William, J. Dr. 89. Beloved mentor to three generations of American hand surgeons, died February 27th in Providence, RI. A pioneer in hand surgery, he established many of the basic principles of this regional specialty. At his request, there will be no funeral services, memorial services nor funds established in his name. In 1951, the nation's first hand surgical service was created at the Roosevelt Hospital. Dr. J. William Littler, the Founder and Director of this service, was an international figure in this field. During his productive career, he was responsible for developing techniques of tendon repair, finger transplantation and methods to replace the small bones of the wrist J. William Littler, 89,

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