AHN Announces Creation of $2.5 Million Banman-Lupke Patrick J. DeMeo Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery

PITTSBURGH, PA— Allegheny Health Network has announced the creation of a new $2.5 million endowed surgery chairmanship to honor the network’s long-time Orthopaedic Institute head, Patrick J. DeMeo, MD. The endowed chair was made possible by a generous gift from the founders of CTM Biomedical, Bryan Banman and Nicole Lupke.

The formal name of the endowed position is the Banman-Lupke Patrick J. DeMeo Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Dr. DeMeo is the first to occupy the position.

The appointment was made earlier this month at a special ceremony held at Allegheny General Hospital. CTM Biomedical, based in Florida, supplies biologic connective tissue products for surgical use to support tissue recovery and joint repair.

This landmark gift is intended to support Dr. DeMeo's vision of advancing orthopaedic research at the AHN Orthopaedic Institute. With the endowment funding, the department will focus on breakthroughs in musculoskeletal research and foster innovation in patient care.

“Dr. DeMeo's integrity and commitment to research-proven outcomes, along with his vision for vertically integrated orthopaedic care across all patient touchpoints, made him and his Orthopaedic Institute at AHN an obvious leader in our search for an institution to support,” said Bryan Banman, CEO of CTM Biomedical. “Our hope is that this endowment, in Dr. DeMeo's name, reflects our shared vision and creates a legacy that lives on for generations.”

The $2.5 million endowment, spread over five years, will focus on four primary areas of research: biologics, biomechanics, cellular research, and artificial intelligence. Specifically, the AHN Orthopaedic Institute will explore the potential of biologics like connective tissue matrix in post-operative recovery, the mechanics of advanced orthopaedic procedures, infection prevention, and the use of AI to optimize patient care.

“While the chair bears my name, this honor truly reflects the excellence and hard work of the entire orthopaedic department at AHN,” Dr. DeMeo said. “With this endowment, we’ll be able to grow our research efforts, support graduate students and researchers, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in orthopaedic care.”

Dr. DeMeo has been a transformative figure at AHN for over 30 years, having served as Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery since 2006, as well as the chair of the larger AHN Orthopaedic Institute. Under his leadership, the department has grown to include nearly 85 attending physicians and a nationally ranked residency program, which Dr. DeMeo started in 1993. He has been the medical director of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball club since 2000.

“The legacy of the department is the single most important thing I care about as I approach the later stages of my career,” Dr. DeMeo said. “I want to see it continue to build on its successes and remain strong in the future."