Durham, NC - Durham NC - James R. Urbaniak, Distinguished Virginia Flowers Baker Professor and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke, emeritus, retired, passed away on July 18, 2026. Jim was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on May 15, 1936 to Cecil and Patricia Urbaniak. Jim joined the Duke Orthopaedic faculty in 1969 and was awarded the Distinguished Virginia Flowers Baker Chair and served as the Chief of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1985-2002. His academic accomplishments and contributions in Orthopaedic Surgery are legendary. Dr. Urbaniak is survived by his wife, Martha (Muff) who was born in Summit New Jersey and graduated from Duke University School of Nursing.