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Dr. Louis U. Bigliani, a leading expert in the treatment of shoulder disorders and Director of Orthopedic Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The ceremony took place at the Chapter's annual gala on November 25.

"The New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation is pleased to present Dr. Louis Bigliani with this award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to arthritis treatment, including surgery for arthritis disorders of the shoulder joint," said Ross Alfieri, New York Chapter President of the Arthritis Foundation. "The award also recognizes Dr. Bigliani's involvement with the Foundation, including his work as member of the orthopedic fellowship committee, which will award the Chapter's first fellowship in orthopedic surgery next year."

Dr. Bigliani, who is also the Frank E. Stinchfield Professor and Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, has lectured extensively throughout the world and has made substantial contributions to literature in the field. In 1995, Dr. Bigliani was a co-principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant entitled "Biomechanical Factors in Osteoarthritis of the Glenohumeral Joint." Based on this research, and working in conjunction with Zimmer, Inc., of Warsaw, IN, Dr. Bigliani developed a shoulder arthroplasty system for management of arthritis disorders of the shoulder.

A graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois in 1972, Dr. Bigliani completed a surgical internship and first-year surgical residency at the Roosevelt Hospital in New York City in 1974. That same year, Dr. Bigliani began his orthopedic surgery residency at the New York Orthopaedic Hospital. During his last year of residency, he was selected Chief Resident and became the Senior Annie C. Cane Fellow in Shoulder and Implant Surgery. From 1978 to 1983, he was Chief of Adult Surgical Services at Helen Hayes Hospital, including the Rheumatoid Arthritis Unit. In 1995, Dr. Bigliani became Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center and served as Vice Chairman from 1993 until 1998, when he became Chair and Director of the department. Since 1990, he has also served as the Chief of the Shoulder Service and Fellowship Program that has trained many academic and practicing shoulder surgeons involved in arthritis surgery.

The New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation Gala helps support research, patient education, and outreach projects for two million residents with arthritis in the New York Chapter region. Since 1948, the New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation has been the primary advocate for people with arthritis in the New York area. By supporting significant arthritis research projects and offering an array of patient disease management and educational resources, the Chapter provides help and hope to New Yorkers with arthritis.