William N. Levine, MD
Overview
William N. Levine, MD is a nationally and globally renowned specialist in arthroscopic and open shoulder, elbow, and knee surgery, and sports medicine. He is Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he holds the Frank E. Stinchfield Professorship in Orthopedic Surgery and serves as Chief of the Orthopedics Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Levine previously served the Department as Vice Chairman for Education, Residency and Fellowship Director, Chief of the Shoulder Service, and Co-Director of the Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine.
In 2024, Dr. Levine was awarded the inaugural American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Foundation's Founders Legacy Award in Leadership honoring Dr. Louis U. Bigliani. The peer-nominated awards recognize outstanding members who demonstrate the core characteristics of the organizations original founders: Leadership, Service, Diversity and Mentorship.
After serving as Head Team Physician for Columbia University athletics for 25 years, Dr. Levine retired from the role in late-2023. Under his guidance, the department's surgeons also function as Team Physicians for the New York Yankees, the Rockland Boulders, Fordham University, Manhattan College, City College of New York, as well as over 25 high schools. Dr. Levine is a consultant for the National Hockey League Players' Association and chairs the Shoulder and Elbow subcommittee for the National Football League. As a former teaching tennis professional and the starting goalie for Stanford University's club hockey team, Dr. Levine is passionate about sports medicine and dedicated to patient care. He has been named a “Top Doctor in Sports Medicine” by Castle Connolly and New York Magazine, and one of the top 25 shoulder surgeons in the United States by Orthopedics This Week.
Dr. Levine is a past member of the Executive Committee of the American Orthopedic Association, the world’s first orthopedic association and the organization primarily responsible for the development of orthopedics as a discipline separate from general surgery. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the governing body overseeing licensure and training of orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Levine is the Editor-in-Chief Emeritus for the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He also received the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon's Traveling Fellowship. Dr. Levine is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Herodicus Society, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. He has made substantial contributions to research, having published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, written over 50 book chapters, edited 11 textbooks, and given over 400 scientific presentations in the United States and abroad. He holds multiple patents and research grants.
A native of Fargo, North Dakota, he received a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve. He was a resident in orthopedic surgery at Tufts Medical Center and held fellowships at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in Shoulder Surgery and the University of Maryland in Sports Medicine. He joined Columbia's Department of Orthopedic Surgery in 1998, became Residency Director in 2002, and in 2006 was awarded the Charles S. Neer, M.D. Teacher of the Year Award for his enthusiasm, passion, and dedication to resident education. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two daughters.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Adolescent Sports Injuries
- Arthroscopic Debridement of Elbow
- Arthroscopic Debridement of Shoulder
- Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
- Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
- Arthroscopy
- Arthroscopy of Shoulder
- Chronic Tendon Disorder
- Disorder of Ligament
- Disorder of Ligament of Shoulder
- Disorder of Shoulder Joint
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Disorder
- Elbow Fracture
- Elbow Fracture Surgery
- Elbow Joint Pain
- Elbow Pain
- Elbow Problem
- Elbow Surgery
- Frozen Shoulder
- Golfer's Elbow
- Joint Pain
- Jumper's Knee
- Knee Arthroscopy
- Knee Injury
- Knee Ligament Reconstructions
- Knee Problem
- Labral Tear of Shoulder
- Meniscus Tear
- Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Patellar Tendonitis
- Plasmapheresis
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Rotator Cuff Surgery
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- Runner's Knee
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Disorder
- Shoulder Fracture Surgery
- Shoulder Injury
- Shoulder Instability
- Shoulder Joint Instability
- Shoulder Joint Replacement
- Shoulder Pain
- Shoulder Problem
- Shoulder Reconstruction
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- Shoulder Surgery
- Shoulder Tendinitis
- Shoulder Tendonitis
- Shoulder Trauma Surgery
- Sports Injuries
- Sports Injury
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Sports Medicine Rehabilitation
- Tendonitis
- Tendon Repairs
- Tennis Elbow
Academic Appointments
- Frank E. Stinchfield Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Chief, Shoulder Service
- Co-Director, Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine
- Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
- NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
Languages
- Spanish
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- NY Signature
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- HMO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- NYP Employee Plan
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicare Managed Care
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
Workers Compensation
- Workers Comp-ACS Dept. of Labor
- Workers Comp-Board of NY
- Workers Comp-FDNY
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine
- Internship: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- Residency: New England Medical Center-TUFTS University
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System
Board Certifications
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery
Honors & Awards
2001 - Present
- "Top Doctor: Sports Medicine" Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.
- "Top Doctor: Sports Medicine" New York Magazine
Research
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov