How a Humble Hospital Rose to National Renown | NYU Langone News
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Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
How a Humble Hospital Rose to National Renown | NYU Langone News
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A
s chief of orthopedic trauma in NYU Langone Health’s
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
,
Kenneth A. Egol, MD
, understands that when a bone breaks, it knits back together with new bone tissue to form a stronger union. Last year, Dr. Egol experienced the wonder of a different kind of joint venture. A film he nurtured into existence with other collaborators,
On the Shoulders of Giants: The History of NYU Langone Orthopedics
, became a finalist for Best Documentary at the 23rd Tribeca Festival, an annual film gala in lower Manhattan that hosts more than 600 screenings.
A self-described history buff, Dr. Egol, the Joseph E. Milgram Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, has been fascinated by his department’s pioneers since his residency at NYU Langone in the late 1990s. So much so, in fact, that he led a group of residents and research students in an effort to catalog the biographies and contributions of these clinical luminaries.
The project made Dr. Egol realize he had the ingredients for a rich documentary that would chronicle the origin, evolution, and impact of one of America’s leading specialty hospitals. NYU Langone, ranked No. 3 in the nation for orthopedics on
U.S. News & World Report
’s Best Hospitals list, trains more orthopedic surgeons than any other institution in the country. Its 200 physicians and surgeons perform more than 34,000 orthopedic procedures annually. “I was convinced there was a compelling story others needed to know,” says Dr. Egol, vice chair for academic affairs, orthopedic surgery.
Enthusiastic support for the venture came from
Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD
, the Walter A. L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, who partnered with Dr. Egol as co-executive producer. Financial backing arrived, in part, from the department’s alumni association, and creative direction emerged from—fittingly—a patient. Peter Sanders, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who had been under Dr. Egol’s care for several years, most recently for a midfoot fracture, was hired as director.
Four years in the making,
On the Shoulders of Giants
spans more than 150 years over one engaging hour. The film’s narrative opens with Lewis A. Sayre, MD, considered the father of orthopedic surgery in North America, who was appointed Bellevue Medical College’s first professor of orthopedic surgery in 1861. Two of his trainees, Drs. Herman and Henry Frauenthal, sons of a shoemaker, started a seven-bed “dispensary” called the Jewish Hospital for Deformities and Joint Diseases in a Harlem brownstone.
The hospital eventually relocated from upper Manhattan to 17th Street and Second Avenue. In 1979, it was renamed The Hospital for Joint Diseases, and seven years later, merged with NYU Langone. Today, the hospital is known as
NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
. The film also highlights the department’s place in the history of New York City and its commitment to gender, racial, and cultural diversity.
“I walked into the Hospital for Joint Diseases in July of 1984,” Dr. Zuckerman recalls. “Forty years later, I’m still walking through its front door, though the landscape and my role in it have changed significantly. Thousands and thousands of patients have benefited from NYU Langone Orthopedics. This film shows the trajectory of our department from a humble hospital in a Harlem brownstone to a powerhouse of innovation and influence.”
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Kenneth A. Egol, MD
Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD
Care & Services
NYU Langone Orthopedics
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NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
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Department of Orthopedic Surgery
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We use cookies and similar tools to give you the best website experience. By using our site, you accept our
Websites Privacy Policy
.
If you need help accessing our website, call 855-698-9991
A
s chief of orthopedic trauma in NYU Langone Health’s
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
,
Kenneth A. Egol, MD
, understands that when a bone breaks, it knits back together with new bone tissue to form a stronger union. Last year, Dr. Egol experienced the wonder of a different kind of joint venture. A film he nurtured into existence with other collaborators,
On the Shoulders of Giants: The History of NYU Langone Orthopedics
, became a finalist for Best Documentary at the 23rd Tribeca Festival, an annual film gala in lower Manhattan that hosts more than 600 screenings.
A self-described history buff, Dr. Egol, the Joseph E. Milgram Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, has been fascinated by his department’s pioneers since his residency at NYU Langone in the late 1990s. So much so, in fact, that he led a group of residents and research students in an effort to catalog the biographies and contributions of these clinical luminaries.
The project made Dr. Egol realize he had the ingredients for a rich documentary that would chronicle the origin, evolution, and impact of one of America’s leading specialty hospitals. NYU Langone, ranked No. 3 in the nation for orthopedics on
U.S. News & World Report
’s Best Hospitals list, trains more orthopedic surgeons than any other institution in the country. Its 200 physicians and surgeons perform more than 34,000 orthopedic procedures annually. “I was convinced there was a compelling story others needed to know,” says Dr. Egol, vice chair for academic affairs, orthopedic surgery.
Enthusiastic support for the venture came from
Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD
, the Walter A. L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, who partnered with Dr. Egol as co-executive producer. Financial backing arrived, in part, from the department’s alumni association, and creative direction emerged from—fittingly—a patient. Peter Sanders, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who had been under Dr. Egol’s care for several years, most recently for a midfoot fracture, was hired as director.
Four years in the making,
On the Shoulders of Giants
spans more than 150 years over one engaging hour. The film’s narrative opens with Lewis A. Sayre, MD, considered the father of orthopedic surgery in North America, who was appointed Bellevue Medical College’s first professor of orthopedic surgery in 1861. Two of his trainees, Drs. Herman and Henry Frauenthal, sons of a shoemaker, started a seven-bed “dispensary” called the Jewish Hospital for Deformities and Joint Diseases in a Harlem brownstone.
The hospital eventually relocated from upper Manhattan to 17th Street and Second Avenue. In 1979, it was renamed The Hospital for Joint Diseases, and seven years later, merged with NYU Langone. Today, the hospital is known as
NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
. The film also highlights the department’s place in the history of New York City and its commitment to gender, racial, and cultural diversity.
“I walked into the Hospital for Joint Diseases in July of 1984,” Dr. Zuckerman recalls. “Forty years later, I’m still walking through its front door, though the landscape and my role in it have changed significantly. Thousands and thousands of patients have benefited from NYU Langone Orthopedics. This film shows the trajectory of our department from a humble hospital in a Harlem brownstone to a powerhouse of innovation and influence.”
Our Experts
Kenneth A. Egol, MD
Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD
Care & Services
NYU Langone Orthopedics
Locations
NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
Departments & Institutes
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Need help finding a doctor?
Search all doctors
or call 844-698-7243.
Related Articles
Patient Care
,
Leaders in Medicine
,
Digital Health
Why More People in Their 40s Are Opting for Knee & Hip Replacements
Renowned orthopedic surgeon Ran Schwarzkopf, MD, breaks down the reasons.
September 2, 2025
Patient Care
,
Press Releases
NYU Langone Health Leads the Nation with Four No. 1–Ranked Specialties by U.S. News & World Report
All 13 of its ranked clinical specialties were in the top 20, with 9 in the top 5.
July 29, 2025
We can help you find a doctor.
Call
646-929-7800
or
browse our specialists
.
Patient Care
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
MyChart Patient Login
Patient Forms
Contact Us
Give
Education & Research
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
Current site
Current page