Abel Mix Phelps (1851–1902) was an American orthopedic surgeon, known for the Phelps brace, Phelps gracilis test, Phelps operation, Phelps orthosis, and Phelps splint. Phelps, a descendant of the early New England colonist William Phelps, received his M.D. from the University of Michigan in 1873 and thereupon was appointed Surgeon to the

Vermont Central Railroad The Central Vermont Railway was a railroad that operated in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec. It connected Montreal, Quebec, with New London, Conne ...

. After seven years of surgical practice he went to Europe, where he studied surgery for four years under

Max Schede Max Schede (7 January 1844 – 31 December 1902) was a German surgeon born in Arnsberg. Schede studied medicine at the Universities of Halle, Heidelberg and Zurich, obtaining his medical doctorate in 1866. After serving as a doctor in the Austr ...

Friedrich von Esmarch Johannes Friedrich August von Esmarch (9 January 1823 – 23 February 1908) was a German surgeon. He developed the Esmarch bandage and founded the ''Deutscher Samariter-Verein'', the predecessor of the '' Deutscher Samariter-Bund''. Life ...

Richard von Volkmann Richard von Volkmann (17 August 1830 – 28 November 1889) was a prominent German surgeon and author of poetry and fiction. Some of his works were illustrated by his son, Hans, a well known artist. Biography He was born in Leipzig on 17 Augus ...

, Theodor Billroth, and

Karl Thiersch Karl Thiersch, also spelled Carl Thiersch (20 April 1822 – 28 April 1895), was a German surgeon born in Munich. His father was educationist Friedrich Thiersch, his father-in-law was renowned chemist Justus von Liebig. One brother, Ludwig, wa ...

in Germany and Austria. Phelps was appointed in 1885 to the chair of orthopedic surgery at the University of Vermont and in 1887 to the chair of orthopedic surgery at the New York University School of Medicine. He was in 1894 President of the American Orthopaedic Association and in 1900 President of the Medical Society of the State of New York. Upon his death he was survived by his widow and two daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Abel Mix 1851 births 1902 deaths American orthopedic surgeons University of Michigan Medical School alumni University of Vermont faculty New York University Grossman School of Medicine faculty