Here are the surgeons leading the orthopedic departments for U.S. News & World Report‘s top five hospitals for orthopedics in 2025-26.
1. Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City)
U.S. News rank: 1
Douglas Padgett, MD, is surgeon-in-chief and medical director at Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Padgett specializes in hip and knee reconstruction. A U.S. Navy veteran, he previously led the Adult Reconstructive Service at Naval Hospital San Diego before joining HSS in 1993. His clinical and research interests include robotic surgery and deep vein thrombosis prevention.
2. NYU Langone Hospitals (New York City)
U.S. News rank: 2
Joseph Zuckerman, MD, is chair of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Health. He performs more than 300 shoulder, hip and knee replacements annually. His research focuses on shoulder arthroplasty outcomes, treatment of shoulder fractures in older adults and orthopedic resident education. He holds the Walter A.L. Thompson Professorship of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
3. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.)
U.S. News rank: 3
Matthew Abdel, MD, is chair of surgical and procedural practice at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic. He specializes in complex hip and knee reconstruction, with a clinical focus on revision arthroplasty, periprosthetic joint infections and tumor-related procedures. Dr. Abdel serves on the boards of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the Hip Society and the Mid-America Orthopedic Association.
4. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell (New York City)
U.S. News rank: 4
William Levine, MD, is chair of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He specializes in shoulder, elbow and knee surgery, with a focus on sports medicine. A former team physician for Columbia athletics, Dr. Levine also consults for the NHL Players’ Association and the NFL. He holds the Frank E. Stinchfield Professorship and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.
5. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles)
U.S. News rank: 5
Mark Vrahas, MD, is chair of orthopedics at Cedars-Sinai. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in orthopedic trauma, including pelvic and acetabular surgery. He previously founded the Harvard Orthopaedic Trauma Initiative, which unified trauma services across four major Boston hospitals. Dr. Vrahas has mentored numerous fellows and serves on editorial boards for leading orthopedic journals.
