CSES Fellowship

Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine (CSES) Fellowship Program

A Brief History

The New York Orthopaedic Hospital (NYOH) has one of the oldest Orthopaedic training programs in the country.  Founded in 1866, the New York Dispensary was established to treat needy children afflicted by diseases of the musculoskeletal system.  George Fayette Taylor founded the Dispensary with help from Theodore Roosevelt’s grateful father.  Anna Roosevelt, the future president’s sister, was a victim of Potts Disease.  Throughout its history, NYOH has played an important role in developing and refining new techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of Orthopaedic disease and disorders.

The Shoulder Service at the New York Orthopaedic Hospital is the oldest and most prestigious in the world - founded by Dr. Charles S. Neer, who has been called the “father of modern shoulder surgery.” The Shoulder Service has been responsible for developing and refining many of the major procedures in shoulder surgery today. Total shoulder replacement was introduced by Dr. Neer in the early 1970’s and has been used successfully for over 30 years. Dr. Neer also made major contributions with his classification of proximal humerus fractures, as well as the development of the acromioplasty for impingement syndrome and the capsular shift procedure for glenohumeral instability. Dr. Neer retired in 1990. In 2001, as our faculty has grown and their interests are more diverse, the “Shoulder Service” has evolved into the “Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine”.

Dr. Louis U. Bigliani, Professor and Chairman, is the Chief of the Shoulder Service. Dr. Bigliani was a pupil of Dr. Neer and continues the tradition of innovation through the development of new and streamlined surgical techniques. Dr. Bigliani has made major advances in the treatment of rotator cuff tears, nerve injuries, and the arthroscopic treatment of shoulder problems.

Dr. William N. Levine, Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery, is the Chief of Sports Medicine. He completed a shoulder and elbow fellowship under Dr. Bigliani, and also completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Maryland. He joined the service in 1998.  Dr. Levine serves as the Head Team Physician for Columbia University and consultant for City College of New York. His clinical and research interests include the shoulder, elbow and knee.  Dr. Levine's research includes the development of a simian shoulder model and the effect of estrogen in shoulder laxity.  He is the Principal Investigator of an international, prospective clinical trial on Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Dr. Christopher S. Ahmad, Associate Professor of Clincal Orthopaedic Surgery, joined the Service in 2001 after completing his fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, CA. He is the Chief of Adolescent and Pediatric Sports Medicine.  Dr. Ahmad begins his 2nd year as Head Team Physician for the New York Yankees (3rd year overall). He is also the Team Physician for North Bergen High School. Dr. Ahmad has ongoing research projects including biomechanics of the elbow, ACL fixation and rotator cuff pathophysiology.

Dr. Edwin R. Cadetjoined the service in 2009 after completing a fellowship in shoulder and sports medicine at the  Hospital for Special Surgery. He assisted in the medical care for NCAA Division I collegiate athletes and professional teams during his fellowship, including the Red Storm of St. John’s University and the New York Knicks.  His research interests include factors important to rotator cuff healing, knee ligament injuries, and hip disorders.

Welcome to the “Big Apple!”

Columbia University Medical Center is located on the shore of the Hudson River and at the foot of the Washington Bridge in New York City.  New York is the financial and cultural capital of the world.  One can easily reach the midtown area via a 20-minute subway ride that reveals a world of art, theater and shopping.  The Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum and the Hayden Planetarium are but a few of the many city museums.  Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and the four theaters of Lincoln Center are replete with music, ballet, opera, and other live entertainment.  You can enjoy the latest Broadway musical, play or revival after dining in the world’s finest restaurants.  New York never sleeps.

Easily accessible from three airports, car or public transportation, the Medical Center location will allow you to go to the beach for the day or to the Catskill Mountains for the weekend.  If sports are in your blood, Yankee and Shea Stadiums are a subway ride away, Madison Square Garden is in Midtown, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex is located in New Jersey.