Abstract
Dr Cowell, known to his friends as “Harry,” was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1933. After completing his undergraduate studies at Swarthmore College, Dr Cowell attended the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where he earned his doctor of medicine degree and completed an orthopaedic residency. During the Vietnam conflict, Dr Cowell served in the Navy, stationed at the US Naval Hospital Great Lakes, in North Chicago.
Following his release from the US Navy, Dr Cowell and his family moved to Wilmington, Delaware. He took a position at the Veterans Affairs Administration Center as chief of orthopaedics and joined the staff of the Alfred I. duPont Institute as surgeon-in-chief and medical director. There, he developed a special interest in birth defects in children. He entered the University of Delaware graduate program and earned a PhD in genetics. He continued his interest in children’s congenital birth defects throughout his career, studying the treatment of lower extremity, foot and ankle, and spinal deformity.
Dr Cowell was a founding member of the American Orthopaedic Foot Society (renamed American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society in 1983). He served as the Society’s 10th president from 1978 to 1979. During his presidency, Dr Cowell guided the Society in establishing its official journal, Foot and Ankle (now Foot & Ankle International) and appointed Dr J. Leonard Goldner chair and Dr Melvin Jahss editor-in-chief.
Dr Cowell also was a founding member of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and served as the Association’s 25th president from 1993 to 1994.
In 1985, Dr Cowell assumed the role of editor-in-chief for the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) following the retirement of Dr Paul Curtis. During his 14-year tenure with the JBJS, publication of the journal increased to 12 issues per year, a journal website was created, and the editorial staff expanded to include subspecialists. Dr Cowell hosted “Editor Workshops” around the country, mentoring deputy and associate editors in the understanding of the review process and promoting discussions of manuscript submissions.
During his career, Dr Cowell served as a lecturer in orthopaedics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital and also held faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins Medical School, and Harvard Medical School. An author of more than 100 publications, he traveled extensively, lecturing nationally and internationally.
Dr Cowell was honored and revered by his friends, students, and associates. He loved spending time with his wife, Ann, and his family. He will be remembered as an outstanding teacher, researcher, surgeon, and a great contributor to orthopaedic surgery.