Dr. Black Recognized for Research and Innovation to Help Find a Cure for Arthritis
Morristown, NJ – Eric Black, MD, an orthopedic shoulder and sports medicine surgeon with Morristown Medical Center’s Orthopedic Service Line, was recognized as Orthopedist of the Year by the Arthritis Foundation at its annual Evening of Honors event.
The event acknowledges leaders in the advancement of research and awareness for the management, prevention, and cure of arthritis, the most common cause of disability in the United States.
Dr. Black has extensive experience in primary and complex revision surgeries pertaining to arthritic conditions of the shoulder and elbow. He has performed over a thousand shoulder and elbow replacements, and is a thought leader in technology and innovation. He has a particular interest in computer simulation and navigation for shoulder replacements.
“Dr. Black’s orthopedic expertise has helped thousands of patients with shoulder injuries and arthritis achieve a more active, pain-free life,” said James C. Wittig, MD, Chairman, Orthopedic Surgery, Morristown Medical Center, and Medical Director, Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Oncology and Sarcoma Surgery, Atlantic Health System. “We are proud that his work has been recognized by The Arthritis Foundation, and pleased we are able to add his expertise to our nationally recognized team of orthopedists and surgeons.”
In addition to Dr. Black's expertise in arthritic conditions, he actively cares for a large variety of patients, including young professional athletes and "weekend warriors" with overuse injuries. A large portion of his practice involves revision for failed previous surgery.
Dr. Black obtained his B.A. magna cum laude at Harvard College, and his M.D. at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha. He performed residency training at the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Surgery Program, and was nominated as Chief Resident at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Black then completed a subspecialty fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at the Rothman Institute and Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.
“I enjoy treating patients of all ages and levels of ability. I believe it is important to develop individualized treatment plans that address each of my patient’s unique needs and maximize their function.” He adds, “I am conservative with my recommendations for surgery and I explore nonsurgical treatment options first.”
Dr. Black is a team physician for Fairleigh Dickinson University and Madison High School and is a consultant shoulder and elbow surgeon for the New Jersey Devils and Kean University.
Dr. Black has published extensively in his field, authoring dozens of articles in the peer-reviewed literature. His work has been published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, among others.
A recipient of the Harvard College Scholarship, Dr Black was honored with the William H. Thomas Award for overall best orthopedic resident at the end of his residency. Most recently, Dr. Black was nominated for the Charles S. Neer Award, the highest honor for research in shoulder and elbow surgery. He has also been named "Jersey Choice Top Doctor" by NJ Monthly Magazine, and NJ Top Docs.
About Orthopedics at Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System’s Orthopedic program offers residents of New Jersey and the surrounding areas access to high-quality multidisciplinary treatments that span pre-surgical education through post-operative rehabilitation. With the latest diagnostic technologies and robotic equipment, many of our board-certified surgeons are experts in minimally invasive techniques that result in faster recoveries, greater range of motion, and smaller scars.
U.S. News & World Report recognized Morristown Medical Center as one of the top 35 orthopedic programs in the nation in 2019.
Each year, the Atlantic Orthopedic Institute performs more than 4,000 joint replacements and treats more than 1,400 traumatic orthopedic injuries. Morristown Medical Center is one of only four Level 1 trauma centers in New Jersey, designated by the American College of Surgeons.
Orthopedists at Morristown Medical Center provide assistance caring for patients with complex fractures of the pelvis and upper and lower extremities. For complex sports injuries, Atlantic Sports Health has highly-trained physicians who are experts at diagnosing and treating orthopedic and sports medicine problems and are active participants in academic and research programs. The Orthopedic Oncology program performs limb-sparing surgeries for patients with bone tumors or sarcomas.
For children with orthopaedic needs, orthopedists collaborate with pediatricians from Goryeb Children’s Hospital in all aspects of care, including state-of-the-art diagnostics, surgical treatment and assistive technology.
Atlantic Health System Orthopedics is nationally recognized for its expertise, earning numerous awards and accreditations for its services. Learn more: https://www.atlantichealth.org/conditions-treatments/orthopedics.html.
About The Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Arthritis Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System has a long-standing tradition of providing exceptional patient outcomes and experiences. Home to seven award-winning hospitals including Morristown Medical Center, the number one hospital in NJ according to U.S. News & World Report, Castle Connelly and Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals, the system has been ranked first in New Jersey in consumer preference by Monigle and first among health systems in New Jersey as a “best workplace” by both Modern Healthcare and Fortune Magazine.
Many of the system’s programs have received national accolades and designations, including Morristown Medical Center’s Cardiology and Heart Surgery program ranked among the top 30 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report; Morristown Medical Center’s Orthopedics program ranked among the top 35 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and Atlantic Health System’s Cancer Care program, New Jersey’s first and only National Cancer Institute National Community Oncology Research Program. Additionally, Atlantic Health System Neuroscience at Overlook Medical Center, working with Atlantic Mobile Health, was the first in the nation to deploy and use portable Telestroke technology in ambulances for routine pre-hospital assessment of stroke patients.
Powered by a passionate workforce of 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey, including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system provides care for the full continuum of health needs across a wide array of settings, including Atlantic Medical Group, one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,000 physicians and providers, 12 urgent care centers, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, Atlantic Home Care and Hospice and Atlantic Anywhere’s Virtual Visits. Facilitating connections between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
With a clear sense of purpose and an unparalleled culture, Atlantic Health System attracts top leaders in the field of health care, from CEO Brian Gragnolati, who is currently Chairman of the American Hospital Association, to the numerous team members who serve as leaders across national clinical associations and research entities.