Fifth Year

2024 Residency Class

  • Jamie E. Confino, MD

    Fellowship: Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of California - San Francisco
    Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    Undergraduate: Duke University

    Why did you choose Columbia orthopedics?

    The people of Columbia Orthopedics are incredible and what make this place so special! It was immediately apparent that the residents and faculty weren't just coworkers, but a family who really looked after each other and worked together as a great team. The mentors at Columbia can't be beat and will support you not just during residency, but throughout your whole career. The opportunities are endless here and will allow you to succeed no matter what your goals and aspirations are!

    What is your favorite bone?

    Tibia

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Australia

    Where are you from?

    Long Island, NY

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    Gotham Bar & Grill

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Skiing, soccer, running with my Shiba Inu!

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    The Notorious B.I.G.

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    The Notorious B.I.G.

    Favorite night float snack?

    String Cheese

  • Josephine R. Coury, MD

    Fellowship: Advanced Adult and Pediatric Spine Fellowship, Columbia University
    Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
    Undergraduate: Dartmouth College

    Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

    After all my rotations and interviews, Columbia stood out to me as the best orthopedic residency in the country. First, at Columbia I instantly felt like part of a team and family. Columbia fosters a collaborative, friendly environment between attendings, fellows, and residents that is the best way to learn. My co-residents have become my closest friends and my support system. In addition, mentorship is a huge part of this program and we have world-renowned mentors in every orthopaedic specialty! Furthermore, as a woman in orthopaedic surgery, I wanted to be a part of a program with a long-standing history of women and diversity. No other program can compare to the advocacy and support we have as women in orthopedics at Columbia. I'm excited everyday walking into the hospital at Columbia – our learning, our research, and our culture are unparalleled. I am proud to be part of the incredible Columbia family.

    What is your favorite bone?

    T12

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Hualien, Taiwan

    Where are you from?

    Olympia, Washington

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    Shuko and Empanada Mama

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Brunch

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    San Holo Radio

    Favorite night float snack?

    Makana Salmon Avocado Poke Bowl and Grapefruit Spindrift

     

  • Lynn Ann Forrester, MD

    • Six-Year Research Track

    Fellowship: Hand Fellowship, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
    Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
    Undergraduate: Brown University

    Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

    I chose Columbia Orthopedics because of the residency program’s culture, high quality teaching, and outstanding research opportunities. I did not rotate at Columbia. However, within minutes of walking into the interview dinner, I felt completely at ease with the other residents. The residents clearly enjoyed spending time with each other outside of the hospital. Then, on interview day, I was impressed by the residents’ insatiable intellectual curiosity and overall enthusiasm for their work. Even on interview day, a day off from clinical duties for many of them, the residents were discussing new reduction maneuvers they had tried that week or sharing tips on how to use a new TKA system. Their passion for orthopedic surgery and desire to achieve excellence both as surgeons and physicians was palpable.

    I was also impressed by the residents’ and attendings’ devotion to teaching. Even within the few hours I spent with the faculty on interview day, it was apparent that they all enjoyed teaching residents and medical students. All of the faculty were enthusiastically responsive to my questions about their recent interesting cases and active research projects. Now as a junior resident, I continue to learn from my attendings on a daily basis; no matter what time of day or night it is, each time we discuss a new consult or an OR case, Columbia attendings are always ready to share tips about how to troubleshoot during a case or discuss active relevant research in an effort to help me grow as an orthopedic surgeon.

    Finally, one of the most significant reasons why I chose Columbia was the outstanding research opportunities made available to residents. The Columbia 6-year research track is unique when compared to other research tracks because on your first day, you are asked “what research questions do you want to answer?” At many other programs, you are often placed in a lab position or clinical research position without being given much autonomy or choice over what you will research. At Columbia, you are given the time and mentoring support to think of questions you want to answer about orthopedics, and then are given the resources to answer them.

    You are also given complete control over whether you choose to pursue basic science, translational or clinical research. I was most interested in pursuing basic science and translational research, so I worked with my mentors to put together a successful OREF grant application for my basic science project during my first few months at Columbia.  Then, to complete my project, I collaborated with scientists across multiple departments both at the medical center and the undergraduate campus. The collaborative mentality at Columbia is unique, and highly conducive to producing singularly innovative research. Thanks to Columbia’s collegial academic environment, over the course of my research year and my first few years at Columbia, I have been able to publish basic science, translational and clinical research projects on a wide range of topics, all focused on significantly improving the clinical practice of orthopedic surgery.

    I chose Columbia and would choose Columbia again and again because I was given the intellectual freedom and support to pursue my research interests.  I plan to continue to use the incredible resources at Columbia to build my body of research with the intent of becoming an independently-funded clinician-scientist in the future.

    What is your favorite bone?

    Scapula

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Porto, Portugal

    Where are you from?

    Pound Ridge, NY

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    Mighty Quinn's BBQ

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Running, not killing my plants

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    John Legend feat. Notorious RBG

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    Francis and the Lights

    Favorite night float snack?

    Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and $1 pizza

     

  • Justin E. Hellwinkel, MD

    Fellowship: Trauma Fellowship, University of Maryland - Shock Trauma Center Orthopaedic Traumatology
    Medical School: University of Colorado Boulder
    Undergraduate: University of Colorado School of Medicine

    Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

    Columbia Orthopedics offers endless opportunities for residents to develop surgical skills, engage in cutting-edge research, and hone clinical decision making abilities. The mentorship at this program in unparalleled by any other, starting with the department chair, our excellent program directors, and all the clinical faculty. All members of the department are invested in educating the residents to become the best surgeons in the country by the time we graduate. We have a standard of excellence that pushes every resident to continue improving their skills in the operating room and the clinic. Our research opportunities are enhanced by dedicated research faculty in our basic science and biomechanics labs and with the incredible interdepartmental collaboration within the Columbia network. The NYOH family provides support and opportunities for all residents to pursue their career goals and foster lifelong relationships with one other.

    What is your favorite bone?

    Femur

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Cabo Froward, Patagonia

    Where are you from?

    North Salem, NY

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    Ferrara’s Bakery

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Hiking

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    Trampled By Turtles at Red Rocks Amphitheater

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    Hip Hop BBQ

    Favorite night float snack?

    Mint Chocolate Clif Bar

  • Daniel Y. Hong, MD

    Fellowship: Hand Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis
    Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis

    Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

    Many of you reading this now are probably drawn to Columbia Orthopedics for some of the same reasons I was: prestige, legacy, and an opportunity to train in New York City. I hope you ultimately put Columbia #1 on your list for the same reasons I did as well: family atmosphere among the residents, learning from world class attendings, and a chance to set yourself up for whatever fellowship and career you want. Whether it is Tuesday Sports Indication conference, an add on hip fracture at the Allen hospital, or research conferences at the Trauma Training Center, there is always learning and teaching going on at every level, from medical students to residents to faculty. The staggering amount of resources and mentorship available to the residents is why we match into THE top fellowships every year. One of my favorite sayings is, “the decision is more important than the incision”. At Columbia Orthopedics, you learn to do both. I am extraordinarily blessed to continue my education here, and I strongly encourage you to do whatever you can to join our NYOH family.

    What is your favorite bone?

    Scaphoid

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Barcelona/Tokyo

    Where are you from?

    Boston (go Pats!)

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    The halal cart on Fort Washington

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Cooking so I can eat

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    The cast from High School Musical

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    Summer Hits of the 2000s

    Favorite night float snack?

    Coffee

  • John D. Mueller, MD

    Fellowship: Sports Medicine Fellowship, OrthoCarolina
    Medical School: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    Undergraduate: Notre Dame

    Why did you choose Columbia Orthopedics?

    Three reasons: The people, the location, and the advocacy. I was fortunate to be exposed to the residents early on in medical school and quickly realized they were unmatched in collegiality and that I would fit very well with the various personalities within the program. I was also drawn to the fact that Columbia residency would mean the opportunity to spend 5 more years in the greatest city in the world. Finally, my interactions with Dr. Levine and Dr. Jobin as a medical student and the stories I heard describing the lengths they will go to see their residents succeed sealed the deal for me.

    What is your favorite bone?

    Clavicle

    What's the best place you have traveled?

    Solomon Islands

    Where are you from?

    California/Indonesia/Canada/Montana

    Favorite restaurant in NYC?

    Casa Enrique

    Favorite activity outside of work?

    Watching Notre Dame Football

    Dream concert (even if band not together or alive)?

    Anderson .Paak

    Best Pandora station for the OR?

    CCR

    Favorite night float snack?

    Scandinavian Swimmers