David Kieffer

4/28/1940 2/14/2016

Dr. David Abbott Kieffer, 75, died Sunday, February 14, 2016 at the Hospice Care

Center in Grand Junction, CO from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Dr. Kieffer was born and raised a fourth generation Missourian in Clayton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, the son of William Tolbert Kieffer and Catherine Rosemary Morgan. He earned his high school degree from the John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri exceling in multiple sports including as a four-year varsity football and track athlete. He went on to earn a Bachelor Arts degree from Williams College of Williamstown Massachusetts, and like a generation of Kieffer’s before him, Dr. Kieffer would later attend medical school, earning his Medical Degree from University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia Missouri. He continued his medical training by completing a pathology internship at the University of Vermont, Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont followed by a pathology fellowship at the London Hospital Department of Morbid Anatomy. He would later switch specialties, however, and conclude his training by completing a surgical internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the New York State University Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY followed by a sports medicine fellowship at Doctors' Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

He began his career as a physician in the Sports Medicine Clinic at St. Lukes Hospital in New York, NY. A year later, he went west to Wyoming where in 1973 he saw his first patients in a small basement office of the Oddfellows Building in Laramie, Wyoming. Later in 1975, along with Dr. Robert J. Curnow, Dr. Kieffer founded Gem City Bone and Joint, P.C. Beginning in the 1980's, Dr.'s Kieffer, Curnow, and Richard Southwell (who joined the practice in 1980) revolutionized providing specialized medical care to rural areas. They utilized a small twin engine airplane to serve satellite clinics throughout the state of Wyoming and neighboring Nebraska. By the early 2000’s when Dr. Kieffer retired from the practice, Gem City Bone and Joint had grown into one of the largest orthopedic practices in the State of Wyoming. It is now known as Premier Bone & Joint Centers, employs seven physicians and staff of over 120 in a 33,000 square foot clinic, and, in the spirit of Dr. Kieffer, utilizes a fleet of airplanes serving the state of Wyoming.

In 2003, Dr. Kieffer moved back to St. Louis and accepted the position of Associate Professor and Vice Chief of Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the St. Louis University Hospital and School of Medicine. Dr. Kieffer continued to practice medicine in St. Louis until retiring to Colorado in 2010.

Dr. Kieffer was Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and a

member of several professional medical organizations, including: The ACL Study Group

(charter member), American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of

Sports Medicine, and American Orthopedic Academy of Sports Medicine, among

others.

His practical experience included serving as the Team Physician for the University of

Wyoming Athletic Department from 1973 to 2003; serving as the Team Physician for

the St. Louis University Athletic Program from 2003 to 2006; serving as the Team

Physician for the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team in 1972: and serving as the Team

Physician for the U.S. Alpine Ski Team from 1973 until 2005.

Dr. Kieffer was also a motorcycling enthusiast who began racing in a regional club races in the Colorado-based Mountain Road racing Association. What initially started as a weekend hobby, however, ultimately grew into a significant national roadracing career that spanned two decades. From 1980 until 2001, Dr. Kieffer raced in several American Motorcyclist Association classes including AMA Pro Superbike. Formula One, Battle of the Twins, Sound of the Singles, Pro Thunder and Endurance classes. In the late 1980’s

Dr. Kieffer’s passion for motorcycles and care for his fellow racers led him to perform surgical procedures on several prominent professional racers, including Mike Baldwin, Ricky Johnson, Fred Merkel, Tripp Nobles, Scott Russell, Aaron Yates, Ben Spies. For his contributions as both a racer and as a caregiver, Dr. Kieffer was named AMA Sportsman of The Year in 1986.

Dr. Kieffer’s love for motorcycling also led him to serve in a variety organizational capacities, including on the Medical Advisory Board of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), as a co-author of the Medical Standards for The Medical Code at the Annual AMA World Congress Meetings from1988 through 1991, and as the Chief Medical Officer for the AMA in 2005. Dr. Kieffer also served as the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme’s (FIM) Chief Medical Officer multiple times, including during the Moto GP World Championship event at Laguna Seca in 2008 and during the Superbike World Championship event at Miller Motorsports Park in 2008.

He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Alexandra; his three sons Christopher (Kristen); David (Cerissa); and Elliott (Julie). He also leaves behind six grandchildren, Lillian, Isabelle. Maximus, Siena, Lucille, and Abigail. He was preceded in death by his brother William Tolbert Kieffer, II who ten years earlier, also died of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30AM, March 12, 2016, at Martin Mortuary 550 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. Kieffer's name to the IPF Foundation located at 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611 or online at http://pulmonaryfibrosis.donorpages.com/Tribute/DrOavidKieffer.