Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) honored Paul Pellicci, M.D., chief emeritus of the Hip Service, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its 35th Tribute Dinner on June 4, 2018 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Dr. Pellicci was, at the time of his induction, the youngest surgeon ever to be admitted to the prestigious Hip Society.
Dr. Pellicci graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Cornell University Medical College. “He received his training in General Surgery at the New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center from 1975 to 1977, in orthopedic surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery from 1977 to 1980, and in Adult Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in 1980. Dr. Pellicci then returned to HSS, where he has spent his entire career, becoming chief of the Hip Service in 1993 and continued in that role until 2005. He received the Philip D. Wilson, Jr., MD Teaching Award in 1996 and 2005.”
“Dr. Pellicci began his career at HSS over four decades ago and his outstanding medical accomplishments have contributed to HSS being recognized as the number one destination for hip and knee replacements,” said Todd Albert, M.D., surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS. “His superior surgical techniques have created a longstanding foundation for joint replacements, and the surgeon community is grateful for his exemplary work.”
Dr. Pellicci told OTW, “As a medical student I was familiar with HSS and the exposure to joint replacement made me realize that this is what I wanted to do. When I started my residency, hip replacement surgery was relatively new and knee replacement was newer than that, but all of the interesting things were happening in this field. The gratefulness that I’ve had for my HSS mentors I wanted to pass it along to the next generation of surgeons and hopefully they will do that with the next group. I’ve been fortunate to be in this field which has grown and evolved into what it is today, and I’m truly honored to receive this award as I have dedicated my career to improving my patients’ quality of life through joint replacements.”
Hey Doc… Paul Pellicci, MD that is. It’s your “buddy”/patient from 03/1986… yeah, that’s right, its the male 26 year-old sports-nut kid from Park Ridge, NJ with a 7.3 year old right hip fracture that you did your magic on: replacement of femur, head & cup… right side, remember? Still practicing? You’ll likely jump up after being 6 feet in the grave stating, “I’ll handle that one”! I just want to recognize you for what I did not know until today: what an award! and the youngest recipient ever. That’s amazing, but not surprising at all. You were referred to by the best hip guys in the world. Yes, world. Hope you’re well buddy. I’ve never been better. Peace & serenity doc, peace & serenity to you & yours. RIP Kevin at Panache’. Jimmy Bels