Dr. Chris Ahmad

Christopher S. Ahmad, M.D. is a Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and an Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training at New York-Presbyterian//Columbia University Medical Center in 2000.  In 2001, Dr. Ahmad completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic which included physician team coverage for many professional teams and college teams.

Dr. Ahmad currently serves as the Chief of Sports Medicine and has authored more than 250 articles and 50 book chapters related to knee, shoulder, elbow and sports medicine and has given greater than 300 lectures nationally, and internationally. He is the author of the textbook Baseball Sports Medicine. He has ongoing research in the areas of throwing related injury prevention and treatment, Tommy John Surgery, ACL injury prevention and screening, biomechanics of the elbow, and surgical techniques for rotator cuff repair and shoulder instability.

Dr. Ahmad is the Head Team Physician for the New York Yankees and a member of the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association. He is past president for the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association and a member of MLB’s Pitch smart Program. He is also co-founder of Baseball Health Network to promote the health of young throwing athletes.

Dr. Ahmad received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering while playing 4 years of division 1 soccer player at nationally ranked Columbia University.

Dr. Ahmad recently published a book called SKILL: 40 Principles that Surgeons, Athletes, and other Elite Performers use to Achieve Mastery which has received fantastic praise by a tremendous number of readers in varied fields. He lives in New York with his wife and three children.

DR. STUART WEINSTEIN

Dr. Weinstein is the Ignacio V. Ponseti Chair and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Iowa. Dr. Weinstein received his A.B. Honors degree in Political Science and History from the University of Illinois in 1968. He received his medical degree (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the University of Iowa in 1972. After interning in Internal Medicine at The University of California San Francisco, he returned to the University of Iowa for a residency in Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1976 he joined the faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The University of Iowa. 

 Dr. Weinstein was an NIH funded researcher. He has published more than 270 scientific articles in peer review journals (including first author publications in NEJM, JAMA, The Lancet, Nature). His research work has focused on spinal deformity in children and the natural history and long-term outcome of pediatric musculoskeletal conditions. He has edited six major textbooks including The Pediatric Spine: Principles and Practice; Lovell and Winter's Pediatric Orthopaedics and Turek's Orthopaedics. Dr. Weinstein's many contributions to orthopaedics have been recognized by his receipt of the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Zimmer Award for Distinguished Achievement in Orthopaedic Research; The Kappa Delta /Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Clinical Research Award twice (1998 and 2015); The ABJS/CORR Nicolas Andry Lifetime Achievement Award for Research (2018); The Russell Hibbs Award for Clinical Research (1998, 2014, 2015) given by the Scoliosis Research Society; and The Arthur H. Heune Memorial Award, given by the St. Giles Foundation and The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. In 2005, Dr. Weinstein was the recipient of the Alfred R. Shands, Sr., MD Award, presented by the Orthopaedic Research Society and The American Orthopaedic Association for his significant contributions to orthopaedics and his devotion of a professional lifetime to furthering knowledge in the fields of musculoskeletal disease.

 Dr. Weinstein received the 2000 Iowa Board of Regents Award for Faculty Excellence for sustained record of excellence across the spectrum of faculty endeavors. In 2003, he received the Ernest O. Theilen Clinical Teaching and Service Award presented by the Roy J. and Lucille Carver College of Medicine. In 2009, he received the highest award in the Roy J. and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, the Distinguished Mentor Award. In 2020 Dr Weinstein received the Carver College of Medicine “Impact Scholar” Award (H index 75). In 2010 Dr. Weinstein received the lifetime achievement from POSNA. In 2011, he received the William W. Tipton, Jr., MD, Award for Outstanding Leadership in Orthopaedics from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2012, he received the American Orthopaedic Association’s Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award. In 2016, he was honored by the Vietnamese Government and Minister of Health and awarded the Civilian Medal for Contributions to the Development of Healthcare in Vietnam. In 2019 he received the lifetime achievement award from SOSORT and in 2021 he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Scoliosis Research Society.

 Dr. Weinstein was a recipient of an American, British, Canadian (ABC) Traveling Fellowship in 1985. He has been honored for his contributions to Orthopaedic Surgery by honorary memberships in National Orthopaedic Associations around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Great Britain Thailand, China, Portugal, and Argentina. In 2007, he was made a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England and in 2014 he was made an Honorary Member of the European Federation of National Orthopedic Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT). Dr Weinstein is past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, The American Orthopaedic Association, The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, The United States National Action Network of the International Bone and Joint Decade, The International Center for Orthopaedic Education (ICOE), Doctors for Medical Liability Reform (DMLR), He was also Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and past Chairman of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Political Action Committee. He currently serves as an American College of Surgeons Children’s Hospital Surgery Surveyor and a Trustee for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.

Dr.Mike Vitali

Dr. Michael G. Vitale is a world-renowned specialist in the non-operative and operative treatment of complex pediatric scoliosis and spinal disorders, performing approximately 200 scoliosis procedures every year – half of which are in children less than 10 years of age. Dr. Vitale’s surgical practice leverages specialized multidisciplinary teams to optimize care of adolescents with scoliosis, and uses innovative treatments for younger children with scoliosis, including magnetic spine lengthening rods (“MAGEC”), and non-fusion procedures such as anterior vertebral tethering for juvenile scoliosis. He also has a special interest in the conservative management of scoliosis and leads a best-in-class team of Schroth scoliosis therapists, Rigo-Chêneau style bracing experts, and cast technicians with extensive experience at Mehta casting. Dr. Vitale is consistently recognized as one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly, and has been the named among the top 50 physicians providing scoliosis care in the United States by Becker’s Spine Review. Dr. Vitale received his undergraduate degree in biology and psychology from Trinity College, and attended medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons, where he also completed a Master’s degree in Public Health. He remained at Columbia for his residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Vitale is the Ana Lucia Professor of Orthopedic and Neurosurgery within the Department of Orthopaedics at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr Vitale is also Chair for Quality and Strategy in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, leading efforts to improve outcomes, ensure patient safety, and develop new advances in patient care. He is also Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics for the New York Presbyterian health system, where he has focused on improving the care of children with spinal deformity since joining the staff of the Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital of New York in 2001. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vitale is a prolific researcher, having published approximately 200 articles focused on pediatric spine surgery and patient safety, and is the author of several books on these topics. Recognized as a leader in the academic orthopedic community, he is the recipient of numerous national awards, and has held various national leadership positions, including Chairman of the International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, President of the Childrens Spine Foundation and Pediatric Spine Study Group. Dr. Vitale has also taken the role of President of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America May 2020 – May 2021. Dr Vitale serves on the Board of Crutches for Kids and Alexandra’s Playground, which he co-founded with his wife, Andrea. An avid skier, marathon runner, and recreational tri-athlete, Dr. Vitale’s biggest pleasure is spending his free time with his wife and four sons .