Edward Anthony
Rankin was born July 6, 1940 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Following
high school graduation there he attended Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, Missouri and received a B.S. degree in Biology (1961). He obtained
his M.D. degree from Meharry Medical College in 1965 and received a number
of awards including induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society.
He was selected as the most outstanding Senior Medical Student in both
Medicine and Surgery.Dr. Rankin
married Frances Espy, (M.D. 1969 Howard University College of Medicine) and
raised two sons, Anthony Jr. (deceased) and Marc (M.D. 1997 Howard
University School of Medicine).
He did a rotating internship at Walter
Reed General Hospital in 1965 and completed his Orthopaedic Surgery
Residency there in 1970. He served as Chief of Orthopaedics at the 12th
Evacuation Hospital and at the 95th Evacuation Hospital in the
Republic of Vietnam and received the Bronze Star Medal for his service
there. He completed his military service at Fort Dix, New Jersey, as Chief
of Orthopaedics at Walson Army Hospital and received the Army Commendation
Medal as a Major in the U.S. Army.
Dr. Rankin joined Dr. Charles Epps,
Jr. in practice in 1973 and was appointed as Assistant Professor of
Orthopaedics at Howard University School of Medicine. He subsequently was
appointed Associate Professor in 1980 and in 1988 was promoted to professor
of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1972, he was certified by the American
Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Rankin has served as an Oral Examiner for
the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery for a number of years and
continues in that capacity.
He developed a special interest in
Orthopaedic Surgery in developing countries. Beginning with his tour in
Vietnam he has continued that work in three separate volunteer tours in
Africa. He spent a month in Monrovia, Liberia 1979, a month in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia 1985, and a month in Malawi 1995.
Dr. Rankin holds a lifetime membership
in the Lincoln University National Alumni Association and in 1992 was
awarded the Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Rankin has been a
consistent and generous supporter of the Washington, DC chapter of the
Lincoln University Alumni Association. His membership in other
organizations include the American Orthopaedic Association (elected, 1988);
the American College of Surgeons (1975); the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons (1975); the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (1979); the
Eastern Orthopaedic Association (1973); and the American Orthopaedic Foot
and Ankle Society (1977).
Dr. Rankin is Chief of Orthopaedic
Surgery at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC, having served in that
position since 1977. He served as Acting Chief of Children’s Orthopaedics
at D.C. General Hospital until his retirement in 2000, succeeding Dr.
Charles H. Epps, Jr. He has published a number of scientific articles, book
chapters, and currently serves on the Editorial Board of Orthopaedics. He
completed a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons from 1996-1998 and was elected Secretary of the AAOS
in 2001.
