HSS Names Harvinder S. Sandhu, MD, MBA, & Andrew A. Sama, MD, New Co-Chiefs of HSS Spine
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the top-ranked orthopedic hospital in the nation, today announced the appointments of Harvinder S. Sandhu, MD, MBA, and Andrew A. Sama, MD, as the new co-chiefs of its spine service, effective October 2019.
Drs. Sandhu and Sama succeed Frank Schwab, MD, who will continue his practice as chief emeritus of HSS Spine. Under Dr. Schwab’s leadership, HSS Spine continued to advance its clinical and academic reputation and bolstered its position as the international leader in complex and minimally invasive spine procedures.
“HSS is world-renowned for its innovative and research-based evaluation and treatment of people with all levels of musculoskeletal disease and injury, including afflictions of the spine,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS. “We look forward to Drs. Sandhu and Sama’s leadership to continue to elevate our spine program to even higher levels of patient care excellence.”
“HSS has been ranked the # 1 Orthopedic program for 10 consecutive years. Our spine service is a key part of that amazing achievement and is one of the best in the world,” said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO at HSS. “The combined leadership and experience of Drs. Sama and Sandhu will take us to the next level.”
Dr. Sandhu focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery, microsurgery, computer-assisted surgery and spinal biologics. Previously chief of the spinal service at UCLA, and a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Sandhu joined HSS in 1997. He is actively engaged in the research, development and invention of a variety of devices and instruments and holds several patents on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders.
“HSS is unique in that we have a bench-to-bedside approach and are able to directly translate our innovative research into appropriate and customized patient care,” said Dr. Sandhu. “Sometimes this means not doing surgery when you don’t need to. Other times it means ensuring the right kind of procedure. I am looking forward to this new opportunity to build on the strong foundation of our service and continue our mission to provide the highest quality spine care.”
Dr. Sama specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of all traumatic, degenerative and deformity-related conditions of the spine. A member of numerous spine and orthopedic societies, he lectures at scientific conferences internationally. He is also involved in innovative product development, helping to design orthopedic implant devices for spinal surgery. A graduate of the University of Miami, Dr. Sama completed his fellowship at HSS before beginning his practice in 2001.
“I am honored to co-lead our dedicated multidisciplinary team, who are so experienced that complex procedures have become routine,” said Dr. Sama. “Our high volume and incredible team allows us to continue to advance our expertise, leading to optimal patient care and outcomes.”
HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 14th consecutive year), No. 2 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2023-2024), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2023-2024). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fourth consecutive year (2023). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.
