Over the past year, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery has achieved significant and sustained progress across every metric. This progress is underpinned by a shared mission – to contribute to our patients, our community, our profession, and our fund of knowledge.  It reflects who we are collectively; a department of providers, caregivers, researchers, administrative assistants, administrators, support staff and more, all of whom come together to deliver outstanding musculoskeletal care, to strengthen our research portfolio, and to advance our educational contributions. It highlights a deeply collaborative culture within our department and institution, one grounded in shared purpose and a steadfast pursuit of excellence. 

This year our program placed #21 in the US News and World Report annual rankings out of approximately 1,640 nationally evaluated programs.   While our program has previously placed within the top tier of national programs, this rating positions our program within the top 1% of all orthopedic surgery programs in the nation, reflecting not only the department’s consistently outstanding care, but our ongoing efforts to evolve and improve.  

The Montefiore Einstein Joint Replacement Program has again been awarded Joint Commission Certification for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement, reaffirming the extraordinary care provided by one of the most comprehensive and high-volume programs in the region.  The program, housed within the Wakefield campus, remains the first and only Magnet Hospital in the Bronx.  Healthgrades, a platform which delivers data-driven ratings and consumer information, has bestowed several important distinctions to the program in 2025, including:

• One of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement in 2025 
• Recipient of the Healthgrades 2025 Joint Replacement Excellence Award 
• Among the Healthgrades Top 10% in the Nation for Joint Replacement
• Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement for 10 Years in a Row
• 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Excellence
• Among the Healthgrades Top 5% in the Nation for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Excellence

 Additionally, we continue to serve as a regional referral center, receiving inpatient transfers from more than 25 hospitals and managing some of the most complex surgical cases, including complex revisions, musculoskeletal infections, post-traumatic reconstructions, musculoskeletal tumors, pediatric trauma and limb lengthening procedures. 

Our contribution to the community and to our patients has continued to increase in both scope and volume. Our department collectively saw over 205,000 outpatient care visits in the Bronx with over 100,000 additional patients in the Hudson Valley locations.  We performed over 8750 surgeries and managed nearly 260,000 patient calls through our call center.   

This year we have seen our ranks swell to 57 physicians and 59 physician extenders, providing depth and expertise across all orthopedic and podiatric divisions. As our faculty continues to grow, we not only increase our depth and expertise, but we advance our capability to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. We proudly welcome:

 

• Daniel C. Berman, MD (Spine) 
• Matthew D. Chong, MD (Spine) 
• Anna R. Cooper, MD, MPH (Orthopedic Oncology) 
• Taikhoom M. Dahodwala, MD (Spine) 
• Kamal S. Farha, DPM (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery) 
• Lynn Ann Forrester, MD (Hand and Upper Extremity) 
• Jeffrey Henstenburg, MD (Pediatric Orthopedics) 
• Ethan Krell, MD (Sports Medicine) 
• Dae Y. Lee, DPM (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery) 

 

We opened the Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle offices, bringing the total number of outpatient locations to 12, serving areas from Manhattan through Westchester.  We now serve as the exclusive orthopedic surgery providers to Mt Vernon, perform both inpatient and outpatient surgeries across several subspecialties, and are planning an office expansion soon.  These efforts are aimed at bringing our department’s musculoskeletal expertise closer to our patients and into their communities, to make our services even more accessible for our valued patients and their families.  At the same time, we have embarked on two major renovation and expansion projects in the Bronx, which are both expected to be completed within 12 months.  Our renovation and modernization of MAP 6 as well as state-of-the-art sports-medicine expansion at the Hutch Metro Center, both aim to provide timely access to care, and a healthcare experience our patients deserve.

Our residency program has never been more competitive, with over 500 applications this year alone for the seven slots. application numbers reaching unprecedented levels. For the past three years, our residents’ OITE scores have placed us in the top 30% nationally, underscoring both the exceptional caliber of our trainees and the dedication of our faculty.  The recently added 7th resident has allowed for flexibility in the program and early exposure to hand surgery which has improved the resident experience as a whole. We continue to offer accredited fellowships in several subspecialties including Shoulder, Joint Replacement, Musculoskeletal Oncology, Pediatric Orthopedics, and Hand and Upper Extremity.  

This past year, we were honored to host the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society’s Traveling Fellowship and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand’s International Travelling Fellowship. These prestigious programs brought together leading experts from around the world and reinforced our department’s role as a leader in orthopedic education and innovation.  We now serve as an international destination for surgeons and healthcare providers at all stages of training, a testament to our recognized expertise and our longstanding dedication to advancing education, mentorship, and leadership in the field.

This year’s achievements reflect the strength of our academic foundation and the excellence of our clinical practice. I am grateful for the extraordinary efforts of our faculty, staff, and trainees, and I look ahead with great confidence. By advancing innovation, expanding access, and maintaining the highest standards of care, we will continue to elevate our role as a leader in musculoskeletal health and provide exceptional, patient-centered care.

 

Neil J. Cobelli, MD
Chairman and Professor
Montefiore Einstein Orthopedic Surgery