Northwell has appointed Brandon Erickson, MD, as the inaugural chair of the newly established orthopedics department at Phelps Hospital and as director of orthopedics for Westchester County. Dr. Erickson will lead the expansion of orthopedic services across all subspecialties, focusing on improving quality of care, enhancing the patient experience and closing gaps in access to care in Westchester. He will also continue to maintain an active clinical practice with a focus on treating sports-related injuries.
In his new role, Dr. Erickson will oversee the recruitment of top specialists across all orthopedic areas including sports medicine, joint replacements, and surgical treatments for the spine, shoulder, hand, wrist, foot, and ankle. Seven specialists have already joined the team at Phelps to ensure a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to orthopedic care.
Dr. Erickson’s appointment builds on his extensive experience in orthopedic surgery. He previously served as section chief of shoulder and elbow surgery at Phelps Hospital and as a sports medicine and shoulder surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics. His clinical expertise includes treating a wide range of athletic and non-athletic injuries, as well as degenerative conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, and knee.
“I’m excited to help lead Northwell’s efforts to deliver world-class orthopedic care to the Westchester community,” said Dr. Erickson. “Together with our talented team, we’ll continue to advance care, using the latest technology and techniques to provide the best outcomes for our patients.”
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Erickson is actively involved in orthopedic research and education. He currently serves as an assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and has previously taught at the Jefferson University School of Medicine and the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University. He has delivered over 200 lectures, has contributed to more than 50 book chapters and has authored over 240 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on topics like pitching mechanics, ligament injuries and arthroscopic techniques.
Dr. Erickson’s commitment to expanding access to care led him to join a medical mission in 2017 to a remote town in the Dominican Republic, where he performed life-changing orthopedic procedures for underserved patients.
In addition to his global outreach, Dr. Erickson brings his expertise in sports medicine to the highest levels of competition. He is currently the assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies and has provided orthopedic sideline coverage for several MLB teams, including the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.
A recognized leader in his field, Dr. Erickson serves on key committees within prestigious professional organizations, including the Major League Baseball (MLB) Pitch Smart Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Shoulder and Elbow Evaluation Committee and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Abstract Review Committee.
Dr. Erickson’s contributions to medicine have earned him widespread recognition, including being named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for the past three years. The AOSSM honored him with the Fellow Research Award for Clinical Science for his pioneering research into non-surgical treatments for elbow injuries in professional baseball players, while the European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and the Elbow awarded him the Grammont Award for his research on shoulder replacements.
His strong foundation in orthopedics began with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Erickson then completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center and his fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
