The Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine at Columbia University is world-renowned. Dr. Charles S. Neer, revered as the “father of modern shoulder surgery” for his pioneering contributions to this field, founded Columbia’s original Shoulder Service in the 1950s. Dr. Neer’s contributions to the field are enormous and include performing the first total shoulder replacement, creating the classification system for proximal humerus fractures, and developing the acromioplasty procedure for impingement syndrome and the capsular shift procedure for glenohumeral instability. After Dr. Neer retired in 1990, the Shoulder Service added specialists in sports medicine and athletic injuries to expand our expertise and create the “Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine.”

The Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine offers treatment for a wide spectrum of shoulder and elbow abnormalities. Procedures are tailored to address conditions ranging from common problems such as impingement to the complex reconstructions for arthritis, fractures, instability, and rotator cuff tears.

The Center combines clinical orthopedic surgery, rehabilitative sports medicine, physical and occupational therapy, and clinical and basic science research to provide the most advanced treatment to our patients. Elite Athletes, dedicated amateurs, and weekend warriors suffering from injury share a common goal: returning to their sport as soon as possible and at the same level that they enjoyed prior to the injury. Many injuries, that at one time would have been career-ending, are now effectively treated.

The Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine works closely with athletic trainers and physical therapists to improve the identification and prevention of sports injuries. Our intercollegiate ACL prevention program is a prime example of this close collaboration. Injured patients also benefit from the collaboration between physical therapists and physicians in the development and supervision of an accelerated treatment for every patient. We combine modality treatment such as transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (for pain relief, ease of swelling, and decreased stiffness) with physical rehabilitation utilizing isokinetic machines for strengthening the back, arms, and legs. Therapists individually enhance proprioception through neuromuscular facilitation exercise regiments.

Dr. Levine enters his 9th year as the Head Team Physician for the 29 varsity athletic teams of Columbia University. Dr. Ahmad serves as Head Team Physician for the 17 varsity teams fielded by the City College of New York, and our physicians also take care of several local high schools in Manhattan and New Jersey. Our Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine physicians continue active research and educational activities on local, regional, national, and international levels to maintain leadership in the care of our patients.

In 2006, Dr. Levine was just named Deputy Editor of the Shoulder and Elbow section of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).

Click here to view Dr. Ahmad's Center for Shoulder, Elbow & Sports Medicine brochure

Click here to view Dr. Ahmad's Elbow MCL Reconstruction Techniques video presentation

Click here to view Drs. Levine, Ahmad & Blaine's "Minimally Invasive Shoulder and Elbow Surgery" book cover

Click here to view the Guide to Total Shoulder Replacement