University of Miami Health System and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) are collaborating to provide world-class musculoskeletal care to patients in South Florida.
Combining HSS’s world-recognized knowledge and expertise with UHealth’s outstanding orthopedic physicians and surgeons, the collaboration will bring premier orthopedic and musculoskeletal care to patients at UHealth SoLé Mia, the health system’s largest ambulatory facility being built in North Miami and set to open in fall 2025. The collaboration will leverage HSS expertise, pathways and guidance to enhance UHealth’s already stellar orthopedics treatment, increasing access and improving patient care.
Led by renowned orthopedic surgeon, Francis J. Hornicek, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., UHealth’s Department of Orthopaedics includes the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute, medical provider for the Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Marlins. The department is the only academic, full-service multidisciplinary orthopedics program in South Florida and is a leader in research using stem cells, refining microsurgery for amputations, treating back pain and musculoskeletal oncology.
“We are pleased to announce this collaboration even before we open our doors at UHealth SoLé Mia,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief operating officer of UHealth and founding director of Desai Sethi Urology Institute. “UHealth and HSS are both academic medical centers similarly focused on leading research and delivering excellence to patients in a clinical setting. This alliance will truly make UHealth SoLé Mia an unparalleled medical destination for our local community and beyond. Patients from across the nation already look to UHealth and HSS for world-class care. This collaboration brings the best of both worlds under one roof.”
Specialized since 1863, HSS has been ranked No. 1 in orthopedics worldwide since Newsweek introduced that ranking five years ago and has been ranked No. 1 in orthopedics nationwide for 15 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025). HSS is the world’s largest academic medical center specializing in musculoskeletal health and is the official hospital of the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Giants, the New York Knicks, current WNBA champions the New York Liberty, the New York Mets, the New York Red Bulls, UFC and other high-performing sports organizations.
“HSS is committed to making the world’s highest-quality musculoskeletal care accessible to more people,” said Sheeraz Qureshi, M.D., M.B.A., chief medical officer, HSS Florida and co-chief of HSS Spine. “This goal relies on strategic collaborations with like-minded organizations and leveraging these relationships to enhance care models from routine to complex musculoskeletal conditions. We are proud to partner with the University of Miami Health System and look forward to advancing the field of orthopedics together for South Florida residents.”
As part of this collaboration at the North Miami facility, UHealth will build a musculoskeletal program that includes imaging, physician services, ambulatory surgeries and rehabilitation services. Medical Director for Integrated UM/HSS Orthopedics Musculoskeletal Program, Lee Kaplan, M.D., M.H.C.M., and Senior Administrative Officer, Monica Calcines, J.D., will work in consort with Dr. Qureshi with the goal of unified and consistent care delivery. UHealth and HSS will also work together to recruit specialized surgeons to enhance orthopedic services offered at SoLé Mia.
With the help of the University of Miami Strategy Team led by Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Aaron Snyder and Executive Director Ina Hoxha, the impact of this strategic alliance will have reach well beyond the North Miami facility, enhancing the quality, patient experience and outcomes of the UHealth orthopedics department. Dr. Hornicek describes the collaboration as “a win-win for patients in South Florida. We’re bringing in the top orthopedics program in the nation to work hand in hand with our already-stellar faculty. This will only improve access and patient outcomes for our community.”
“Guided by our mission to improve mobility and enhance quality of life for all, HSS is committed to building partnerships that drive innovation and deliver lasting impact,” said Tara M. McCoy, chief executive officer, HSS Florida. “We value the power of collaboration. Our shared commitment to musculoskeletal health will enable us to make meaningful progress together.”
“We are bringing together two powerhouses in the orthopedic field,” said Dr. Kaplan, who is director of the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute. “This will benefit the patients of South Florida who live an active lifestyle and make this area a destination for care.”
In addition to the newly formed affiliation, UHealth and HSS also hosted the 9th Annual Winter Technology & Innovation in Orthopedics Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale. The two-day event featured specialized presentations of the latest advances in orthopedics, including joint replacement, sports medicine and spine surgery.
