Dr. David L. Helfet is annually ranked as one of New York Magazine's "Best Doctors in New York" and Castle-Connolly's "America's Top Doctors." Dr. Helfet is currently Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and Director Emeritus of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at both Hospital for Special Surgery and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Helfet is designated as the Orthopedic Trauma specialist for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and New York State Police and provides advanced orthopedic care to members who are injured in the line of duty. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town, receiving a BSc in Biochemistry with honors, followed by Medical School, where he received a M.B.CH.B. degree in 1975. His internship and surgical residency were completed at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, S.A. (1 yr) and at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, MD., followed by orthopaedic residency also at Johns Hopkins University (3 yrs), then fellowships at the University of Bern, Insel Hospital (1981) and at UCLA (1981-82). He was Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1/82 - 6/86), Associate Professor and Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of S. Florida School of Medicine/Tampa General Hospital (7/86-6/91) and at the Cornell University Medical College (7/91 - 6/98). He is currently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director of the Combined Orthopaedic Trauma Service at both the Hospital for Special Surgery and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Helfet has published extensively on orthopedic trauma topics including numerous articles and book chapters. He frequently presents at both national and international conferences on treatment of orthopedic trauma. He has received such visiting lectureships as the Presidential Guest and Watson-Jones Memorial Lecture of the British Orthopaedic Association, and has been the recipient of many honors and awards including the Philip D. Wilson Jr. Teaching Award.