Hospital for Special Surgery to Host International Arthritis Summit in 2011

NEW YORK, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) plans to host a two-day international Osteoarthritis Summit in June 2011. The Hospital, internationally recognized for its leadership in the fields of orthopedics and rheumatology, will bring together, for the first time, a truly comprehensive multidisciplinary group of world renowned scientists, thought-leaders and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Europe, to discuss all aspects of OA and develop a consensus document on future directions for OA research, prevention and treatment.

"Public health data indicate that the prevalence, impact, and economic consequences of osteoarthritis are expected to rise dramatically within the next several decades. Clearly, understanding and preventing this disease is an urgent research challenge," said Steven Goldring, M.D., chief scientific officer at Hospital for Special Surgery and co-director of the conference. Timothy Wright, Ph.D., Kirby Chair of Orthopedic Biomechanics at HSS, is also a co-director of the event.

Hospital for Special Surgery is at the forefront of the national movement focused on elevating awareness of OA as well as the research, patient care, and innovation necessary to improve the outcomes in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most urgent health care challenges of our time, affecting 27 million Americans.

About Hospital for Special Surgery

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 2 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology and No. 24 in neurology by U.S. News & World Report (2009), and has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2010, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. A member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery