I spent 3 years trying different therapies for relief from intense sciatic pain. After a failed…read morelaminectomy (authored by a different physician at a major NYC hospital), a Castle & Connolly physician recommended Dr. McCance. One month later, Dr. McCance surgically corrected the prior surgery. I was, within a few days following surgery, completely pain free for the first time in years. Now, 5 years to the month (almost) later after his surgery, I am still pain free. To everyone, he is Dr. McCance. To me, he is Saint McCance.

Dr Matusz has operated on me 3 different times for spinal stenosis and I think he is an…read moreextraordinary surgeon and an extremely compassionate doctor. He explained his procedures and my post operative care clearly and directly and answered all my questions quickly during recovery. I am grateful to him for the active life I still lead and for helping me to face the surgeries without fear . I recommend him to anyone with spinal issues l

Dr. Baaj working at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix at the time, performed a spine fusion on…read moreme in 2021 from my pelvis to T10, I'm a male, age 62 in 2021. After 2 weeks during after surgery follow up I asked him why I was tilting to the left, he said all my muscles were cut and I would have to wait for 2 years for my muscles to get strong enough to straighten me back up. 3 months later the rods came out of the couplings and had to go back in for surgery to put them back in. Over the 2 year period I was having a lot of trouble because I was tilted to the left. After 2 years I asked for it to be fixed because I was having to much pain, and Dr. Baaj responded that no surgeon would ever go back in to fix it because I was high risk and should look into getting a lift placed in my left shoe to straighten me up. I did so having a foot specialist determine it would take a 7/8" lift to equalize me. The lift never helped, so I was not only living with pain but also was getting depressed because I had nothing to look forward to. I moved to San Diego in December 2023 and started going to a pain management doctor, he decided to send me to see a Neurosurgeon for a consultation in mid 24, thinking he could assist with all the pain I was having at T10. He was unable to assist but said I should see Dr. Mundis, an Orthopedic Surgeon at Scripps in La Jolla. Dr Mundis said he could help, I was under the impression that he was going to do something around the T10 area, but he informed me that he was going to pull out all the hardware from my pelvis to T10 and install new hardware from my pelvis to T3. He determined with testing that I was not high risk and he promised I would once again be straight and if I wasn't he would go back in and fix any issues. I actually had tears in my eyes because it gave me hope. Just as a note, I was actually straight, looking front to back before my surgery with Dr. Baaj, but from side to side I was a mess. I went through the new spine fusion in Oct 24 and as promised I was perfectly straight. I highly recommend Dr. Mundis for severely deformed spines. To close, I put down that MAYBE I would recommend Dr. Baaj for future surgeries, because advancements in technology could assist Dr. Baaj to better insure the spine fusions turn out the way they are supposed to turn out. I may have been a difficult case, but Dr. Baaj never once offered to correct the fusion after he realized I was tilting to the left. 2nd, he took all my hope away when he said that no other doctor would ever go back in to fix it, so I lived with it for 3.5 years until I found out otherwise. You may turn out well with Dr. Baaj but I lost all confidence in him. If any Doctor ever wanted to view the before and after views of Dr. Baaj's work and the results of Dr. Mundis's work, all they need to look at are the full body X-rays. I suffered for 3.5 years and had it not been for a caring pain management doctor, Dr. Patel who actually cared about getting me some relief and getting me off of morphine I would still be suffering because I was not looking for another surgeon because Dr. Baaj told me himself that no surgeon would ever go back in to fix it. These comments are true to the best of my memory.

Horrible. Basilar Invaginarion. Failure & my daughter got MRSA & Sepsis & is on life long…read moreantibiotics. We noticed green infection right away f called Dr. Leslie Cohen Plastic Surgeon made us wait until our 2 week visit to see her & sis not perform blood work. We listened to them & she suffered thru many months of treatment ,intubation opening & cleaning the wound,surgery for lumps pic lines & still years later the surgery failed & no one will touch her because of the poor surgery that was done by Dr. Baaj & Dr. Leslie Cohen. She has no life because & neither do we. They promised she would be better but they made her worse. I felt confident when we first met them now I'm sorry I entrusted my daughter. Cohen wasn't even Board Certified when she did the surgery we found out later & we traveled from Pa to N.Y. & she never had the equipment when got there. We made trips there for nothing. She was very disorganized & never showed compassion. Being a fool I even bought her flowers as a thank you gift. Yellow because she said she like yellow flowers & had them at her wedding. I'm not mean but I'm so hurt what they did to my daughter & no one stood up for her or helped her. We couldn't get a lawyer because when they found out who her parents were they wouldn't take the case. Up until then they were all into it. Guess they have a lot of political pull also. Even within the hospital their lawyer was brusk with my husband but I bet if it was her children or grandchildren it would be a different story. Even after all these years I had to say something because eats away when she can't sleep because she hurts so badly & her neck is twisted. They fused her neck so she can't turn it screwin it are loose f she's always in pain & no one can or will help her. I curse the day I entrusted my daughter to these drs.

Had surgery in 1997. Its 2024 and thanks to Dr.Elowitz i was able to see my son grow to the 31yr…read moreold man he is today and many more years to go . Thank you with sincerely appreciation [:

My mother and I are both thrilled with Dr. Elowitz' expertise. My mother is 84 years old and had…read morebeen in severe pain for three years. Her back pain radiated into her left leg and she had great difficulty walking, sitting and lying down. Her lifestyle changed dramatically and she could no longer keep up in activities with my father. My mother tried the usual treatments ie. chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and epidural injections however did not experience any lasting relief. A laminectomy was the only answer. I researched surgeons for my mother as I am a registered nurse. I found three top spine surgeons including Dr. Elowitz in NYC and we scheduled consult appointments with each. Dr. Elowitz was the only surgeon who was confident that a minimally invasive laminectomy was the way to go. The other surgeons wanted to cut up and rebuild my mother's spine (including performing a fusion) which was way over the top for an 84 year old woman. My mother and I did not feel that she would survive the recovery period for a fusion which is very involved. We chose Dr. Elowitz to perform my mother's surgery. Her care was top notch every step of the way. From admitting to preop to operating room to recovery room to the hospital floor where my mother stayed overnight (as did I), everyone we dealt with was professional, competent and ready to help. Dr. Elowitz even has hospital privileges to admit his patients to the 15th floor at Weill Cornell which is a post surgical floor with only private rooms and views of NYC and the river. We were very impressed. Dr. Elowitz spoke with us before the surgery, numerous times on the day of the surgery and checked on my mother at 7:00 AM the day after the surgery. He gave us as much time as we needed to answer all questions and told us to contact him at any time if we needed him. The surgery went well. My mother is presently 10 days postop and feels much better. She no longer has tingling down her leg. Dr. Elowitz says that my mother's nerve was damaged over the past three years and that she will continue to see improvement over the next few months as her nerve repairs itself. My parents have been going for walks all over the neighborhood since her second day postop! My mother could barely walk before the surgery from her bed to the bathroom. We absolutely made the right decision to go with Dr. Elowitz for surgery. He obviously is capable of performing a more intensive surgery (as the other surgeons we consulted suggested) but he took into consideration my mother's age and type of recovery that she would experience and performed the perfect surgery for her. I highly recommend Dr. Elowitz. He is a highly competent neurosurgeon who happens to have a wonderful bedside manner as well. Edward Butler, NP: My mother and I are very impressed with the competence, practical knowledge and professionalism of Ed Butler, who is Dr. Elowitz' NP (Nurse Practitioner). My mother is 84 years old and needed a laminectomy. I am a registered nurse and helped my mother chose Dr. Elowitz as her neurosurgeon. We spoke with Ed Butler who took a through history before we saw Dr. Elowitz. We also met with Ed at the two week postop visit before seeing Dr. Elowitz as well. Ed treated us with respect and responded to all of our many questions. Ed has worked in spine surgery for quite some time and has a wealth of experience to draw upon. My mother thought that she was having an allergic reaction two days postop and we called the office. We were put through immediately to Ed who considered my mother's symptoms and gave recommendations. Ed realized that my mother was experiencing throat tightness due to residual soreness from the breathing tube that had been inserted during surgery and was not having an allergic reaction. I had told my mother the same thing but she had to hear it from Ed, not me. A few days later, my mother called Ed with another question and he promptly called her back. All too often, it is very difficult to get in contact with medical personnel after surgery. The patient seems to be forgotten. That is not the case with Dr. Elowitz and Ed Butler. They make their patients very comfortable and assure them that they are always available for problems or questions.

Mar 27 2025 1:48 PM Thank you Dr. Spiegel for the…read moreexceptional care I received today fot a median nerve block procedure.The entire process was handled seamlessly. Your gentle touch, warm sense of humor and interest in your patients, immediately put me at ease with minimal discomfort. A big thanks to Gwen for a gentle hand to hold. I began feeling relief immediately and could have walked 2 miles if given no restrictions. Special thanks also to Samatha & Zara as we move forward in a Pain Management Plan.

Great doctor explains everything answers all questions and very professional love the fact they…read morestay open pretty late so I didn't have to miss a days work

I had A horrific car accident in 2018 was beyond petrified to have the neck surgery due to four…read moreherniations and a pinched nerve in my neck, interviewed eight Spinal surgeons the moment I met Dr. Lebl I felt I was in good hands. I had the surgery on election day of 2022 was released the next day. had zero pain in my neck from the surgery. It took me four years to get the courage to have the surgery wish I would've met Dr. level from the beginning

I had what should have been a routine discectomy with Dr. Lebl. One week after surgery my back…read morelooked like the skin had been attached to the wrong place (not just according to me, according to a plastic surgeon I consulted). Dr Lebl insisted this was normal and it would 'resolve' itself. 5 weeks after surgery the skin had come loose and filled with fluid (a seroma, extremely rare in properly done discectomies), which started leaking and got infected, necessitating a second surgery after which I carried around a blood bag and a suction machine for 2 weeks. In order to re-close the wound properly the plastic surgeon had to pull paraspinal muscles over my spinal column and now I have a significant and permanent lump on my lumbar spine. After the first surgery Dr Lebl did not follow up with me unless I called him or emailed him multiple times. After week 1 (at which point he had seen the wound closure) he didn't follow up at all. At no point did he ever mention that a seroma was a possibility or that I should be careful. If he had it's possible this wouldn't have happened, or it could have been caught before it started leaking and got infected. Throughout the entire process he was unresponsive, unsympathetic and seemingly uninterested in anything I was going through. There are many wonderful orthopedic surgeons in NYC - do what I wish I had, and pick anyone other than Dr. Lebl.

Amar S. Ranawat MD. orthopedic surgeon performed a total knee replacement in HSS, Manhattan. Dr…read more Amar S. Ranawat accurately diagnosed my condition and explained my treatment options in detail. He patiently answered all my questions. Scheduling appointments was quick and easy, and I appreciate the flexible hours. The staff at Dr Ranawat office was also outstanding. They were friendly, efficient, and caring, creating a welcoming and supportive environment throughout the journey. The waiting area was clean and comfortable. The surgery went smoothly, and Dr. Amar S. Ranawat skill and precision were impressive. Recovery has been quick and comfortable, exceeding expectations. The incision site is minimal and clean, demonstrating Dr. Amar S. Ranawat surgical expertise. My life is back to normal. This was the best service I have ever received in New York. Very thorough, knowledge service with the smile. People really care. I'm extremely grateful and highly recommend Dr. Amar S. Ranawat from the bottom of my heart to anyone needing a skilled and compassionate surgeon who prioritizes patient well-being and delivers exceptional care. My Surgeon doctor Amar S. Ranawat is one of the best doctors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in NY. I am eternally grateful. Nina

Dr. Bitan and his entire staff saved my life. I was in a terrible accident and broke my neck. I…read morewas referred to Dr. Bitan's office and they immediately treated me like part of their family. Dr. Bitan performed emergency surgery on July 3rd, and visited me in the hospital on the 4th of July when most people were leaving for vacation. Every staff member was so professional and the care, concern and respect that every member of my family felt was unbelievable. Every office visit was prompt, efficient, and most of all friendly personnel greeted us every time. I thank Dr. Bitan and his wonderful staff for literally giving me my life back.

Delivering the utmost in quality care is what makes Memorial Sloan Kettering the stellar medical…read morehospital and cancer research center in the world. Besides my superb top quality medical team of Surgeons and Oncologists, I found the Nurses go above and beyond in their work, providing genuine care with such grace and pure empathy, often tending to patients as if family. Let's take a moment to praise the nurses. This year, 2025 I am a twenty years cancer survivor and visit MSKCC annually for my check up. It's key to stay informed and hopefully catch symptoms as early as possible. Sending prayers for healing and blessings to those who are going through the journey of one of the most difficult of diagnoses. Let us hope and pray they find a cure someday soon. Wishing you and yours a blessed healthy happy Thanksgiving. Thank you

ORIGIN: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) was…read moreformed in 1980 when the first U.S. hospital dedicated to cancer treatment -- New York Cancer Hospital (1884), later renamed Memorial Hospital for the Treatment of Cancer (1899) -- merged with the Sloan Kettering Institute, a research institution founded in 1945 by philanthropists Alfred Sloan and Charles Kettering. CONCEPT: The hospital is dedicated to research and procedures (both inpatient and outpatient) associated with cancer treatment. LOCATION: This location represents the first and oldest site associated with MSKCC. It was constructed in the 1930s as part of what later became known as the Sloan Kettering Institute. SURGERY EXPERIENCE: This site (circa 1939) is not intuitive to navigate, the product of limited available space and development of new cancer treatments and associated technologies. Nonetheless receptionists on the ground floor provide the necessary guidance to get to your designated location (including specific elevators). Unlike the new MSKCC sites that are scattered across the city and surrounding suburbs, there appears to be little effort in making the main location peaceful or attractive. However it's important to keep in mind that MSKCC is highly regarded for cancer treatment, ranking second in the nation in U.S. News and World Report (2025) and first in oncology in Newsweek (2026). Hospital staff are professional, patient, and friendly making the experience less stressful. The staff appear to share a stance of not overwhelming patients with information, but are immediately able to answer questions and concerns as they are presented. That said, it's best to be familiar with the current and anticipated next step in care in order to make sure it is enacted as expected. Twice during the three day hospital stay there was need to point out an error in post-surgery protocol, and both were acknowledged and corrected (necessity of limited diet (liquid) and application of intermittent pneumatic compression sleeves to reduce likelihood of blood clots). Hospital meals can become the highlight of a patient's day. There are many options, including some offerings apparently inspired by menus at fine restaurants. Meat and fish dishes arrive well-done, perhaps due to being warmed under dome for long period between preparation and transport to room or prioritization of food safety. If the meals are not tolerable, alternatives in the neighborhood are abundant (e.g. NAYA, Chopt) as long as a way to get take out delivered to the hospital room (such as through a visitor) is navigated. Despite being located without a designated car drop off/pick up area along York Avenue, car pick up after patient discharge was well-orchestrated, and thus not as inconvenient nor difficult as we had anticipated.