Bruce Bynum, D.O., will now have more time for one of his favorite activities – biking. Dr. Bynum will be participating in the “Reach the Beach” bicycle ride on May 20 to benefit the American Lung Association. To donate, go to Bynum – Reach the Beach.
After performing more than 1,700 joint replacements over the last 22 years, Dr. Bruce Bynum is retiring from The Corvallis Clinic as an orthopedic surgeon. His last day will be April 4.
“I became interested in orthopedics when I was a General Medical Officer for the Marines at Camp Pendleton,” Dr. Bynum said. After graduating from San Diego State with a BS in biology in 1980, he entered the Navy through the military’s Health Professions Scholarship Program. He earned his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Kansas City, Mo., in 1984.
From Camp Pendleton he went on to complete an orthopedic surgery residency at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and then served as an orthopedic surgeon at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Charleston, S.C. He separated from the Navy as a commander before beginning his practice at The Clinic in 1995.
“I joined The Clinic because of the multi-specialty and business management design that allowed me to focus on patient care,” said Dr. Bynum, who moved to California from Virginia when he was in middle school. He said he was attracted to medicine because of its lifelong scientific learning process.
“When he joined our medical/surgical group all those years ago,” said Dr. Robert Dodds, a fellow Clinic orthopedic surgeon who retired last year, “I felt him to be a somewhat brash, ex-military physician with significant potential for growth. Sure enough, over time Bruce became an outstanding clinician as well a highly skilled surgical technician. I greatly cherish the years we spent together as partners.”
During his career, Dr. Bynum said he saw the development of less invasive techniques and more accelerated rehabilitation, which made for a more rapid recovery. He also cited improved “fixation devices for periarticular (around joint) fractures.”
In addition to establishing a successful, busy joint-replacement practice, Dr. Bynum cited serving on the the Board of Directors and the Foundation Board as the some of the highlights of his Clinic career.
His proudest accomplishment? Being able to provide improved quality of life and a return to an active lifestyle for his joint-replacement patients. “I will miss the daily interaction with caring employees and colleagues and the gratitude of patients after successful surgical treatment.”
Dr. Bynum said his initial post-retirement plans are to “goof off and decompress.” He will then re-evaluate and consider his many professional options, such as consulting, teaching and performing independent medical evaluations.
“His retirement represents a great loss to his patients and The Clinic, as well as the local orthopedic community at large,” Dr. Dodds said. “Godspeed Bruce.”
