Dr. Kenneth G. Swan, Jr., Returns Tom McAuliffe to Active Lifestyle

Dr. Kenneth G. Swan, Jr., has a way of connecting with his patients. This was exemplified when he and Tom McAuliffe appeared together at the Raritan Bay Medical Foundation Golf Classic reception on May 23, 2016. Dapper and dashing at the Deal Golf & Country Club, the pair publicly spoke about their experience, aptly titled “Grateful Patient Story.”

To recap, in 2014, 78-year-old McAuliffe experienced a freak fall on the ski slopes, despite the fact he was standing still at the time. He subsequently suffered an intertrochanteric hip fracture, which is a break in the upper part of the femur (thigh bone).

The injury was certainly a puzzle. Not only from the circumstances, but because McAuliffe had always been a healthy, vital man. An avid skier, golfer and tennis player, he was in great shape and eager to return to his active lifestyle.

Following his initial care, McAuliffe and his family searched for a skilled orthopaedic surgeon to operate. The name that consistently popped up in their research was Dr. Swan, a member of University Orthopaedic Associates (UOA). In addition to his duties at UOA, Dr. Swan, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon, also serves as Director, Division of Orthopedic Surgery and Medical Director, Human Motion Institute at Raritan Bay Medical Center.

With Dr. Swan at the helm of McAuliffe’s care, the injury required Dr. Swan’s skill to insert a surgical pin for fixation. The modest doctor credits and acknowledges McAuliffe with a quick recovery. In fact, three months following surgery, McAuliffe was playing golf again.

That year, the successful surgery, speedy recovery and remarkable doctor-patient report caught the attention of The Bay, the Raritan Bay Medical Center magazine, where Tom McAuliffe was the cover story.

In the article, Dr. Swan said finding a commonality with his patient, who reminded him of the determination of his own father, was key. He further explained, “I developed a personal fondness for Mr. McAuliffe the minute I heard about him.”

As Dr. Swan concluded in The Bay, “It is just terrific to see Mr. McAuliffe doing the things he loves to do … It has been a pleasure to see him return to the level of activity he loves.”