NEW YORK-NOVEMBER 2: The 2009 NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Founders Gala on Monday, November 2, 2009 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Park Avenue at 50th Street, New York City, NY. The Hospital for Joint Diseases (HJD) raised more than $1 million to support programs designed to improve the lives of people with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders at its annual Founders Gala on Monday night at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. Hosted by NYU Langone Medical Center dean and CEO, Robert I. Grossman, MD, the black-tie event was attended by more than 630 supporters. “What makes our Medical Center and our Hospital for Joint Diseases so fantastic are the people who have been steadfast supporters of our physicians and scientists, as well as our institution,” said Dr. Grossman. “The support we have received has catalyzed amazing strides in musculoskeletal health and the field of orthopaedics, and in bringing our future to our present.” The mission of HJD is to provide the highest quality of surgical and therapeutic care in the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of musculoskeletal, rheumatic, immunological, neurological, and other related diseases and injuries. This year’s event represented the 23rd Founders Gala and marked the 104th anniversary celebration of HJD. This year’s gala was co-chaired by HJD Advisory Board Chair Robin L. Smith, MD., MBA, and fellow Advisory Board member Anthony G. Viscogliosi. Physician Co-Chairs were Steven Abramson, M.D., Andrew D. Rosenberg, M.D., Joseph D. Zuckerman, M.D. The Gala honored John W. Brown, chairman of the board of Stryker, for advancement in medical technologies; Thomas J. Errico, MD, associate professor, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, for the outstanding accomplishments he has made in his fields; and actor and active philanthropist Anthony Edwards, chairman of the foundation Shoe4Africa , who is working to build the first public children’s hospital in Kenya. “We are thrilled to be able to present awards to three distinguished gentlemen whose actions illustrate what humanitarianism is all about: providing kindness, help and benevolence, impartially, to all human beings,” said Ms. Smith. “Each of our honorees has helped to improve the lives of people with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize them for their outstanding achievements.” “We’ve made tremendous progress since the last time we gathered together for this annual celebration, and we have so much to show for it,” said Joseph D. Zuckerman, M.D., chairman, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; the Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU School of Medicine; and president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “In addition to our continued growth in our field, we have been ranked among the nation’s top hospitals in orthopaedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition not only honors the talent and dedication of our physicians and scientists, it also reminds us that HJD is a world-class institution with a long and distinguished history.” Attendees included: Kenneth G. ("Ken") Langone, chairman of the Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center, and his wife, Elaine; Robin L. Smith, MD, MBA, chairman of the NYUHJD Advisory Board of Directors; Michael Gardner; William A. Perlmuth; Douglas A. Phillips; Norma Smith (Gordon) and the following NYUHJD Advisory Board members: Susan Chapro, Alan Harris, MD, PhD, Felix Kaufman, PhD, Stanley Katzman, Merrill M. Kraines, Alan S. Samuels, Abraham (Axel) Stawski, MD, Carol Stone and Anthony G. Viscogliosi. PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2009 by Christopher London | tel: Private |e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com