Becker's Orthopedic Review asked its readers to nominate orthopedic surgeons they thought were outstanding in their field. Here are 59 surgeons recommended by our readers for excellence in orthopedics.
If you have any questions about this list or would like to recommend an orthopedic surgeon, please contact Carrie Pallardy at cpallardy@beckershealthcare.com.
Todd Albert, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Albert is surgeon-in-chief, medical director and Korein-Wilson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at HSS. He also serves as chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
Recommended anonymously. "He is surgeon-in-chief at HSS coming from Rothman. Dr. Albert has written more than 200 papers and text books. He is one of the best cervical spine surgeons."
David Altchek, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Altchek is an attending orthopedic surgeon and co-chief emeritus of the sports medicine and shoulder service at HSS. He has authored more than 100 articles and book chapters on shoulder, elbow and knee issues.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Altcheck is a medical director for the New York Mets and a thought-leader in the field of treating overhand athletes, like baseball and tennis players."
James Andrews, MD, Andrews Institute (Gulf Breeze, Fla). Dr. Andrews is a founding member of the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala., and of the Andrews Institute. He serves as the medical director of the Andrews Institute and as president and chairman of the Andrews Research and Education Foundation.
Recommended by:
Mark Lambert, DPM, Pensacola (Fla.) Foot and Ankle Center
Anonymously
"Dr. Andrews is one of the most famous sports medicine surgeons. He treats more professional athletes than anyone. He is one of the godfathers of sports medicine and continues to be so."
Asheesh Bedi, MD, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Dr. Bedi is the Harold and Helen W. Gehring Early Career Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and an assistant sports medicine and shoulder surgery professor at the University of Michigan and MedSport program. He is also a consultant for the NFL and NHL Players Association.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Bedi is much younger surgeon, but really the most prolific sports medicine researcher. He is a great sports medicine physician specializing in hip and knee arthroscopy."
Christopher Bibbo, DO, DPM, FACS, FAAOS, Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic. Dr. Bibbo is a clinical instructor in the orthopedics and rehabilitation department of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison. He completed his fellowship training in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at the Miller Orthopedic Clinic & Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Recommended by: Mark Lambert, DPM, Pensacola (Fla.) Foot and Ankle Center
James Bradley, MD, Burke & Bradley Orthopedics (Pittsburgh). In addition to his practice at Burke & Bradley Orthopedics, Dr. Bradley is a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 2014, he received the Jerry Hawk Rhea Award from the NFL for his work as an NFL team physician. He has been the head team orthopedic surgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers for more than 20 years.
Recommended anonymously. "He is really one of the world's experts in treating shoulder instability."
Thomas A. Brandon, MD, Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates (Salisbury, Md.). Dr. Brandon is president of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates and chief of the orthopedics division at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. He was one of the first orthopedic surgeons to perform minimally invasive knee replacement and arthroscopic repair of knee ligaments and rotator cuff tears.
Recommended by: Pasquale Petrera, MD. "Dr. Brandon trained at Wake Forest and came to Salisbury in 1990. He is single handedly responsible for turning a small six-man group into a 30 provider powerhouse without ever losing site of the most important aspect of medicine – good patient care. He embraced reverse shoulder arthroplasty in its infancy and has refined his technique to where he recognized at the large university centers in Baltimore and Philadelphia. He is one of the highest volume shoulder replacement specialists in the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast. His work and surgical skills are well recognized and known in the shoulder replacement field."
Frank Cammisa, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Camissa is chief of the spine service at HSS and a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. He serves as a spine consultant for the NHL.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Camissa is chief of spine at HSS. He serves as a spine consultant for many sports teams."
Michelle Carlson, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Carlson is an associate attending orthopedic surgeon at HSS and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, as well as an associate professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. She has won several awards throughout her medical career including the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society/Zimmer Research Grant, Lewis Clark Wagner Research Award, T. Campbell Thompson Prize and Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Carlson is a hand surgery consultant for most professional sports teams in New York. She has operated on a lot of NBA and MLB players. She has really become one of the few go-to hand surgeons for professional athletes."
Brian Cole, MD, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago). Dr. Cole is the chairman of surgery at Rush Oak Park (Ill.) Hospital, as well as a professor of orthopedics and anatomy and cell biology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Cole also serves as the section head of Rush University Medical Center's Cartilage Research and Restoration Center.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Cole is a Bulls team physician and takes care of a lot of professional athletes. He is an expert in the area of cartilage injuries in athletes."
John Conway, MD, Orthopedic Specialty Associates (Fort Worth, Texas). Dr. Conway focuses on sports medicine and upper extremity injuries. He completed his fellowship training at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Inglewood, Calif.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Conway has worked with the Texas Rangers. He is really one of the top three elbow surgeons in the country and a thought leader there, particularly in baseball."
Daniel Cooper, MD, Carrell Clinic (Dallas). Dr. Cooper has been a team physician in professional sports for more than 30 combined seasons. He is also the co-developer of the Single Portal Arthroscopy System.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Cooper is the Dallas Cowboys physician. He is a leading expert for knee surgery and knee ligament reconstruction."
Devin Datta, MD, The B.A.C.K. Center (Melbourne, Fla.). Dr. Datta is in private practice with Orthopaedic Sports and Spine Associates in addition to his work at The B.A.C.K. Center. He completed the Daniel E. Hogan Spine Fellowship at Harvard University and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.
Recommended by: Vicki Dekker, director of business development, Blue Chip Surgical Partners (Cincinnati).
Jason Datta, MD, Sonoran Spine (Phoenix). Dr. Datta completed his fellowship training at the Spine Education and Research Institute in Denver. He is actively involved in research with the Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation.
Recommended by: Vicki Dekker, director of business development, Blue Chip Surgical Partners (Cincinnati).
Sunil Dedhia, MD, Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana (Munster). Dr. Dedhia is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with a focus on sports medicine, trauma and general orthopedics.
Recommended by: Vicki Dekker, director of business development, Blue Chip Surgical Partners (Cincinnati).
Mark Deitch, MD, OrthoMaryland (Baltimore). Dr. Deitch is chief of hand and microvascular surgery at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has expertise in upper extremity trauma, hand and microvascular surgery and surgical treatment of shoulder, elbow and hand.
Recommended by: Vicki Dekker, director of business development, Blue Chip Surgical Partners (Cincinnati).
David Dines, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Dines has performed thousands of shoulder replacements. He practices in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at HSS and serves as a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Dines is the medical director of the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour. He is also a past president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society. He designed the Biomet Biomodular Total Shoulder System."
Joshua Dines, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Dines practices with the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at HSS. In addition to his practice and research, he authors a column in the Huffington Post and served as a guest contributor on Fox 5 New York.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Dines is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with particular specialty treating shoulder and elbow injuries in athletes such as baseball and tennis players. He is a team doctor for the New York Mets, a sports medicine consultant for the New York Rangers and previously served as doctor to the US Davis Cup tennis team. He has written textbooks on baseball injuries and is on the shoulder research committee for Major League Baseball."
Nicholas A. DiNubile, MD, Premier Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (Havertown, PA). Dr. DiNubile is a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and chairman of the orthopedic surgery department at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pa. He is the author of the FrameWork series of health and wellness books.
Recommended anonymously
Neal S. ElAttrache, MD, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (Los Angeles). Dr. ElAttrache is a member of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic board of directors, board chairman of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Foundation and program director of the Kerlan-Jobe Fellowship. He is an orthopedic consultant for several professional sports teams.
Recommended by:
Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Anonymous: "Dr. ElAttrache is a physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has become one of the top sports surgeons for professional athletes. He is an outstanding clinician."
Sanjitipal Gill, MD, Medical Group of the Carolinas (Greer, S.C.). Dr. Gill is an orthopedic spine surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive surgery and athletic spinal injuries. He has provided medical care for the United States Olympic Ski Team and the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Michael Gleiber, MD, FAAOS, orthopedic spine surgeon (Jupiter, Fla.). Dr. Gleiber focuses on the diseases and injuries of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. He completed the The Kenton D. Leatherman Spine Surgery Fellowship. He is also spokesperson for the AAOS, a Journal of Orthopaedics & Rheumatology editor and an affiliate professor at Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine in Boca Raton.
Recommended by: Mark Fishman, DO, Westside Regional Medical Center (Weston, Fla.).
Christopher Harner, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Harner is the Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC. He focuses on sports medicine and knee surgery.
Recommended anonymously
Richard J. Hawkins, MD, Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas (Greenville, S.C). Dr. Hawkins is a founding member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society and a clinical professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He has authored several well-respected textbooks on shoulder surgery.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Laurence D. Higgins, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). Dr. Higgins is chief of the sports medicine and shoulder service at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He also serves as fellowship director of the Brigham and Women's/Massachusetts General Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship Program.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
David Jacofksy, MD, The CORE Institute (Sun City West, Ariz.). Dr. Jacofsky is the chairman of The CORE Institute. Previously, he served as assistant residency director and division director at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He has been the CEO of a number of successful start-up companies.
Recommended by: Santi Lardizabal, MD, Anesthesia Medical Professionals (Surprise, Ariz.).
Bryan Kelly, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Kelly is the head team physician for the New York Rangers and an associate team physician for the New York Giants and New York Red Bull’s MLS team. He is the chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service and co-director of the Center for Hip Preservation at HSS.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Kelly is the chief of sports medicine at HSS and a hip arthroscopy pioneer. He is arguably the best hip surgeon in the world."
Robert F. LaPrade, MD, The Steadman Clinic. Dr. LaPrade is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. He is also the Research Committee Chair for the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and on the Board of Directors of the Vail Valley Medical Center. He has been awarded "One of the Best Doctors in American" and "One of the Most Compassionate Doctors."
Recommended anonymously.
Christopher Larson, MD, Minnesota Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute (Edina). Dr. Larson is the program director for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and Minnesota Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute/Fairview Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. He also serves as the co-chairman of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Hip Preservation Course.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Larsen has done a lot of research in hip arthroscopy. He is excellent at treating older and younger patients."
L. Scott Levin, MD, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). Dr. Levine is the chief of the orthopedic surgery department at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He practices at the Penn Musculoskeletal Center. He is also the Paul D. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Orr Limpisvasti, MD, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (Los Angeles). Dr. Limpisvasti, a sports medicine surgeon, is a member of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic board of directors. He also serves as the team physician for the Anaheim Ducks. He actively participates in training orthopedic surgeons through the Kerlan-Jobe Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
Recommended anonymously. "He is a rising star in sports medicine. He is doing a lot of research and is interested in working with athletes."
Matthew Matava, MD, Washington University (St. Louis). Dr. Matava is chief of the sports medicine service at Washington University, as well as a professor of orthopedic surgery and physical therapy.
Recommended by: Dr. David Geier: Dr. Matava is:
• Orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship director at Wash U
• Team physician for the St. Louis Rams
• NFL Team Physician's Society president
• Former Publication Relation chair of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
• Current STOP Sports Injuries Outreach Committee chair
• Terrific knee surgeon - specializes in knee surgery from complex multiligament reconstructions to more straightforward meniscus and ACL surgeries.
David Mayman, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Mayman is the co-director of the HSS Computer Assisted Surgery Center. He performs hundreds of computer-navigated joint replacements each year.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Mayman is becoming a clinical and research leader in the field of computer navigated arthoplasty."
Brian McKeon, MD, Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites and New England Baptist Hospital (Roxbury Crossing, Mass.). Dr. McKeon is an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He also serves as the CMO and head team physician of the Boston Celtics. He is participating in clinical trials focused on synovitis and articular cartilage.
Recommended by: Gregory P. DeConciliis, PA-C, CASC, Administrator, Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites, Eastern Massachusetts Surgery Center (Norwood): Brian is an extremely talented surgeon, but he is also the quintessential ASC surgeon. He is very busy, performing 50 to 60 cases per month in our ASC; embodies efficiency in its purest fashion; and is extremely sensitive to cost savings and furthering the center's financial goals. He has served as medical director for a number of years, and is currently our president as well. He has served in these elected positions because of the respect his peers have for him as a leader in our ASC. Brian also is the medical director for the Boston Celtics, as well as has many high-profile athletes and TV and movie personalities under his care. Brian lectures on a national and international circuit, and is highly respected in the orthopedic community.
Finally, as strong as Brian's surgical talent is, they are not his best feature as a physician. Brian is the ultimate people person, treating every patient as if he or she were a high-profile athlete. He still calls all of his patients himself the next day after their procedure to follow-up with them. He gives patients his cell phone number. And, if you ask any member of my staff here at our surgery center, he treats everyone, whether they are a physician colleague or a medical assistant, with the utmost respect and courtesy. I rarely take the time out of my day to comment on topics such as this, however, I truly feel that what Brian has accomplished as a surgeon, and what he has accomplished here at our ASC for the past 10 years, is truly deserving of a "best orthopedic surgeon" distinction!
Mark D. Miller, MD, University of Virginia School of Medicine (Charlottesville). Dr. Miller is the S. Ward Casscells Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He is also the deputy editor of sports medicine for The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Recommended by: Charles Bush-Joseph, MD, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago).
Michael Millis, MD, Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Millis is an orthopedic surgeon and professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He practices in the Child and Young Adult Hip Preservation Program, General Orthopedic Program and Orthopedic Trauma Program.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Gregory Nicholson, MD, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago). Dr. Nicholson is a shoulder, elbow, knee and sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. He is participating in the design process of an advanced shoulder replacement system.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Nicholson is thought of as a great arthroplasty surgeon. He has done a lot of research and has an excellent clinical reputation."
Roger Ostrander, MD, Andrews Institute, Gulf Breeze, Fla. Dr. Ostrander focuses on minimally invasive shoulder, knee and elbow surgery. He is co-medical director of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Dr. Ostrander is involved in a number of research areas including arthroscopic triple rotator cuff repair.
Recommended by: Mark Lambert, DPM, Pensacola (Fla.) Foot and Ankle Center
Marc J. Philippon, MD, Steadman Clinic (Vail, Colo.). Dr. Philippon is a managing partner of The Steadman Clinic. He focuses on sports medicine and hip disorders. He also co-chairs the Steadman Philippon Research Institute.
Recommended by:
Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Anonymous: Dr. Philipon is the father of the field of hip arthroscopy and he continues to be a thought leader. He is very well-respected in his field.
Ryan Plank, MD, Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute (Crown Point, Ind.). Dr. Plank joined Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in 2011. He focuses on sports medicine, general orthopedics, upper extremity injuries and knee injuries.
Recommended by: Vicki Dekker, director of business development, Blue Chip Surgical Partners (Cincinnati).
Matthew Provencher, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Dr. Provencher is the chief of the sports medicine service at Massachusetts General Hospital and medical director of the New England Patriots. He is also a visiting professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Recommended anonymously
Anil Ranawat, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Ranawat is an assistant attending orthopedic surgeon at HSS and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. He also serves as an assistant team physician for the New York Mets and an orthopedic sports medicine consultant for the New York Rangers.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Ranawat is a lower extremity sports surgeon. He works with the New York Rangers and Mets. He also does lot research and implant design."
Ralph Rashbaum, MD, Texas Back Institute (Plano). Dr. Rashbaum is the co-founder of the Texas Back Institute. He has received the Volvo Award for low back pain research.
Recommended by: Steven Hochschuler, MD, Texas Back Institute (Plano): Both Henry Bowman and Richard Rothman's first Spine Fellow. Invented the first pedicle screw - rod system that he gave to another pioneer, Art Steffee, who owned AcroMed. In addition Ralph is one of the world experts on Dorsal Column Stimulation and has invented significant lead technology. He has had a 40 year surgical history and still is active surgically and teaching fellows.
Anthony S. Rhorer, MD, Sonoran Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Dr. Rhorer is the medical director of orthopedic trauma at Scottsdale Healthcare. He helped Scottsdale Healthcare become a Level I trauma center.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Anthony Romeo, MD, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago). Dr. Romeo is the director of the shoulder and elbow section at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He is co-team physician for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls. He has more than 20 years of experience in academic medicine.
Recommended anonymously. "He is a Chicago White Sox team physician and one of the most highly regarded shoulder surgeons."
Andrew Sama, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Sama is an associate attending orthopedic surgeon at HSS and an associate professor of clinical surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. He has many areas of focus including complex spine surgery and minimally invasive techniques
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Sama has an excellent clinical reputation for both cervical and lumbar spine conditions."
Joshua Siegel, MD, Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics (Exeter, N.H.). Dr. Siegel is the director of sports medicine at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics. He has performed surgery on professional, national and collegiate athletes. He completed his sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
Recommended by: Benjamin Thompson, MD, Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics (Exeter, N.H.).
Lance Silverman, MD, Silverman Ankle & Foot (Edina, Minn.). Dr. Silverman founded Silverman Ankle & Foot in 2004. He completed his foot and ankle surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also trained under Stephen F. Conti, MD, director of the orthopedic division of foot and ankle surgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Recommended by: Thomas Cohn, MD, CDI (St. Cloud, Minn
Stefano Sinicropi, MD, FAAOS, Midwest Brain & Spine Institute (Edina, Minn.). Dr. Sinicropi is an orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgeon. He was named the CEO and president of Midwest Brain & Spine Institute. He completed the Kenton D. Leatherman Spinal Fellowship at the University of Louisville (Ky.).
Recommended by: Lance Silverman, MD, Silverman Ankle & Foot (Edina, Minn.).
J. Richard Steadman, MD, Steadman Clinic (Vail, Colo.). Dr. Steadman is founder and managing partner of The Steadman Clinic, as well as the founder of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. He focuses on knee disorders and knee surgery.
Recommended by: Allston Stubbs, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
John C. Steinmann, DO, Arrowhead Orthopaedics (Redlands, Calif.). In addition to his practice with Arrowhead Orthopaedics, Dr. Steinmann is the director of spine trauma at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and an assistant clinical professor at Western University in Pomona, Calif.
Recommended by: Kathryn Di Stefano, RN, MSN, Advanced ASC (Redlands, Calif.): Dr. Steinmann is a practicing orthopedic spine surgeon with over 20 years' experience. He is a member in good standing of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and California Orthopedic Association. He is on the clinical faculty of Loma Linda University Medical Center and Western University of Health Sciences.
In addition to maintaining a successful practice within one of Southern California’s largest Orthopedic Groups (Arrowhead Orthopedics), he has been the driving force behind the development of many successful and innovative healthcare businesses including:
• Seven Oaks Medical Center (2004): A 50,000 square foot, class A, medical office building, imaging center, three physical therapy centers and a surgery center
• Advanced Ambulatory Surgery Center (2004): This three room surgery center performs over 2,500 orthopedic cases annually and enjoys an impeccable track record for safety and patient satisfaction.
• Inland Spine Products (2006): This innovative implant distribution company has introduced a novel alternative to traditional medical device distribution.
• Alliance Surgical Distributors (2010), a company that is dedicated to the promotion of physician owned medical device distribution. This company has developed 10 distributorships across the United States and has been influential in establishing standards to govern this model.
• Renovis Surgical Technologies (2011): Dr. Steinmann also serves as the clinical director of the spine division; combining his business experience with his relevant clinical experience and providing oversight to operations and to product design. The most recent implant to receive 510(k) clearance from the FDA in October of this year was the S134 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion System
Edwin Su, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Su practices at the HSS Center for Hip Preservation. He has been involved in clinical trials on hip resurfacing.
Recommended anonymously. "He is one of the bigger names in hip resurfacing. Dr. Su continues to be one of the more famous people in hip resurfacing and one of the best at it."
Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, Rothman Institute (Philadelphia). Dr. Vaccaro is president of Rothman Institute. He also serves as he Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman in the orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery department at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Recommended by: Kern Singh, MD, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago): Without a doubt it's Dr. Alex Vaccaro. I have known Alex for 20 years. Even to this day I am amazed by his ability to manage and juggle 20 projects, surgeries and meetings all at the same time. I was a medical student when I first met Alex. He was a junior attending. He gave me an opportunity to succeed and helped me in my career. He is an amazing mentor. On top of that he truly is a talented surgeon. I have not seen anyone operate like Alex. On top of all these qualities, he truly is a great guy and a family man. Not sure how else to summarize why he is the best, other than to say he is the best at whatever he chooses to do.
Jon J.P. Warner, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Dr. Warner is chief of the Harvard Shoulder Service and co-director of the Harvard Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Warner is a past president of the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society. He is a thought leader in field of shoulder arthroplasty."
Russell Warren, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York). Dr. Warren has been with HSS since 1977. He is an attending surgeon at HSS and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
Recommended anonymously
Robert Watkins, MD, Watkins Spine, Marina Spine Center (Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Watkins is an orthopedic spine surgeon and co-director of the Marina Spine Clinic. He is also a founding member of the North American Spine Society.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Watkins is regarded as the preeminent spine surgeon for athletes. He has the most experience in treating professional athletes for spine problems."
Gerald Williams, MD, The Rothman Institute (Philadelphia). Dr. Williams is the director of the Shoulder and Elbow Center at Rothman Institute. He focuses on shoulder replacement and shoulder arthroscopy.
Recommended anonymously. "Dr. Williams is American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society. He is highly regarded in treating people with complex shoulder conditions. He will be the 2016 to 2017 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons president."
Anthony Yeung, MD, Desert Institute for Spine Care (Phoenix). Dr. Yeung is an endoscopic spine surgeon. He developed the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System. He is also a past president of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques.
Recommended by:
Said G Osman, MD, FRCSEd (ortho), FAAOS, American Spine (Germantown, Md.): Dr. Anthony Yeung is an innovator and leader in the field of endoscopic spine surgery. Dr. Yeung has been training young surgeons the spine endoscopy techniques for over two decades and, often, was a lone voice advocating the approach to surgeons all over the world. It is partly thanks to his persistence, in the face of resistance by the mainstream surgeons, that the technology has now been embraced throughout the world for the benefit of patients and the society in general.
Susan Parker, Desert Institute for Spine Care director of business development (Phoenix): It is not always the smartest, but the most innovative and specialized surgeon that is the best, one with a proven record of solid outcomes that can be reproduced time and time again with similar results.
Dr. Anthony Yeung, a voluntary professor of neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico, appointed by Howard Yonas and their Board of Regents, and of DISC, has evolved his FDA-approved technique, the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System (YESStm), pioneered in 1995 as a method to treat painful conditions of an aging spine, and as an alternative to more invasive alternative to a fusion. This outpatient procedure allows patients a quicker recovery time, and preserves muscle and normal anatomy. The procedure is performed with only local anesthesia.
Dr. Yeung established the Yeung Endoscopic Spine Center at the University of New Mexico, his medical school Alma Mater, endorsed by Dr. Howard Yonas, Chief of Neurosurgery at UNM. Each month, he is training surgeon(s) at DISC or traveling to other countries to train other orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons in this procedure.
His vision now is to find a way to decrease the deterioration of an aging spine by focusing on treating the pain generator with the least invasive tissue sparing technique. True visionaries see things before they happen, and know the gold standard is only the standard of today but not necessarily the future. Pioneers and innovators see the future and find a way to offer patients better alternatives for better health.
James Yue, MD, Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, Conn.). Dr. Yue is the director of the Yale Spine Fellowship, co-director of the Orthopaedic Spine Service at Yale and an associated professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation. He has a research interest in non-fusion spinal care, minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery and more.
Recommended by Anthony Yeung, MD, Desert Institute of Spine Care (Phoenix): He is deserving of the nomination for his position away from fusion that dominates the spine surgery atmosphere. While many other spine leaders emphasize fusion and motion sparing techniques, the most innovative is his vision to embrace transforaminal decompression as a means to treat the pain generator as an alternative to fusion, and bringing it into an academic environment.
Joseph Zavatsky, MD, Florida Orthopaedic Institute (Tampa). Dr. Zavatsky has served as the director of the Spine, Scoliosis & Deformity Institute at at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute. He is a member of several professional organizations including the International Spine Study Group, Scoliosis Research Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He completed his fellowship training at the Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi in Milano, Italy.
Recommended by:
Neil Duplantier, MD, orthopedic surgeon (New Orleans).
Brad Waddell, MD, chief resident, Ochsner Clinic Foundation Orthopaedic Surgery (New Orleans).
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