Orthopedic surgeons are advancing the specialty through innovations in joint replacement, sports medicine, trauma care and complex reconstruction, while expanding access to specialized treatment across a range of practice settings.
The following 15 orthopedic surgeons are making contributions to patient care, research, education and leadership.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a physician for a future list, please contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- Christopher Ahmad, MD. NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (New York City): Dr. Ahmad is chief of sports medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University. He specializes in treating sports-related injuries, particularly elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries, and has performed more than 1,000 Tommy John surgeries. His work includes advancing ligament reconstruction techniques, including the Triple Tommy John procedure.
Dr. Ahmad has served as head team physician for the New York Yankees for more than 15 years and is involved in Major League Baseball’s Pitch Smart initiative. He co-founded the Baseball Health Network, a nonprofit focused on athlete health and injury prevention, and the annual Baseball Sports Medicine: Game-Changing Concepts conference. He has also published extensively on sports medicine and surgical techniques.
- Ali Ashraf, MD. Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas): Dr. Ashraf specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery and shoulder replacement. His expertise includes treating shoulder, elbow, hip and knee injuries, with a focus on rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, ligament injuries and advanced shoulder reconstruction.
Dr. Ashraf has experience caring for professional and collegiate athletes, including working with the NFL’s New York Jets and the NHL’s New York Islanders, while also participating in athlete evaluations at the NFL Combine. He also completed orthopedic research at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and served as chief resident during his orthopedic surgery training.
- Sheena Black, MD. Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas): Dr. Black specializes in sports medicine and the treatment of shoulder, knee and hip conditions. Her expertise includes arthroscopic surgery, ACL reconstruction, meniscus and rotator cuff repair, hip preservation and shoulder and knee replacement.
Dr. Black previously served as an assistant team physician for the NBA’s New York Knicks and New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Iona College. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, presented research at national orthopedic conferences and contributed to patient education on sports injury prevention and joint health. She has also been recognized as a D Magazine Best Doctor in Collin County, Texas.
- Haydée Brown, MD. New York Bone & Joint Specialists (New York City): Dr. Brown specializes in foot and ankle surgery, treating conditions affecting patients ranging from professional dancers and elite athletes to individuals with chronic pain and mobility limitations. She also holds an academic appointment at New York City-based Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Dr. Brown previously served as interim chief of orthopedic surgery at Harlem Hospital in New York City, where she doubled surgical volume, secured more than $1 million in capital equipment and expanded the hospital’s capacity to treat complex orthopedic trauma. In 2020, she founded Black Women Orthopaedic Surgeons, an organization dedicated to mentorship, professional development and health equity.
- Susan Bukata, MD. UC San Diego Health: Dr. Bukata specializes in bone fragility disorders, orthopedic oncology and metabolic bone diseases, including osteoporosis and rare genetic conditions. Internationally recognized for her work in bone health, she leads National Institutes of Health-funded research focused on accelerating fracture healing without additional surgery.
Dr. Bukata holds a patent for technology designed to protect and repair cartilage and musculoskeletal soft tissue and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. She serves on the Orthopaedic Research Society’s executive board of directors and committees for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. She previously held several leadership roles at UCLA Health and has received multiple Top Doctor recognitions.
- Anthony Feher, MD. Indiana Orthopedic Institute (Noblesville): Dr. Feher specializes in hip and knee replacement. His expertise includes anterior total hip replacement, total and partial knee replacement, computer-navigated joint replacement and revision surgery.
Dr. Feher treats patients with degenerative and inflammatory arthritis, as well as complications from previous joint replacements. His approach emphasizes individualized treatment plans, shared decision-making and helping patients return to their desired level of activity.
- Yale Fillingham, MD. Rothman Orthopaedics (Philadelphia): Dr. Fillingham specializes in hip and knee replacement, with a focus on treating osteoarthritis and restoring joint function. His approach emphasizes individualized treatment plans, including nonsurgical options and joint replacement procedures, with shared decision-making at the center of patient care.
Dr. Fillingham was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and developed an interest in joint replacement after witnessing his mother’s recovery from bilateral knee replacements. His clinical focus centers on helping patients manage chronic hip and knee pain and regain mobility.
- Gregory Gilson, DO. St. Luke’s University Health Network (Bethlehem, Pa.): Dr. Gilson specializes in hip and knee replacement, with expertise in complex joint reconstruction and revision surgery. He treats osteoarthritis, inflammatory and post-traumatic arthritis, joint deformities, avascular necrosis and complications from previous joint replacements.
Dr. Gilson performs partial and total knee replacements, total hip replacements and complex revision procedures. His expertise also includes robotic-assisted joint replacement and reconstructive techniques for challenging hip and knee conditions. He emphasizes shared decision-making and individualized treatment plans that consider both surgical and nonsurgical options.
- Matthew Lavery, MD. OrthoIndy (Indianapolis): Dr. Lavery is president and CEO of OrthoIndy, an independent orthopedic practice. He specializes in sports medicine, shoulder and knee surgery, and shoulder replacement, with experience treating athletes at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Dr. Lavery has published research in peer-reviewed journals, including Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of Orthopaedic Research and Iowa Orthopaedic Journal. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America and Indiana Orthopaedic Society.
- David Lopez, MD. Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists (Little Silver, N.J.): Dr. Lopez specializes in sports medicine, minimally invasive surgery and joint replacement. His expertise includes arthroscopic shoulder and knee procedures, rotator cuff repair, ligament reconstruction, robotic-assisted surgery and direct anterior hip replacement.
Dr. Lopez serves as chair of the orthopedic department at Holmdel, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center and an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Nutley, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. He has contributed to orthopedic research and co-authored Field Guide to Fracture Management. His experience also includes providing medical coverage for collegiate and high school athletes and participating in NFL injury evaluations.
- Catherine Mackey, MD. Montefiore Einstein (New York City): Dr. Mackey specializes in pediatric orthopedic surgery, with a focus on neuromuscular conditions affecting the extremities, foot and ankle disorders, limb deformities and traumatic injuries in children and adolescents. She serves as an attending physician and clinical instructor in the department of orthopedic surgery at Montefiore Einstein.
Dr. Mackey’s research focuses on improving outcomes for children with neuromuscular disorders, scoliosis and fractures. She has contributed to orthopedic textbooks, published research in peer-reviewed journals and presented findings at medical conferences. She is also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society.
- Anna Miller, MD. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, N.H.): Dr. Miller is chair of the department of orthopedics at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and a professor of orthopedics at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, N.H. She specializes in orthopedic trauma and fracture care, with a focus on treating complex injuries and helping patients regain mobility and function after traumatic events.
Dr. Miller is actively involved in national orthopedic trauma research and initiatives to improve trauma systems and patient outcomes. She joined Dartmouth Health in 2024 and contributes to research examining fracture treatment, infection prevention and advances in orthopedic trauma care.
- Louise Reid Nichols, MD. Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware (Wilmington): Dr. Nichols specializes in pediatric orthopedics, with a focus on correcting musculoskeletal deformities in children. Her expertise includes limb length discrepancies, arthrogryposis, clubfoot, spinal alignment and conditions affecting the hips, knees, feet and ankles.
Dr. Nichols has conducted research on hemiepiphysiodesis, a surgical technique used to correct angular limb deformities, and the treatment of clubfoot. She has also participated in medical mission work in Guatemala and was recognized as a Top Doctor by Main Line Today magazine in 2015 and 2016.
- Kirk Reynolds, MD. OrthoArkansas (Little Rock): Dr. Reynolds specializes in sports medicine and the treatment of shoulder, knee and elbow injuries. His expertise includes arthroscopic surgery, advanced shoulder reconstruction, total and reverse shoulder replacement, ACL reconstruction and cartilage restoration procedures, including matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation.
Dr. Reynolds serves as president of the Arkansas Orthopaedic Society and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He previously served as an assistant team physician for the University of Colorado Buffaloes and University of Denver Pioneers collegiate athletic programs. His background in physical therapy also informs his approach to orthopedic rehabilitation and recovery.
- Alonzo Sexton, MD. OrthoAtlanta: Dr. Sexton specializes in sports medicine, with more than 19 years of experience treating shoulder and knee injuries. His expertise includes ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, shoulder replacement, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and treatment of shoulder instability.
Dr. Sexton has served as a team physician for the NFL’s New York Jets and collegiate athletic programs at the Athens-based University of Georgia, Atlanta-based Georgia State University and Clark Atlanta University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. He also has interests in AI, remote patient monitoring and blockchain applications in healthcare.
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