The WSMC was a first of its kind focused on women and sports medicine and was co-founded in 1997 by primary sports medicine physician Lisa R. Callahan, MD, and sports medicine surgeon Jo A. Hannafin, MD, PhD, who served as co-directors ever since. The multidisciplinary center now consists of a team of sports medicine-trained clinicians including physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.

 The change in leadership comes as Dr. Hannafin has recently retired her clinical practice while continuing to be active in the WSMC and as vice chair of the Institutional Review Board at HSS, which is responsible for the evaluation of current and newly submitted research projects. As a practicing physician, Dr. Callahan will also continue to be actively involved in the WSMC while serving in her role as chief medical officer of Madison Square Garden Sports.

 “The WSMC is a key reason why I feel excited to go to work each day. I am constantly inspired by my colleagues and the patient care that they provide, which motivates me to take the very best care of my own patients,” said Dr. Goolsby.

 Approximately 80,000 recreational and elite athletic patients a year receive collaborative care through the WSMC. Every clinician aims to empower each patient to achieve success based on his or her individual goals.

 “Being part of the WSMC has helped me in all facets of life. It’s been invaluable for my career, provided spectacular comradery, and guided me to find a work/life balance,” said Dr. Shubin Stein, who noted how Drs. Callahan’s and Hannafin’s successes have opened so many doors for all women. “They have helped us all to dream big.” 

 Drs. Callahan and Hannafin have led distinguished careers and have served as team physicians for numerous professional and Olympic teams. Notably, Dr. Callahan was the first female head team physician in the National Basketball Association and president of the NBA Physicians Association. Dr. Hannafin was the first female president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM).

“We want to ensure we carry on the legacy and support all of the work that Drs. Callahan and Hannafin have done as true pioneers in our field,” added Dr. Goolsby, who explained that she and Dr. Shubin Stein have spent time individually with all members to determine new, impactful goals for the group.

 WSMC clinicians have provided care for numerous Olympic and professional teams and organizations including the New York Knicks, Westchester Knicks, New York Liberty, TCS New York City Marathon, Champions Series Tennis, USA Basketball, USA Gymnastics, UFC, US Biathlon, US Rowing and US Lacrosse.

 “First and foremost, our priority is patient care. We strive to take care of the whole person, not just their knee or stress fracture. Our biggest advantage is that we have experts across many disciplines who can help keep our patients active through all phases of life,” said Dr. Shubin Stein.

 “I am incredibly proud of the fantastic physicians and surgeons we have recruited over the years as well as the outstanding specialists in physical therapy and sports performance, sports psychology and sports nutrition,” said Dr. Hannafin. “We place a large emphasis on developing and training the next generation of female leaders in sports medicine, so it is truly humbling to see so many of them as team physicians for professional, national and Olympic sports teams.”

 Mentorship formally occurs by training residents and fellows within the HSS Sports Medicine Institute as well as the WSMC summer internship and research assistant programs. Launched in 2000, the summer internship program is highly competitive, with more than 150 applicants each year for three spots.

 Of the more than 200 women mentored by members of the WSMC, 80 percent have pursued a career in medicine, physical therapy, psychology or nutrition. Five women have started sports medicine programs while others have joined the faculty at existing women’s sports medicine programs, fulfilling the critical need to expand expert care to active girls and women everywhere.

“I’m proud of the integrated legacy of care, education and research that has formed a strong foundation for the future of the WSMC,” said Dr. Callahan, who oversees the care of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Westchester Knicks and Hartford Wolf Pack. “Drs. Goolsby and Shubin Stein have the experience, knowledge and compassion to lead the next phase of growth and advancement. I look forward to their future accomplishments.”

Current research within the WSMC focuses on a variety of issues that impact women athletes, such as the female athlete triad, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, vitamin D and bone health, patellofemoral disorders, frozen shoulder, postpartum care and more.

 According to Dr. Hannafin, there is a need for continued research into gender- and sex-specific issues in injury prevention, sports-specific injuries and response to treatment. Through this research, the WSMC can continue to optimize patient care with specialized treatment for each individual patient.

 “The center’s impact on the national landscape of women’s sports medicine is immeasurable. Their selective and immersive summer internships alone work to shape the future for women in the field,” said Andrew D. Pearle, MD, chief of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute. “We are proud to have them as part of our team.”

Lisa R. Callahan, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Player Care at Madison Square Garden Sports, explained that children shouldn't specialize in a single sport at a young age.

"One of the things we see commonly in youth athletes is overuse injuries. So we end up talking to them about the quality of their practice, not just quantity, and having a variety of activities," said Brett G. Toresdahl, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS and team physician for the Westchester Knicks.

"They often become better athletes overall and they're going to be able to enjoy sports for their lifetime and have a more successful career because they're going to be less limited by injuries along the way," added Dr. Toresdahl.

"For kids, it should be about play, it should be about fun," Dr. Callahan said.

Watch the full video at msgnetworks.com

The two-day annual symposium will provide clinicians with guidance on how to care for athletes of all levels. Topics to include: the athlete’s elbow, shoulder instability, the rotational athlete, multiligament knee, concussion management, the female athlete, the athlete’s hip, tendonopathy, and the young athlete’s knee.

The symposium is provided by HSS Office of Continuing Medical Education, Department of Rehabilitation and HSS Sports Medicine, and is co-directed by HSS sports medicine surgeon, Anil S. Ranawat, MD, and HSS physical therapist and certified athletic trainer John Cavanaugh, PT, MEd, ATC, SCS.

"At HSS, we treat over 400 elite athletes a year from over 80 professional teams and over 100 Division 1 programs," said Cavanaugh. "We have a front seat to all of the unique injuries that occur as well as the cutting-edge research performed in our labs. This symposium is a way for us to share our expertise with medical professionals who may be in an outpatient setting and not have the same exposure."

The symposium will take place on March 23-24, 2018 at the Richard L. Menschel Education Center at HSS (535 East 70th Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10021) and will also be live streamed online.

Consisting of 3 main sessions, 4 concurrent sessions, 3 mini courses, 8 concurrent workshops, and a new lunch & learn option, this year’s symposium includes a keynote address from Gilles Walch, MD, acclaimed shoulder surgeon from Hopital Privé Jean Mermoz in France, on his surgical approach to shoulder instability.

There will also be a live surgery of an anterior shoulder stabilization performed by Joshua S. Dines, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, as well as two optional instructional courses.

The session The Female Athlete will cover gender differences in sports medicine, graft choice for ACL reconstruction, stress fractures, training considerations and sports psychology. The session is moderated by Lisa R. Callahan, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS. Presentations will be made by members of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center:

• Ellen Casey, MD
• Karen M. Sutton, MD
• Marci A. Goolsby, MD
• Polly de Mille, RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT
• Deborah N. Roche, PhD

HSS serves as the official hospital and team physicians and rehabilitation specialists for over 20 professional and collegiate teams and organizations and is one of only three hospitals in the nation appointed a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence.

CONTACTS:

Sherry Randolph / Monique Irons / Tracy Hickenbottom

Hospital for Special Surgery

mediarelations@hss.edu

212-606-1197

Lisa R. Callahan, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Player Care at Madison Square Garden Sports, said "one of the things that we like to do is take every player and assess them from a lot of different angles. We really try to create programs that will protect players from those common injuries."

"The Knicks have a very sophisticated data collection system. It is customized to the individual," said Answorth A. Allen, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS and team physician for the New York Knicks.

"We actually talk about the NBA season as a marathon because they play 82 games during the season," added Dr. Callahan. She stressed that the trainers and therapists are invaluable in maintaining a player's strength during the season.

Watch the full video at msgnetworks.com

"Once you engage with someone who's hurt, it really is a relationship. You're never alone, you're part of something bigger than yourself," said Answorth A. Allen, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS and Team Physician for the New York Knicks.

Lisa R. Callahan, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Player Care at Madison Square Garden Sports, said "when a player's injured, it's not just about getting that player back on the court as fast as you can, it's… also to be sure that they're really healthy and ready to perform."

Dr. Allen shared that the relationships built between himself and his patients are one of the beautiful things he enjoys about medicine. "It's very intimate, it's very personal. When that person has achieved their goal, I mean the satisfaction that comes along with that, you cannot put a price on it," he said.

Watch the full video at msgnetworks.com. This segment aired during the February 2, 2018 broadcast.

HSS sports medicine surgeon and Team Physician for the New York Knicks Answorth A. Allen, MD, said "one of the fantastic things about working at Hospital for Special Surgery is that you're never alone. You're part of something bigger than yourself.

"There's always very good communication between the trainers, the managers and the owners who are all trying to do the right thing for the individual - which is first a patient and an athlete second," added Dr. Allen.

Lisa R. Callahan, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at HSS; Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Player Care at Madison Square Garden Sports, said "that it is important to assess a player from a variety of angles."

The Leon Root, MD, Motion Analysis Laboratory offers advanced technology to record a patient's movement for assessment.

"Little reflective markers are put on bony landmarks around the body. We can study your jumps, your running, your walking, your cutting. We get these 3D motions... we're applying it to understand the biomechanics of the athlete," said Howard J. Hillstrom, PhD, director of the motion analysis lab.

"It's very important to know what's normal for that individual athlete, so after they've had an injury, you know what their baseline is that you can compare the return to," said Dr. Callahan.

Also featured is HSS rehabilitation specialist Theresa Chiaia PT, DPT, who conducted an athletic performance assessment and fitness tests with a patient utilizing video. As part of the athlete's education in injury prevention, Chiaia reviews the playback with a patient to determine where adjustments need to be made.

Watch the full video at msgnetworks.com. This segment aired during the January 14, 2018 broadcast.