Dr. Geoffrey H. Westrich
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

About Dr. Westrich

Dr. Geoffrey Westrich is an accomplished and highly respected orthopedic surgeon. He is a Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery on the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at the renowned Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, where he sees patients with hip and knee issues and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. HSS is consistently ranked the #1 hospital for orthopedics nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.

To see a hospital video of Dr. Westrich discussing how joint replacement can give people a new lease on life, and how to choose a physician and hospital, click here »

Dr. Westrich is a foremost expert in diagnosing and treating complex injuries and diseases of the hip and knee in adults of all ages, including the customized treatment of arthritis involving the hip and knee. He performs robotic-assisted partial and total joint replacement, as well as complex revision hip and knee replacement procedures. Because he is highly specialized in these areas, Dr. Westrich is able to provide the highest level of care. Patients travel from around the country and around the world to see him for his consultation and expertise, and he has taken on the most challenging cases – patients that other doctors decline to treat. He is knowledgeable of the latest advances that will benefit patients and conducts research to advance the field. Dr. Westrich was the Director of Research for the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at HSS for over 15 years and has published more than 250 peer reviewed articles, case reports, and book chapters.

As a Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Dr. Westrich trains other doctors who want to specialize in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. He was also the President of the prestigious Eastern Orthopaedic Association in 2016. In addition, Dr. Westrich is currently the Co-Chairman of the Infection Control Committee and Co-Chairman of the Complex Case Review Panel at HSS.

Before he became an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Westrich received a bachelor's degree in Engineering. Upon graduating from Tufts University School of Engineering, he was invited to join Eta Kappa Nu, the prestigious Engineering Honors Society. Combining his background in engineering with his orthopedic surgery training, Dr. Westrich has become a leading expert in hip and knee replacement surgery, performing approximately 500 procedures each year. His specialties include minimally invasive total hip and knee replacements, partial knee replacements, robotic-assisted partial and total joint replacements, complex revision surgery, recalled hip and knee surgery, dual mobility hip replacement, cementless knee replacement, and fracture treatment of the hip and knee.

By combining his degree in engineering with his orthopedic expertise, Dr. Westrich is considered a “surgeon designer” of hip and knee prostheses and actively works with companies to design new and improved joint replacements and surgical instrumentation.

Dr. Westrich does not hesitate to take on the most difficult cases, including revision surgery when a hip or knee implant needs to be replaced. He has expertise in treating infections and other serious complications after joint replacement. He has enabled patients to overcome the most challenging problems when other doctors said there was no hope.

With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Westrich has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures, striving to treat his patients with compassion and respect at all times

Dr. Westrich has won awards for studies that have advanced the field of orthopedic surgery. His current research focuses on improving the lifespan of joint replacements, so patients will hopefully only require one procedure in their lifetime to treat their arthritic hip or knee. Dr. Westrich is also actively involved in studies to reduce pain following joint replacement surgery and reduce the risk of complications.

Many patients are concerned about postoperative pain following a hip or knee replacement, and Dr. Westrich has published numerous studies that support multimodal pain management to make patients more comfortable following surgery. He has also published numerous studies on dual mobility hip replacement, a bearing option that prevents dislocation following hip replacement surgery. His current research involves the use of cementless total knee replacements that may provide better long-term fixation, thus eliminating the need for another surgery in the future. His interest in the latest advances that will benefit patients has led him to actively conduct research on robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery.

Dr. Westrich is named in America's Top Doctors, a guide that seeks to identify the best specialists in the United States. According to the book's publisher, "these outstanding doctors represent the top 1% in the nation" in their respective specialties. Dr. Westrich has also been featured in the book, Top Doctors: New York Metro Area and in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" guide.

Education

• Undergraduate: Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA
• Medical: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Training

• Internship: North Shore Hospital-Cornell University Program, Manhasset, NY
• Orthopedic Surgery Residency: Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, NY
• Hip and Knee Fellowship: Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, NY
• Orthopedic Trauma & Adult Reconstruction Fellowship: Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Orthopaedic Association
• American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
• Eastern Orthopaedic Association
• Arthritis Foundation
• American Medical Association
• New York County Medical Society
• Alpha Omega Alpha

Hospital Affiliations

• Hospital for Special Surgery
• New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center