Dr. Peter Z. Cohen, MD
COHEN: Dr. Peter Z. Cohen MD, passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 86. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Jane Kaufman Cohen. He was the adored father of Lee Cohen and Jodi and Alan Klein, and the cherished Poppy of grandchildren Andrew Klein and Rebecca and Michael Segal, and of great-grandchildren Madeline, Benjamin and Roman Segal. Dr. Cohen retired at the age of 83 as a revered member of the Pittsburgh orthopaedic community. A talented, dedicated surgeon and gifted teacher, he was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh for over 50 years, where he was given the coveted Golden Apple Award by the orthopaedic residents. Thanks to his winning spirit as a leader and his camaraderie with his colleagues, he was appointed to serve as Pitt Orthopaedic Alumni Chairman for more than two decades. Dr. Cohen graduated from Pitt undergrad in 1959 and Pitt Medical School in 1963 before completing his orthopaedic residency under Dr. Albert Ferguson at Pitt in 1968. After his stint in the military as a major and the chief of orthopaedics at DeWitt Army Hospital at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, Dr. Cohen returned to Pittsburgh. He was appointed chief of orthopaedics at Montefiore Hospital where he served for 25 years and was elected to two terms as medical staff president. Renowned for his work in geriatric orthopaedics, Dr. Cohen’s many accomplishments included being honored by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of the Twelve Most Influential Persons In Medicine in Pittsburgh for 2002, and serving as the founding director of Senior Sports and Fitness at UPMC and as co-director with Dr. Freddie Fu of the 2005 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, an event which was covered by television and newspaper media across the country. Toward the end of his career, Dr. Cohen was appointed chief of orthopaedics at the Oakland VA Medical Center, where he continued to train Pitt orthopedic residents. Dr. Cohen’s other activities over the years included chief of orthopaedics at West Penn Hospital, member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Committee on Aging, other national and local committees, grant approved research projects, publications in peer reviewed journals and international presentations. Private graveside services held at Homewood Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. The family requests that donations in Dr. Cohen’s memory be made to the charity of your choice. schugar.com PJC
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