Drexel’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is proud of its long tradition of musculoskeletal care drawn from its long heritage harkening back to Hahnemann Medical College and Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Today, the department focuses on the musculoskeletal medical and surgical education of Drexel’s medical students, including – joint replacement surgery, sports medicine, spine, surgery, foot & ankle surgery, hand surgery and orthopaedic trauma surgery.
Drexel’s medical students can learn about the various aspects of orhopaedics and musculoskeletal medicine through pre-clinical coursework, clinical rotations, mentoring, and research. During the third year, medical students will have the opportunity to pursue a three-week surgical elective in orthopaedic surgery during their required surgical clerkship. During the fourth year, medical students have the opportunity to pursue various two and four-week electives in orthopaedic surgery.
Meet Our Faculty
News and Announcements
Journal of Hand & Microsurgery
Asif Ilyas, MD, MBA, FACS, professor and academic vice chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, was recently appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Hand & Microsurgery, which is dedicated to propelling the field of hand and reconstructive microsurgery forward through education, research and advocacy.
Drexel Orthopaedic Research Day 2025
Drexel Orthopaedic Research Day was held on May 3, 2025 at Drexel University Health Sciences Building 60 N. 36th St, Philadelphia, Pa., and was designed to bring together the orthopaedic surgery community at Drexel by learning from Drexel orthopaedic alumni and current Drexel medical students to celebrate past and current accomplishments.
Academic Program
8:45 a.m. - Registration & Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Introduction
Doger Norceide, June Hoang
9:05 a.m. - Alumni Specialty Lectures Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery - Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microsurgery - Joint Replacement - Q&A
Dr. Asif Ilyas (Moderator), Dr. David Galos, Dr. Kimberly Zambito, Dr. Manish Patel
10:00 a.m. - Research Poster Session
Anish Ponna, Abhinav Bhamidipati
11:00 a.m. - Lunch & Podium Presentations
Doger Norceide (Moderator)
- The Geospatial and Demographic Shifts in Pediatric Gunshot Wounds in Philadelphia
Jane Wakefield (Presenter)
- Reoperation Rates After Total Elbow Arthroplasty: A Comparison Between Arthroplasty for Arthritis Versus Trauma
Evveniy Uvarov (Presenter)
- The Open Access Publication Advantage: Attention and Clinician Patterns in Rotator Cuff Tear Research
Serena Kothari (Presenter)
- Increased Utilization Trends of Robotic-Assistance in Orthopaedic Surgery
Anish Ponna (Presenter)
- Biomechanics Evaluation of Interspinous Fusion Devices in response to Cyclical Loading
Brianne Giuffrida (Presenter)
- Determining Risk Factors and Rate of Surgery after Collagenase Injections for Dupuytren’s Contracture
Ryan Cha (Presenter)
12:00 p.m. - Keynote Address
Dr. Manish Patel
12:35 p.m. - Research Award Presentation
Dr. Asif Ilyas, June Hoang
12:45 p.m. - Adjourn
Alumni Speakers
Dr. David K. Galos is a board-certified orthopaedic trauma surgeon and associate professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, and pursued a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Galos specializes in treating complex fractures, including pelvic and acetabular injuries, long bone fractures and post-traumatic reconstruction.
Dr. Kimberly Zambito is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery. She completed her medical degree and orthopaedic residency at Drexel University and a fellowship at the University of Rochester. A U.S. Army Reservist with multiple deployments, she also introduced Echolight REMS bone health technology to the U.S.
Dr. Manish A. Patel is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and the developer of the Jiffy Knee™ procedure—a minimally invasive, muscle-sparing total knee replacement designed to accelerate recovery. He earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2000, completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Temple University Hospital in 2005, and pursued a sports medicine fellowship at Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center. Dr. Patel currently practices in Franklin, Virginia, at Southampton Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center.
Conference Posters
Risk Factors and Surgical Techniques Associated with Recurrent Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Jordan Ginder
Computed Tomography (CT) Muscle Density Measures Differ Based on Methodology Used: A Call for Consistency
Sujay Garlapati
Does NSAID Use Risk Adverse Bone Healing in Humerus Fractures?
Emerson Rowe
Post-Fracture NSAID Exposure and Risk of Adverse Bone Healing in Scaphoid Fractures
Julian Takagi-Stewart
A “Hybrid Approach” to Designing Sports Injury Prevention Programs: Balancing Effectiveness With Practicality - A New Approach For Care Delivery for Sports Medicine Physicians/Practitioners
Max Kunz
The Effect of Early Prosthetic Dislocation after Total Hip Arthroplasty on Adverse Events – A Comparison of Revision Versus Non-Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty
Simran Shamith
Increasing Utilization Trends of Robotic-Assistance in Orthopaedic Surgery
Anish Ponna
Differential Roles of Non-Muscle Myosin Isoforms in Deltoid Tuberosity Initiation and Maturation
June Hoang
Joshua Salas
Increased Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infections One Year After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients Receiving Intraoperative Blood Transfusions: A Retrospective Study
Abbas Saeed
Outcomes and Complications of Total Elbow Arthroplasty for Distal Humerus Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis
Keyur Patel
Are Large Datasets Reliable for Studying Technology Use During Total Knee Arthroplasty?
Edson De Guzman
Impact of Chronic Preoperative Gabapentinoid Exposure on Surgical and Patient Reported Outcome Measures following Lumbar Fusion
Sehajvir Singh
Validation of a Quick CTS-6 (QCTS-6) Questionnaire as a Diagnostic Tool for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Joshua Pang
Impact of Preoperative Mental Health on Outcomes Following RPNI: A Retrospective Analysis of RPNI Surgery for Upper Extremity Neuromas
Ahmed Manzoor
No Difference in Tibial Tubercle Trochlear Groove Distance Between Patients With and Without A History of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears
Nathaniel Tchangou
Surgeons across North America and Europe identify common perceptions, challenges, and aspirations surrounding environmental sustainability efforts in pediatric orthopaedic surgery
Daisy Lookinland
Temporal Trends in Research Publications Among Matched Orthopaedic Surgery Residents at Top-Ranked Programs
Griffin White
Adductor Canal Regional Anesthetic Placement in Pediatric Patients for Knee Arthroscopy: Defining the Optimal Location and Analysis
Zachary Li
Outcomes After Operative Fixation of Multiple Versus Solitary Pathologic Long Bone Fractures in Oncology Patients
Doger Norceide
Opioid Use Pattern after Non-operative Management of Distal Radius Fracture – A Call for Opioid Stewardship
Sara Khan
Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Outcomes after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Propensity Matched Analysis
Abhinav Bhamidipati
Drexel Orthopaedic Research Day 2025
Philadelphia magazine published its annual list of the region's “Top Doctors.” The list of physicians, who were chosen by their peers, can be found in the May 2025 issue. Congratulations to the following Drexel University College of Medicine faculty members who were named this year: Megan E. Gresh, MD and Martin J. Herman, MD. Read more.
Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group Travel Scholarship
Simran Shamith, MD class of 2026, recently received the Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group's travel scholarship funded by the Norman Johanson, MD Orthopaedic Fund to attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Conference in March 2025. Their work, "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Arthroplasty versus Arthroscopy - a Cross Procedure Comparison of Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions In Iowa’s Billion Pill Pledge Program" and "Reducing Post-Operative Opioids Across Different Surgical Specialties – Enhanced Recovery Pathways" was presented during podium presentations. The conference was an opportunity for students and residents, who will be future colleagues, to meet and network.
Philadelphia magazine published its annual list of the region's “Top Doctors.” The list of physicians, who were chosen by their peers, can be found in the May 2024 issue. Congratulations to the following Drexel University College of Medicine faculty members who were named this year. Read more.
The annual Golden Apple Awards recognize outstanding service, teaching and mentoring by Drexel University College of Medicine faculty and professional staff. The honorees are nominated by each class of medical students who vote to determine the award winners. Read more.
In the Media
May 22, 2025: Asif M. Ilyas, MD, associate dean of clinical research at the College of Medicine, authored a mychesco article about how patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain are using medical cannabis, the benefits they report and the potential cognitive effects of long-term use.
February 18 & 19, 2025: Asif M. Ilyas, MD, an academic vice chair in the College of Medicine, was quoted in two stories - Health Medicine Network and My ChesCo — story about recent research from Drexel, Cooper University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, examining the challenges of treating wounds related to the use of xylazine, also known as tranq.
December 10, 2024: Asif M. Ilyas, MD, an academic vice chair in the College of Medicine, was interviewed for a WPHL-TV (PHL-17) segment about the dangers of xylazine, also known as tranq, and its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.
October 7, 2024: Asif Ilyas, MD, associate dean of clinical research at the College of Medicine, wrote a Penn Live article on the threat of xylazine in the illicit drug supply, particularly when mixed with fentanyl.
August 7, 2024: Stephen Stache Jr., MD, an associate professor in the College of Medicine, was quoted in a Woman’s World article about how to heal hip bursitis quickly with home treatment and exercises.
More Faculty in the Media
This clinical practice is independent of Drexel University.