Flyers, Eagles, Sixers, and Union doctor Gary Dorshimer dies at 71
Dr. Dorshimer, who worked with all of the major pro teams in the city, is survived by his wife, Deborah, and son Geoffrey.
Longtime Flyers, Sixers, Eagles, and Union team physician, Dr. Gary Dorshimer, died on Saturday. He was 71.
“We are deeply saddened to hear [of] the passing of team physician, Dr. Gary Dorshimer, today,” Flyers governor Dan Hilferty said in a team statement. “Dr. Dorshimer took exceptional care of our players and their families, coaches, and entire staff over the span of several decades and was always on call whenever the team needed him.
“His combination of wit and humor always brought a smile to the countless number of athletes in the city that he treated and helped perform at their best.”
Mr. Dorshimer had been the medical director for the Flyers since the 1980s.
“Sad day. Sad news. We found out right before the game. So, yeah, definitely this one was for him,” said captain Sean Couturier after the Flyers win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. “He was a great man. He’ll be missed, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”
A native of Allentown, Mr. Dorshimer graduated from Parkland High School and Muhlenberg College before earning his M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1981. He completed his internship and residency at Penn and was, according to his bio page, the section chief of general internal medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital and assistant program director of the primary care sports medicine fellowship program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Mr. Dorshimer served as the Eagles’ head internist for almost 20 years until 2018, was the team sports medicine physician with the Union, and was the assistant primary care sports medicine physician with the Sixers. He was also the secretary and treasurer of the National Hockey League Team Physicians Society.
“The 76ers mourn the loss of Dr. Gary Dorshimer, a beloved member of our athlete care team and the Penn Medicine family,” the Sixers tweeted. “His generous spirit, warm sense of humor, and genuine compassion left a lasting impact on our organization and the countless players and patients he cared for.”
The 2015 recipient of the Dick Vermeil Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually by the Otho Davis Scholarship Foundation to honor individuals for longstanding dedication, contributions, and service to sports medicine, athletic training, and the football community, Mr. Dorshimer is survived by his wife, Deborah, and son Geoffrey.
According to the Flyers Alumni Association, in place of flowers, the Dorshimer family requests that donations be sent to the association for their charitable and community programs.
