News article by Styliana Resvanis

William Anspach Jr., MD, went from a young student who habitually fell asleep in class to the founder of an international company with a medical degree — and now he can add a doctoral degree from the University of Florida.

Anspach became the first person to receive an honorary degree in technology from UF during the doctoral degree commencement ceremony December 13, 2013.

A Stanford University School of Medicine alumnus, and graduate of UF’s Orthopaedic Surgical Residency Program, Anspach used his love of innovation to revolutionize the industry.

He saw a need for customized, cost-effective surgical tools and tinkered in his garage to create them for himself and colleagues — but what began as a DIY-project soon became a global enterprise.

He founded The Anspach Effort Inc., a surgical instruments company, in 1978 to manufacture high-speed tools that would transform orthopaedics, neurosurgery, neurotology and otology.

For 30 years, Anspach improved patient care by providing physicians with customized surgical devices. In 2005, he received UF’s Distinguished Achievement Award for his leadership, innovation and accomplishments in the field.

He helped create the UF College of Medicine’s William F. Enneking, William E. Anspach and Orthopaedic Alumni Chair to honor his residency mentor and his physician father and established UF’s Enneking–Anspach Research Center, giving orthopaedic oncology fellows and residents access to more than 12,000 cases.

“All the stuff we ever did, we did because we were really interested in doing something worthwhile,” Anspach said. “When I got that letter from Dr. Machen saying they were giving me an honorary doctorate, I just didn’t know what to do. Nobody will know what that honor means to me. I just wish my father and my mother could see it.”