Sixers Mourn Dr. Gary Dorshimer As Philadelphia Teams Pay Tribute

Dr. Gary Dorshimer served as a team physician for several major Philadelphia sports franchises.© Getty Images

Dr. Gary Dorshimer, who spent decades caring for athletes across Philadelphia, has died at the age of 71. The Philadelphia 76ers shared the news on November 14, remembering him as a valued member of their medical staff and the Penn Medicine family. His work reached far beyond the NBA. Dorshimer served the Philadelphia Flyers, Eagles and Union during a career that spanned more than 40 years. Tributes soon followed from the city's other major sports teams, all remembering a doctor whose role involved much more than treating injuries and looking after players.

A Familiar Face Across Philadelphia Sports

The Sixers paid tribute to Dorshimer in a statement, remembering his warmth, humor and care for the people he worked with.

“The 76ers mourn the loss of Dr. Gary Dorshimer, a beloved member of our athlete care team and the Penn Medicine family. 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. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his wife, Deborah, his son, Geoffrey, and all who knew and loved him.”

Dorshimer held several roles across Philadelphia sports. He was an assistant primary care sports medicine physician for the Sixers, the medical director of the Flyers and a team sports medicine physician for the Union. He also served as the Eagles' head internist for nearly two decades, until 2018.

His connection with the Flyers went back to the 1980s. Dan Hilferty, CEO of Comcast Spectacor and Flyers governor, remembered how Dorshimer cared for players, their families and the wider team staff.

“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,” Hilferty said.

His Work Went Beyond The Team Medical Rooms

Dorshimer's career was not limited to professional sports. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1981 and completed his internship and residency at Pennsylvania Hospital. He later became section chief of general internal medicine at the hospital and executive medical director of Penn Personalized Care.

His work also earned recognition outside the teams he served. He received the Dick Vermeil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for his contributions to sports medicine.

The Eagles also issued a statement after his death, remembering his nearly 20 years with the organization. The Union paid tribute to his warm smile, compassion and care for others.

Dorshimer is survived by his wife, Deborah, and son, Geoffrey.