In The News
Watch Flight Surgeon John's story to learn why he chose to travel for his care and how his hip replacement helped him get back to doing what he loves.
Not every patient travels nearly two hours for surgery — but when your career and lifestyle demand the best outcome, it can be worth the trip.
Army Maj. John Van Der Steeg knows what it means to stay active under pressure. As a flight surgeon in the military and an emergency room physician at Northwell Health's Northern Westchester Hospital, his career demands strength, mobility, and endurance. But after two years of debilitating hip pain, everyday movement and professional duties became increasingly difficult.
While researching treatment options, John came across the work of Keith R. Reinhardt, MD, Chief of Joint Reconstruction and Replacement at South Shore University Hospital. Learning about Dr. Reinhardt's expertise in restoring mobility for active patients gave him confidence that he had found the right surgeon — even if it meant traveling nearly two hours for care.
John ultimately underwent a high-performance robotic anterior total hip arthroplasty designed to support his demanding lifestyle and help him return to the activities and responsibilities that matter most. For highly active patients like John, advanced surgical techniques and a personalized approach can make a significant difference in recovery and long-term function.
Today, his story highlights what is possible when the right procedure, the right technology, and the right surgeon come together.
Watch John's story to learn why he chose to travel for his care and how his hip replacement helped him get back to doing what he loves.
Dr. Keith Reinhardt has been recognized as a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor!
Dr. Keith Reinhardt has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Leading Doctors for Hip Surgery in 2025
Choosing the right doctor can be one of the most important health decisions a person makes. Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic knee pain, requiring delicate eye surgery or pursuing advanced care for spine or heart conditions, working with the right specialist can make all the difference in outcomes, recovery and long-term quality of life.
With more than one million licensed physicians practicing in the United States, navigating options for a high-stakes procedure can be overwhelming, especially those facing time-sensitive or life-altering decisions.
To help patients across the U.S. connect with top-tier care, Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista are proud to recognize America’s Leading Doctors 2025.
This ranking recognizes 2,845 outstanding specialists across 15 critical fields including cardiothoracic, cataract, colorectal, foot & ankle, glaucoma, hand, hip, knee, Mohs, retina, shoulder, spine and vascular surgery, sports medicine, and pain management. The top 30 doctors in each specialty are ranked, with those remaining listed in alphabetical order.
To identify the nation’s most respected specialists, we conducted an in-depth evaluation that included analysis based on Medicare Fee-for-Service claims and commercial data on procedure performance sourced from Arcadia, an online survey of tens of thousands of medical professionals, peer quality-of-care assessments and verification of board certifications. From mobility-enhancing joint surgeries to sight-restoring eye procedures and life-saving vascular operations, the doctors recognized in this year’s ranking represent the pinnacle of specialized medical care in the U.S.
Milestone Moment!
Dr. Keith Reinhardt proudly completes his 100th Direct Anterior HipInsight surgery - advancing precision and patient outcomes with every step. Here's to continued innovation and excellence in orthopedic care!
Dr. Keith Reinhardt Enhances Hip Replacement with HipInsight 2.0 System
Dr. Keith Reinhardt is now utilizing the HipInsight 2.0 Anterior System, featuring Zimmer Biomet's Z1™ Femoral Hip Stem and HAMMR™ Automated Hip Impaction System. This cutting-edge mixed-reality technology enhances precision in anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA), delivering exceptional outcomes for patients. Dr. Reinhardt continues to advance hip replacement surgery, providing state-of-the-art care on Long Island. Learn more about his innovative approach and trusted technology in orthopedic procedures.
Not your typical knee replacement
A rare condition meant Angela needed specialized knee surgery. She got it at South Shore University Hospital.
Standing strong: After a knee replacement, Angela is feeling great.
Angela Benedetto is no stranger to orthopedic surgeries. She estimates that since she was 16 years old, she has had more than a dozen operations.
That’s because Angela was born with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism. This rare condition often affects a person’s bones and cartilage, which can then lead to bowlegs and joint degeneration.
In 1999, Angela had her first surgery, a procedure to lengthen her limbs. It wasn’t cosmetic, but essential: “It has helped me to function a lot,” she said. “If it wasn’t for those surgeries, I would have been in a wheelchair.” Now 42, Angela stands 4 feet, 10 inches tall. Before she began to have limb lengthening procedures, she was 3 feet, 1 inch.
One of her long-term health care challenges has been to find local physicians who have expertise in treating patients with achondroplasia. Although she was born and raised in New York, she traveled out of state for many of her earlier surgeries. But more recently, her health care experience improved dramatically when she found Northwell Health orthopedic surgeons with just the expertise she needed.
Because of severe arthritis that had developed in her left knee, she needed a total knee replacement. “I got turned down by a lot of physicians who didn’t want to perform the surgery because my case is very delicate,” she said.
Her brother had been treated by Keith Reinhardt, MD, who is chief of joint reconstruction and founder of the Institute for Joint Replacement at South Shore University Hospital, and recommended him to his sister. She recalls that in evaluating her case, Dr. Reinhardt told her he was “absolutely able” to do the knee replacement. “I was very happy and pleased when I first visited him.”
AR-guided hip replacement gets this 62-year-old skier back on the slopes
Henri Rivers is back in skis with his new hip. Photo credit: Northwell Health.
How augmented reality surgery helped Henri Rivers resume his high-octane lifestyle
Henri Rivers, 62, from West Babylon, NY, is no stranger to pushing his athletic limits. The avid skier and coach hits the slopes around 50 days or more through the winter months. But escalating hip pain limited him to just 10 skiing days last season before forcing him to the sidelines entirely.
When Rivers learned that he needed a hip replacement, he sought out a solution that would allow him to return to skiing with his characteristic vigor. The answer came in the form of an advanced surgical platform, HipInsight, which uses augmented reality (AR) to create a highly customized and precise hip replacement.
This innovative technology made Rivers an ideal candidate — the precision and adaptability could help preserve his active lifestyle. Northwell Health's South Shore University Hospital, where Rivers had the surgery, was the only health system in New York State using augmented reality in hip replacement procedures at the time. Keith Reinhardt, MD, chief of joint reconstruction at South Shore, had been Rivers' orthopedic surgeon for years. He even performed Rivers' knee replacement previously and was acutely aware of the level of performance Rivers demanded from his joints. For Dr. Reinhardt, using the HipInsight platform ensured that Rivers' new hip joint would be perfectly suited to withstand the rigors of high-intensity skiing.
New York surgeon uses augmented reality for hip replacement surgeries
New technology is giving doctors x-ray 3D vision in the operating room. CBS News New York's Jenna DeAngelis sat down with the only surgeon in the state of New York said to be using augmented reality for hip replacement surgeries.
Northwell surgeon first in LI to perform AR-guided hip replacement
Northwell Health is the first health system in Long Island and the only one currently in New York State to use augmented reality (AR) for hip replacement surgeries. Keith Reinhardt, MD, chief of joint reconstruction at South Shore University Hospital, was the first to use HipInsight — a mixed-reality technology that employs 3D holograms on patients undergoing hip replacement at the Bay Shore hospital.
I got a hip replacement at age 25
I think I've walked more since the surgery than I have in the past 25 years of my life. I'm amazed at the results.
Gabrielle Barnes was born with a bad hip. After a lifetime of battling chronic pain, she finally found a solution.
Gabrielle Barnes is a people person. At the nursing home where she works, she's known for going out of her way for “her” residents — the patients who live at the home. As a unit clerk, she sets up appointments, leads facility tours and helps out wherever she is needed. Her duties mean she spends a lot of time on her feet.
Say good-bye to long hospital stays after knee, hip replacements
Innovations in joint replacement are leading to better patient outcomes.
Modern orthopedic surgery features much technological innovation. Orthopedic surgeries at Northwell Health are no exception, with the latest state-of-the-art techniques driving superior knee and hip replacements. Northwell is pushing orthopedic surgery innovation in unexpected places with new programs designed to improve patient care, and the patient experience.
Robotic Joint Replacement launched at ambulatory surgery center
The program is the first of its kind on LI, and uses robotic tools to improve mobility in joint replacements in a freestanding facility.
10 total joint ASC physicians to know
Keith Reinhardt, MD performed the first robotic total joint replacement procedure in Long Island in a freestanding ASC at South Shore Surgery Center.
The Mako robot takes hip and knee replacement surgery to the next level
South Shore University Hospital further invests in robotic orthopedic surgery, adding a Stryker Mako robotic surgical device to an arsenal that already includes two da Vinci systems.
As part of a continued investment in the latest surgical technology, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) has acquired a Stryker Mako robotic surgical device to perform robotic-assisted joint replacement procedures.
