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Brian C. Halpern, MD

Primary Sports Medicine
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About Dr. Halpern

 

Dr. Brian Halpern was the first nonsurgical, fellowship-trained and board certified sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Halpern founded the Primary Sports Medicine program at HSS, one of the first PSM programs within a hospital in the United States, and served as its first Chief of Service for seven years. 

Dr. Halpern has been one of the pioneers in the non-operative approach to acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems, and has been a leader in the field both at HSS and nationally. His vision of how the field of sports medicine can impact research, education, and patient care is exemplified by his role as a Founder of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, which is now the largest organization of sports medicine physicians and team physicians in the US. Further, he was a long time President of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Foundation (AMSSM). Most recently, he was honored by being named the AMSSM Senior Traveling fellow of 2019, where he will be traveling to Japan to exchange research and best clinical practices.

In the research arena, Dr. Halpern has been a leader in developing research and clinical practices in the use of orthobiologics. This has now evolved into the field of regenerative medicine. Research conducted in the HSS PSM service has great potential for the treatment of all patients and for the future of joint repair. 

Known to his patients for his empathy and big heart, Dr. Halpern, along with other members of World T.E.A.M. Sports, an organization that brings adaptive and able-bodied athletes together in sports, won an Emmy Award for the documentary “Vietnam: Long Time Coming.” The 1998 film documents his efforts to bring orthopedic care and rehabilitation services to post-war Vietnam and Vietnam veterans. In honor of his work in Vietnam, Dr. Halpern was the first recipient of the AMSSM Humanitarian Award.

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Departments

Specialized Centers

HSS Center for Regenerative Medicine
Children and Adolescent Hand and Arm (CHArm) Center

Special Expertise

Regenerative medicine
Acute injuries
Overuse injuries
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for tendinopathy and arthritis
Sports-related injuries
Problems affecting the shoulder, upper arm, wrist, hand, spine, hip, knee, lower leg, ankle, and foot

Procedures

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for tendinopathy and arthritis

Patient Stories

Videos

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Chief Emeritus, Primary Sports Medicine Service, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery
Clinical Associate Professor in Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Professor, Department of Academic Orthopedic Surgery, NY College of Podiatric Medicine

Affiliations

FAMSSM seal

Fellow of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (FAMSSM)
Advisory Board, International Society of Regenerative Medicine

Certification

Sports Medicine
Family Medicine

Awards

Castle Connolly Top Doctor, 20 Years
Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors, 2010-2018
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2003-2022
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2015-2022
New Jersey Life Top Doctors, 2005
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Humanitarian Award, 2000
Emmy Award, Vietnam: Long Time Coming, 1998

Education

MD, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York

Residency

University of Maryland, Maryland

Fellowship

Hughston Sports Medicine Clinic

State Licensure

Languages

English

For My Patients

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Videos

Dr. Halpern discusses how platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may help treat injured bone or soft tissue, such as a tendon or ligament.

Publications by Dr. Halpern

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

Selected Presentations

"Medicine in Motion Beyond the Clinic - Giving Back". Keynote presentation at 2017 Annual Meeting of AMSSM, San Diego - May 2017.

Chaudhury S, Rodeo S, Warren R, Hayter C, Potter H, Nguyen J, Halpern B. "Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Following Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Elbow Epicondylitis". Poster presentation at 2012 AOSSM Annual Meeting, Baltimore -
July 12-15, 2012

Chaudhury S, Rodeo S, Warren R, Hayter C, Potter H, Nguyen J, Halpern B. "Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Following Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Elbow Epicondylitis". Poster presentation at 13th EFORT Congress, Berlin, Germany -
May 23-25, 2012

"Osteoarthritis and PRP".  Podium presentation during Biologic Therapies General Session at 2012 Annual Meeting of AMSSM, Atlanta - April 22, 2012

Lecture, PRP Biologics, New York College of Podiatric Medicine - 2012, 2013

Director of Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis Symposium at Hospital for Special Surgery - March 9, 2012

"Evidence for Using PRP for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis". Podium Presentation during Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis Symposium at Hospital for Special Surgery - March 9, 2012

Research

Research Interests

Clinical outcomes from intra-articular of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or hyaluronic acid compounds vs. usual care (exercise/diet/supplements) in the medical management of knee OA effects on pain and function: effects on articular cartilage: effects on time to partial or total knee arthroplasty.

Clinical Trials / Research Studies

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Halpern as of January 22, 2024.

  • 360 Consultants, LLC - Serve as Board or Committee Member; Ownership Interest

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.

Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.

Dr. Halpern in the News