The Civil War was still being waged when Dr. James Knight and philanthropist Robert M. Hartley fought for something quite different: an orthopedic hospital dedicated to the needs of disabled people.

Opened in a private home in New York City on 42nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues with 28 beds and an infinite amount of compassion, the private home grew to become HSS, the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health.

In the 157 years since its founding, medicine has evolved, surgery has advanced but one thing will never change: our commitment to excellence above all else.

Why the need for a clinic dedicated to sports medicine? That’s a question Dr. John Marshall answered when he founded the Sports Medicine Clinic in 1971. Dedicated to the specialized needs of athletic injuries and prevention, today the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS is the preeminent name in the field.

Watch the video to see how the the Sports Medicine Institute continues to advance the profession every day.

Researcher, clinician, surgeon and teacher, Dr. Marshall founded the Service for Orthopedic Sports Medicine at HSS, the forerunner of today’s Sports Medicine Institute. Much of what is known today about the function and importance of the ACL, and early attempts to repair this ligament, can be attributed to Dr. John Marshall.

A pioneer and leader in the field of Sports Medicine, Dr. Marshall counted Team Physician to the New York Giants football team and team physician of the US Olympic ski team among his many professional appointments.  Chief of the Hospital’s Comparative Orthopedics Laboratory, his research was devoted to the studies of pathomechanics of ligamentous injuries of the knee and their long-term effects.

In addition to his work with professional athletes, Dr. Marshall worked to improve the conditioning and preventative injury programs in use at New York City’s Public School Athletic League and Cornell’s Ithaca campus and was recognized for his work in establishing and financing research programs in athletic injuries. Tragically, Dr. Marshall died in 1980 when a private plane taking him to the Winter Olympics crashed in Lake Placid.

Dissatisfied with the risk of nerve palsy, John Insall, Phd, began to look for alternative knee replacement techniques, and with the help of biomechanical engineer Peter Burstein, Phd, the two developed the first posterior stabilized knee prosthesis, a technique that preserved tendons and increased stability. As Insall later noted, it was the ideal solution to a difficult problem, and another triumph in the Institute’s quest to provide patients with the most advanced orthopedics available anywhere.

Surgeon, mentor and team player, Dr. Russell Warren was instrumental in helping to establish sports medicine at HSS. Under his tutelage, countless physicians and surgeons were trained in the rigors and intricacies of the field.

As team physician for the New York Giants, Dr. Warren, through surgery and injury prevention, helped some of the biggest names in football find their way back to game day.

With over 50% of all team doctors in the U.S. having trained at HSS, the Sports Medicine Institute is the overwhelming choice of professional sports teams everywhere, and the undisputed leaders in sports medicine. On or off the field, the ice, or the court, HSS doctors, surgeons, trainers and therapists are in a league of their own.

Scott Rodeo
Russell Warren
James Kindernecht
Sam Taylor
Bryan Kelly
David Altchek

HSS is a pioneer in the field of Sports Medicine, and one of the reasons why is a its collaborative approach of highly skilled professionals including physical therapists, athletic trainers, and physicians who work closely with patients. With a dual focus on research and clinical care, the Center developed a personalized and evidence-based therapy program that best meets patients’ needs and goals while reducing the risk of sports-related injuries.

Few people can boast a 31-year career with the New York Giants, but Dr. Russell Warren can. Former surgeon-in-chief at HSS and past president of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Dr. Warren was on the sidelines for the Giants during all five of their Super Bowl appearances. Earlier in his career, Dr. Warren was signed as a player for the Giants but was later cut. It turned out to be a great call as he enrolled in medical school, and the rest is history.

A one-year fellowship, it is designed to offer clinical experience and expertise in the recognition and management of athletic injuries. Throughout the year, fellows work alongside 17 Primary Sports Medicine attending doctors, gaining broad exposure to sports medicine including injury prevention strategies, injury evaluation and diagnosis, restoration of function through rehabilitation and other nonsurgical means, and the role of a team physician.

There is no better credential in sports medicine than team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to an athlete’s injuries in the moment and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians, like the highly esteemed Dr. Thomas Wickiewicz, serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because they are the best in the field.

Dr. David Altchek joined the Mets in 1992, caring for big name stars including Doc Gooden and Bobby Bonilla. The consummate pro, his background includes five years as assistant director of medicine for the United States Tennis Open and five years as team orthopedist of the New York Giants. As director of medical services for the Mets, Dr. Altchek oversaw the team’s medical staff and instituted a strengthening program, not just for injuries, but to prevent them.

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others, with HSS faculty elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty. Of further note, Dr. Warren is the only individual to serve as president of two sports medicine societies. (Dr. Lawrence Gulotta)

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others, with HSS faculty elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty. Of further note, Dr. Warren is the only individual to serve as president of two sports medicine societies.

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others. With HSS faculty elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty, Dr. Edward V. Craig exemplifies our standards and tradition.

Founded in 1997, the HSS Women’s Sports Medicine Center (WSMC) was the first of its kind in the United States and offers a multidisciplinary center for female athletes with a team of clinicians including physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, physical therapist and sports psychologists. (Dr. Jo Hannafin)

Twenty-six years after the last American troops were pulled, Dr. Brian Halpern was one of 80 men and women, able bodied and disabled, veterans and non-veterans alike who rode from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Once enemy territory, there were now crowds cheering them on along the way as they raised $200,000 for a new orthotics facility in Hanoi. As one veteran choking back tears said, “We all ride the same road.” (Dr. Brian Halpern)

After performing his first Osteochondral Allograft Transplantion Surgery (OATS) in 1998, Dr. Riley Williams, a highly regarded HSS sports medicine surgeon found it remarkable that “pain relief and the return of basic knee function happened almost instantaneously.” By replacing damaged knee cartilage with healthy cartilage from a donor, movement and function were restored. The technique allowed a return to sport at rates as high as 88%, as documented in the HSS Cartilage Registry.

Established in 1998, the HSS Cartilage Registry serves as an invaluable data collection system designed to track the progress of patient volunteers. Clinical data from more than 1400 patients treated for articular cartilage injury have been collected and orthopedic sports medicine specialists at HSS continue to enroll new patients. As more data is collected, treatments, follow-up care and outcomes are improved.

Taking knee care to the next level and beyond, the HSS Institute for Cartilage Repair was founded in 2003 and focuses on the treatment of symptomatic cartilage. Developed by a skilled group of clinicians in response to growing clinical needs for more durable cartilage and meniscal repair procedures, its multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiologists, clinicians, physical therapists, and researchers offer the latest in surgical treatment, diagnostic imaging, and clinical outcomes research. Like everything at HSS, the Institute’s scope is comprehensive, offering patients a superior resource.

There is no better credential in sports medicine than team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to athlete’s injuries in the moment, and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because, like Dr. Scott Rodeo, they are the best in the field. (Dr. Scott Rodeo)

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others. Highly esteemed HSS faculty, like Dr. David Dines, have been elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty.

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others. Highly esteemed HSS faculty, like Dr. Thomas Wickiewicz, have been elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty.

Named a Best Doctor in New York City every year since 2006, Dr. Williams was a resident and fellow in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at HSS where he began his practice. His clinical interests in ACL, PCL and elbow ligament reconstruction led him to professional team sports as the Head Physician for the Brooklyn Nets and New York Red Bulls. He is also the Director of the Institute for Cartilage Repair at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan as well as an attending surgeon at the HSS Sports Medicine Institute. (Dr. Riley Williams)

Few people have had the impact that Dr. Russell Warren has had on sports medicine and HSS. A shoulder specialist, and former surgeon-in-chief, Dr. Warren was director of the soft tissue research laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery. The laboratory pioneers and advances more effective treatments for the millions of patients affected by debilitating musculoskeletal injuries. Discoveries from this lab have made progress toward better treatments that reduce pain and restore mobility for patients with soft tissue injuries like rotator cuff and knee cartilage injuries. To ensure that this area of study continues in perpetuity, HSS established the Russell F. Warren Research Chair in soft tissue research. (Dr. Russell Warren)

There is no better credential in sports medicine than team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to athlete’s injuries in the moment, and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because they are the best in the field. (Dr. Jo Hannafin)

There is no better credential in sports medicine than team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to athlete’s injuries in the moment, and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because they are the best in the field. (Dr. Beth Shubin Stein)

As the team physician for the New York Rangers, Dr. Kelly will tell you that his most valuable training was spent learning the field of sports medicine on the sideline at Giants Stadium.

It was there that he learned how to get professional athletes back on the field. It’s the same rigor and understanding that he brings to the Rangers, and to every one of the patients he treats outside of professional sports.

Dr. Brian Halpern, the first nonsurgical, fellowship-trained and board-certified sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery, founded the Primary Sports Medicine Program at HSS, and served as its first Chief of Service for seven years. A pioneer in the non-operative approach to acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems, Dr. Halpern is a nationally recognized leader in the field. His vision of how sports medicine can impact research, education, and patient care is exemplified by his role as a Founder of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, now the largest organization of sports medicine physicians and team physicians in the US. In addition, Dr. Halpern served as President, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) in 2000 and 2010, and has been a leader in developing research and clinical practices in the use of orthobiologics.

(Dr. Brian Halpern)

The Hip Preservation Fellowship offers an extensive and well-rounded clinical experience in recognition and management of hip pain in the young, active adult hip. Fellows gain concentrated specialization on hip preservation, from injury prevention strategies, injury evaluation and diagnosis to restoration of function through rehabilitation or surgical means. They also increase their understanding of structural abnormalities in the hip and early diagnosis techniques, which, in turn are will be used to inform the appropriate treatment plan for each individual patient. Both open and arthroscopic joint preservation surgical treatment options are covered in this Fellowship program. (Dr. Anil Ranawat)

There is no better credential in sports medicine than a team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to athlete’s injuries in the moment, and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because they are the best in the field. (Dr. Russell Warren)

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others. Highly esteemed HSS faculty, like Dr. John P. Difiori, have been elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty.

 A search for the answer to the often-asked question, “How can we eliminate knee pain”?, led to the establishment of the Patellofemoral Center, a dedicated unit devoted to dislocations, instability and debilitating knee pain. The physicians at the Patellofemoral Center at HSS specialize in the management of kneecap pain and deterioration, as well as the surgical interventions that can help heal and regain mobility. Using the latest technology and increasingly less-invasive methods, specialists offer many years of experience diagnosing and treating patients to provide optimal care for patients’ specific needs.

Dr. Bryan T. Kelly is Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director at Hospital for Special Surgery. A specialist in sports medicine injuries and arthroscopic and open surgical management of non-arthritic disorders around the hip, he is the founder of the Hip Preservation Service. Using a multi-disciplined approach to the understanding of hip pain and treatment, patients benefit from the expertise of a wide variety of healthcare professionals including orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, and a multitude of musculoskeletal experts and clinical researchers. These options often involve minimally invasive treatments to help patients get back to their chosen activities and, in some cases, reduce the need for more extensive surgeries. Dr. Kelly has a faculty appointment at Weill Cornell Medical College and medical staff appointments at HSS and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He cares for several sports teams serving as Head Team Physician for the New York Rangers, Orthopedic Consultant for UFC, Associate Team Physician for the New York Giants, the New York Red Bull’s MLS team, and several collegiate teams in the tristate region. (Dr. Bryan Kelly)

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) designated HSS as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence (FMCoE), one of only three hospitals in the United States to receive this distinction. “The Sports Medicine profession has made great strides in how we evaluate and treat sports injuries in professional athletes,” explained Riley J. Williams, lll, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon and member of the Sports Medicine Service at HSS. “Soccer is global and the number one sport played by young athletes. This designation by FIFA gives sports medicine at HSS the vehicle to focus on soccer and continue to have a positive impact on the injuries associated with the sport.”

There is no better credential in sports medicine than team physician. As a subspecialty, it demands tending to athlete’s injuries in the moment, and getting them back in the game, safely and responsibly as soon as possible. HSS sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians for over 30 professional sports teams, colleges and organizations because they are the best in the field. (Dr. Riley Williams)

In 2013, Chris Weidman was the MMA middleweight champion of the world, but fighting two bad knees had him down for the count. Instead of taking chances, Chris connected with Dr. Answorth Allen of the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS. Together, they came up with a plan that took Chris from pre-surgery to rehab, and to regaining the title. Reflecting on his outcome, Chris said, “Winning the title the first time was great, but winning it back was the proudest moment in my career.”

Created in 2015 with a grant from HSS board member James Dinan and his wife, Elizabeth Miller, the HSS Sports Safety Program was founded to reduce the risk of ACL injury by providing movement education workshops, community presentations and online classes. The Youth Sports Safety Program currently offers free workshops for coaches, parents, and young athletes. It offers free professional development classes for physical education teachers as part of its Healthy Play Initiative. Since its first event in 2016, the Program has delivered hundreds of on-site workshops at schools and sports organizations throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. These free workshops are highly interactive, engaging, and participants receive specialized instruction and real-time feedback from a highly regarded team of educators. In addition to on-site events, it also offers virtual workshops for children, coaches, parents and teachers throughout the U.S. using videoconferencing technology, and has  created dozens of free on-demand resources.

A dedicated commitment to education is a hallmark of the Hospital for Special Surgery. And in August 2016, a new Shoulder Fellowship was announced to offer comprehensive education and training in shoulder surgery. Fellows are introduced to a broad range of shoulder pathologies and procedures, from arthroscopy to arthroplasty, and benefit from faculty including several leaders in the world of shoulder surgery. The fellow also has ample research opportunities, access to the HSS Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry and to the shoulder biomechanical laboratory, staffed with a collaborating PhD and a research engineer. Clinical responsibilities include office and operating room coverage. (Dr. David Dines)

To serve in a leadership role within a subspecialty sports medicine society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of his profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others, with HSS faculty elected presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty.

August, 2019 marked a major milestone for HSS, the nation’s top ranked hospital for orthopedics, as its Sports Medicine Institute expanded to the west side of Manhattan. Dr. Riley Williams discusses the breadth and depth that the Sports Medicine Institute West Side brings to patient care. (Dr. Riley Williams)

Dr. Lawrence V. Gulotta was appointed Chief of the Shoulder and Elbow Division of the Sports Medicine Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery in 2019. He has dedicated his career to understanding and treating shoulder conditions. Specializing in shoulder surgery and sports medicine, including arthroscopic and open surgeries of the shoulder, Dr. Gulotta performs research on new ways to improve rotator cuff healing, as well as ways to improve the design and performance of shoulder replacements. In addition to his other responsibilities, as a former college football player and academic all-American, Dr, Gulotta takes great pride in his appointment as Head Orthopedic Surgeon for the New York Mets. (Dr. Lawrence Gulotta)

In addition to being an esteemed orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Scott Rodeo has two feet firmly planted in the future as a clinician-scientist heading a laboratory that investigates the mechanisms of healing damaged tissues. The laboratory comprises a multidisciplinary group of scientists and clinicians with expertise in cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, biomechanics, animal models, histologic analysis, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. More specifically, the research performed by Dr. Rodeo and his team focusses on developing innovative ways to improve the treatment of orthopedic injuries. It’s all part of the HSS clinical research infrastructure dedicated to improving patient care and clinical outcomes through robust laboratory work. (Dr. Scott Rodeo)

To serve as president within a specialty society is recognition by national and international thought leaders that a member is at the very top of her profession. It is also the measurement that sets one sports medicine service apart from others, and HSS faculty have served as presidents of sports medicine societies more than any other North American faculty.

For an unprecedented 13th consecutive year, HSS has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals 2022-2023” survey.

“Our extraordinary focus on musculoskeletal conditions enables us to provide highly specialized, patient-centered care to help people get back to what they need and love to do,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS.