James R. Urbaniak

James Randolph Urbaniak (May 15, 1936 – July 18, 2026) was an American orthopedic surgeon. He was a pioneer in the practice of replantation of amputated body parts.

Biography Urbaniak was born in Fairmont, West Virginia. His father was a Polish immigrant and worked as a coal miner who later was a district president of the United Mine Workers of America and his mopther was a homemaker. He was named all-state in football and was class valedictorian at Fairmont Senior High School. He was recruited by Bear Bryant to play football at the University of Kentucky, where his father also played. For his senior season in 1957, he was one of the top four receivers in the Southeastern Conference.

In 1977, Urbaniak was appointed full professor at Duke and served as Chief of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Department of Surgery from 1985 to 2002. In 1991, he became the Virginia Flowers Baker Distinguished Professorship Chair. In 1994, he was named Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Clinical Affairs.

In 2016, Duke University dedicated the James R. Urbaniak Sports Science Institute in his honor.

Urbaniak died in Durham, North Carolina on July 18, 2026, at the age of 90.