From the Chiefs
Welcome to Columbia Orthopedics/New York Orthopedic Hospital (NYOH). Founded on the pioneering work of Drs. Harrison McLaughlin, Russell Hibbs, Frank Stinchfield, Robert Carroll, Charles Neer, and Louis Bigliani, the department exemplifies the very best in orthopedic patient care, education, and leadership. Under our current Chair, Dr. William Levine, a world-renowned shoulder surgeon, our rich legacy continues to thrive.
Our residency leadership, directed by Drs. Jobin and Neuwirth, is committed to the best resident experience. Our clinical faculty and mentors at NYOH work closely with us every day in various settings, including the office, the operating room, and didactic conferences. Our attendings are dedicated to providing the best education to residents, enabling us to develop into exceptional physicians and surgeons. Learning from international leaders in orthopedic subspecialties, we engage in stimulating discussions and tackle complex cases. Our faculty continuously challenge us to seize every learning opportunity. The strong bonds we form with our faculty endure beyond residency, a testament to their unwavering dedication.
In addition to clinical education, our residents have ample opportunities to conduct research at the highest level during their training. There are endless opportunities to investigate orthopedic problems through basic science, animal models, clinical studies, large database-related research and beyond. Our faculty, including full-time dedicated PhD faculty, help integrate the residents into research projects and develop the skills to critically evaluate literature and become successful clinician-scientists. Many of our residents have been awarded highly competitive grants to carry out their research projects. Our dedicated 6-year research track resident has additional opportunities to further their research goals with a multitude of mentors and diverse projects. With this combination of clinical and academic training, residents are able to become confident, thoughtful, skilled physicians and surgeons who consistently match at the most prestigious fellowships in the country.
Lastly, NYOH has a distinguished legacy of prioritizing diversity and equity within our orthopedic surgery residency program. We take immense pride in the accomplished residents who have undergone training here and the culture we have created. Columbia's environment fosters inclusivity and ensures that all physicians feel welcomed as they pursue their education in orthopedic surgery. Our commitment to transforming the landscape of healthcare is unwavering. We proudly serve as an Nth dimension sponsor and actively participate in initiatives such as the Perry Initiative and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS), where Dr. Christen Russo, one of our attendings, currently serves as President.
We believe firmly that the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NYOH offers the strongest orthopedic surgery training program in the country. We are proud of the incredible accomplishments of each of our residents and can’t wait to see where their careers will take them. We invite you to learn more about the residents and our program through our website or during a clinical rotation with us!
I chose Columbia/NYOH for the people I work with, the clinical training, and the knowledge that I would become a superb physician and surgeon by being here for residency. Every day I work with caring, committed people who are passionate about what they do and enjoy doing it. Each subspecialty has a group of faculty mentors I can go to for clinical, academic, or life advice. The clinical training is thorough and guided by comprehensive knowledge of our field. It consists of caring for the orthopedic patient from the moment he or she enters the office or emergency department to completion of operative or non-operative treatment. The academic opportunities are amazing and extensive. My co-residents present at national meetings, publish in top journals, and take jobs that put them in position to be leaders. Finally, living in New York City is like nothing else. There are endless adventures to choose from. In considering Columbia/NYOH Orthopedic Surgery Residency, I have said this before and I’ll say it again - there’s no better place to train!
Dr. Nicholas Danford ‘22
As a medical student at Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, I had the opportunity to work with the orthopedics department prior to the residency application process. I chose to stay at Columbia/NYOH because of the residents and faculty I met along the way. The faculty are diverse, not only in their demographics but in the ways in which they approach both clinical practice and research. Many are not just nationally recognized leaders in their subspecialty but also known for their work in health policy, diversity in orthopedics, and quality improvement. Despite their busy schedules, they are all genuinely interested in resident education and mentorship. From thoughtful rotation feedback over coffee to an early morning meeting to discuss fellowship applications, they put in the time, energy and effort so that we get the most from our residency.
My co-residents are similarly impressive – not only in their professional accolades but in their willingness to work, collaborative spirit, and in the potential they have as future leaders in orthopedics. There is nothing better than colleagues who have your back, are fun to learn with, and push you to become better at what you do every day. That sentiment runs through the residency, across the department, and continues on with program alumni. We refer to ourselves as the Columbia Orthopedics family and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.
Dr. Elise Bixby ‘21