Hospital for Special Surgery, the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health, today announced the appointments of Lan Zhou, MD, PhD, as Neurologist-in-Chief and Chair of the Marcia Dunn and Jonathan Sobel Department of Neurology at HSS; and Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, MBA, as Anesthesiologist-in-Chief and Director of the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management.
Dr. Memtsoudis succeeds Gregory A. Liguori, MD, who has led the department with distinction for the past 21 years. As Chief Emeritus, Dr. Liguori will focus on his practice at HSS, continue to chair the Credentials Committee and teach as a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, and maintain his roles on the Medical Board, Physician Practice Committee, and MIAC.
Dr. Zhou will succeed Interim Chair Matthew E. Fink, MD, who will return full-time to his role as Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Neurologist-in-Chief at NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Fink accepted HSS’ request to serve as interim leader following the retirement of Dale J. Lange, MD, who led the department for 13 years. Dr. Zhou will lead the continued advancement of HSS’ Neurology Department in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine Neurology.
“Drs. Fink and Ligouri have provided instrumental support for their clinical colleagues exemplifying excellence in medicine—HSS is grateful for their leadership,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, President and CEO, HSS. “We are thrilled to have the expertise and stewardship of Dr. Zhou and Dr. Memtsoudis in advancing translational and clinical research programs that will serve the needs of all of our patient populations. Their collaborative approaches to musculoskeletal health will strengthen our multidisciplinary services and further improve patient care and recovery.”
“HSS is recognized as a leader in musculoskeletal health because of the unparalleled number of talented and accomplished experts who call it home,” said Douglas Padgett, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director at HSS. “The appointments of Dr. Memtsoudis and Dr. Zhou embody our tradition of strong leaders committed to addressing pain and movement challenges, continuing the advancement of our rich clinical pipeline toward improved health and wellness for everyone.”
Stavros Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, MBA
Dr. Memtsoudis is board-certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine. He earned his medical degree and PhD from Georg-August-University Medical School, in Goettingen, Germany, in 1999, and his MBA from the University of Massachusetts in 2018. Dr. Memtsoudis joined HSS after completing subspecialty training in critical care medicine, cardiac care, and thoracic anesthesiology. He is widely recognized for his clinical expertise in the perioperative care of orthopedic patients with advanced cardiovascular and pulmonary disease as well as his prolific research into perioperative care. During the height of COVID-19, elective surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, were canceled to accommodate patients requiring hospital admission. Dr. Memtsoudis was instrumental in leading musculoskeletal medical teams at HSS in managing critical care patients.
As a senior scientist, Dr. Memtsoudis directs research initiatives on cardiopulmonary physiology and population-based outcomes research. His findings have been published in more than 380 peer-reviewed articles. Due to his prominence in the field of perioperative research, Dr. Memtsoudis has won several prestigious research awards, frequently lectures on the topic, and serves on anesthesia and pain medicine boards nationally and internationally.
“Excellence and continuity of patient care are our highest priorities at HSS,” said Dr. Memtsoudis. “I have the pleasure of being a member of an incredible team of experts, and I’m equally passionate about working alongside internationally prominent clinician-scientists who prioritize delivering the highest-quality care to all our patients.”
Dr. Memtsoudis’s new role is effective immediately.
Lan Zhou, MD, PhD
Dr. Zhou is a nationally renowned neuromuscular specialist with a long history of clinical and academic accomplishments. She earned her medical degree from Shanghai Medical University School of Medicine in China (now Fudan University Medical Center) in 1989 before completing her PhD in developmental biology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1995. Previously, Dr. Zhou served as a staff neurologist at Cleveland Clinic, an associate professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and pathology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a professor of neurology and neurotherapeutics and pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She comes to HSS from Boston University School of Medicine, where she has served as a professor of neurology and pathology and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Neurology.
Dr. Zhou cares for patients with neuromuscular diseases and regularly performs and interprets nerve, muscle, and skin biopsies as part of her practice. She has special interests in small-fiber neuropathy, inflammatory myopathy, myasthenia gravis, and neuromuscular pathology. Additionally, she is recognized as an outstanding educator and muscle research scientist. She runs a National Institutes of Health–funded research program to study muscle inflammation, fibrosis, and regeneration associated with skeletal muscle injury and repair. In her new role at HSS, she will establish a clinical diagnostic neuromuscular pathology laboratory.
“I’m honored to take on this new role, building upon and developing new programs that will continue to serve the diverse patient communities at HSS,” said Dr. Zhou. “My passion is to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients and families living with neuromuscular diseases and to work with musculoskeletal teams to develop effective treatments to help them live better.”
Dr. Zhou’s new role is effective March 1, 2024.
About HSS
HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 14th consecutive year), No. 2 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2023-2024), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2023-2024). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a third consecutive year (2023). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.
