Meet Dr. Peterson

Joel Peterson, MD is an ABOS Board-Eligible Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery. He grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC and later attended Princeton University graduating with degrees in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Neuroscience. He then attended Columbia University in New York City and completed a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology. Dr. Peterson earned his medical degree at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society before returning to Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital for Orthopedic Surgery residency training.

The Shoulder Service at Columbia University and the New York Orthopedic Hospital is the oldest and most prestigious in the world; its leaders are regarded as the foremost masters and pioneers in the field. During his time there, Dr. Peterson developed skills to treat the most complicated shoulder problems by working closely with his mentor, world-renowned shoulder surgeon and former president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Dr. William Levine.

Following the completion of residency, Dr. Peterson spent an additional year completing a fellowship in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, the consistently ranked #1 Orthopedic Hospital in the world. During that year he trained in the most advanced techniques in complex shoulder and elbow procedures under the leadership of Dr. Lawrence Gulotta and former ASES president, Dr. David Dines.

Through the use of advanced open and arthroscopic surgical techniques Dr. Peterson focuses on restoring damaged joints, ligaments and bones in the shoulder and elbow. He believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care, including utilization of physical therapy and conservative management to explore all alternatives of treatment before surgery is considered.

Dr. Peterson has a special interest in shoulder arthritis and joint replacement surgery. He also has a clinical interest in rotator cuff injuries, shoulder instability and labral tears, pectoralis and distal biceps tendon rupture, and elbow injuries and degenerative conditions. Dr. Peterson is also trained in upper extremity fracture care.

Dr. Peterson is an active member of numerous academic societies including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). He is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care with the highest level of compassion and expertise.

Surgical Training

Hospital for Special Surgery - Sports Medicine Institute

Fellowship - Shoulder & Elbow Surgery

Columbia University Medical Center - New York Presbyterian Hospital

Residency - Orthopedic Surgery

Internship - General and Orthopedic Surgery

Education

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

MD, Doctor of Medicine

Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

MA, Conservation Biology

Princeton University

AB, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Certificate of Proficiency, Neuroscience

Professional Memberships and Honors

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

AAOS - American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

ASES - American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons

AOA - Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society

MASES - Mid Atlantic Shoulder and Elbow Society Scholar

OMeGA Medical Grant Scholar

Publications

El-Najjar, D., Mehta, A., Gupta, P., Peterson, J. R., Rogalski, B., Marigi, E. M., Saltzman, B. M., Jobin, C. M., & Trofa, D. P. (2024). 30-day complications, operative time, and overnight admission following elective elbow arthroscopy. Shoulder & Elbow. https://doi.org/10.1177/17585732241249393

Frederick, J. S., Gazgalis, A., Peterson, J. R., Hickernell, T., Cooper, H. J., Shah, R. P., Geller, J. A., & Neuwirth, A. L. (2024). ACE inhibitor use does not significantly affect occurrence of manipulation under anesthesia following total knee arthroplasty. Journal of Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.60118/001c.89993

Lanham, N. S., Belyea, C. M., Peterson, J. R., Jobin, C. M., & Columbia University. (2023). Elbow arthroscopy: Essential principles of positioning, anatomy, and portal placement. Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, 28(8 Suppl), Article 328(8 Suppl). https://doi.org/10.1097/BTH.0000000000000457

Lanham, N., Peterson, J. R., Ahmed, R., Pearsall, C., Jobin, C. M., & Levine, W. N. (2022). Comparison of Glenoid Bone Grafting versus Augmented Glenoid Baseplates in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 32(4), Article 232(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2022.11.017

Boddapati, V., Lee, N. J., Mathew, J., Held, M. B., Peterson, J. R., Vulapalli, M. M., Lombardi, J. M., Dyrszka, M. D., Sardar, Z. M., Lehman, R. A., & Riew, K. D. (2022). Respiratory compromise after anterior cervical spine surgery: Incidence, subsequent complications, and independent predictors. Global Spine Journal, 12(8), 1647-1654. https://doi.org/10.1177/2192568220984469

Lopez, C., Gazgalis, A., Peterson, J. R., Confino, J. E., Levine, W. N., Popkin, C. A., & Lynch, T. S. (2022). Machine learning can accurately predict overnight stay, readmission, and 30-day complications following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, 39(5), Article 239(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2022.06.032

Ahmed, R., Lanham, N. S., Peterson, J. R., Jobin, C. M., & Levine, W. N. (2022). Characterization of ASES score pain and functional improvement after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty: A patient-centered perspective. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 31(5), 1042-1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2021.10.031

Lopez, C., Ding, J., Peterson, J. R., Ahmed, R., Heffernan, J. T., Lobao, M., Jobin, C. M., & Levine, W. N. (2022). Incidental pulmonary nodules found on shoulder arthroplasty preoperative CT scans. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty, 6, Article 247154922210907. https://doi.org/10.1177/24715492221090762

Boddapati, V., Mathew, J., Lee, N. J., Peterson, J. R., McCormick, K. L., Lombardi, J. M., Sardar, Z. M., Lehman, R. A., & Riew, K. D. (2021). Are outpatient three- and four-level anterior cervical discectomies and fusion safe? The Spine Journal, 21(2), 231-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.007

Sonnylal, L., Peterson, J. R., Decilveo, A. P., O'Connor, I. T., & Wittig, J. C. (2018). Giant periosteal aggressive epithelioid osteoblastoma: 21-year-old male presents case in the midshaft of his femur. Skeletal Radiology, 47(10), 1443-1448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2922-8

Peterson, J. R., Decilveo, A. P., O'Connor, I. T., Golub, I., & Wittig, J. C. (2017). What are the functional results and complications with long stem hemiarthroplasty in patients with metastases to the proximal femur? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 475(3), 745-756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-016-4810-7

Peterson, J. R., Villalobos, C. E., Zamora, R., & Wittig, J. C. (2015). Limb sparing resection for tumors involving the distal humerus and reconstruction with a modular endoprosthesis. Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases (2013), 73(3), 190-197. PMID: 26535598.