Welcoming the Columbia Orthopedics Residency Class of 2024

We are proud to introduce the newest members of the Columbia Orthopedics and New York Orthopaedic Hospital family. Learn more about this exceptional group of future orthopedic surgeons.

Jamie E. Confino

Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Undergraduate: Duke University

Jamie is a native of New York City. She completed her undergraduate studies at Duke University where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience. As an undergraduate, Jamie was an engaged member of the Duke community, volunteering at Service for Sight, Central Regional Hospital and Duke Cancer Center. Throughout medical school Jamie’s research ‘currency’ has been high with many peer reviewed manuscripts published and many in submission. She is described as a stellar medical student who will be a definitive contributor to the field of Orthopedics. Jamie enjoys fitness, travel, skiing, soccer, running, biking, snow‐shoeing, indoor cycling, gymnastics, yoga, reading, nutrition, dogs and lastly, but certainly not least, she also enjoys spending time with family and friends. From leading soccer teams and medical school boot camps to encouraging SoulCycle riders, to pioneering workout classes for underserved areas of the Bronx community and to working as a personal trainer, Jamie is a dedicated fitness enthusiast whose goal has been to help others improve their physical abilities.

Josephine Coury, MD

Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Undergraduate: Dartmouth College

Josie grew up in the Pacific Northwest and apart from being extremely passionate about Orthopedics, she is a skilled cellist, having studied the instrument since elementary school. She is also fascinated by cartilage and tendon preservation and regeneration and has been involved in musculoskeletal research since her first year in medical school. Josie completed her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College majoring in Chemistry and she minored in Ethics. Throughout her years at Dartmouth she played with the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra. Josie also volunteered with ASPIRE, a resource and support group for children with autism. She also served on the Executive Board of the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science. During medical school, Josie volunteered at the Zucker School of Medicine Free Clinic and she is a two‐time participant with Swim Across America. Josie also participated with the Perry Initiative, in several courses at the Hospital for Special Surgery and she is also a member of the ORS Insider Board. She is also the recipient of the Nina Starr Award, placing 1st in podium presentations at the Association of Women Surgeons in 2017. Josie is fluent in German and she enjoys skiing, swimming, fly‐fishing and cycling. She is a dedicated Seahawks fan who also enjoys playing fantasy football.

Lynn Ann Forrester, MD

Medical School: New York University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Brown University

Lynn graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics. She was inducted into the national political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha and excelled in athletics as well as academics. She was a member of the Brown University women’s crew 2011 NCAA Division I championship team, a three-time medalist at the Eastern Association of Women’s Rowing Colleges’ sprints, and a bronze medalist in the Championship Eight at Head of the Charles River Regatta. Lynn volunteered at Rhode Island Children’s Hospital, an experience that motivated her to pursue a career in medicine. She also volunteered as a peer advisor and tutor in Mathematics and Economics. Lynn completed the Columbia University Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program, where she achieved a 4.0 GPA and received the School of General Studies Service Award twice for her dedication as the orientation leader for the program. Lynn also completely immersed herself in productive research while at Columbia, working on three simultaneous projects in Pediatric Oncology. One of the projects resulted in a manuscript published in Cancer Research. Along with Angela Kadenhe-Chiweshe, MD, Lynn was awarded a Columbia University Medical Center Research Committee Start-Up Grant to identify effective therapeutic targets for advanced hepatoblastoma. In medical school Lynn’s enthusiasm for research in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology continued, she co-authored multiple abstracts, an oral presentation and a manuscript published in Cell. When her interest changed to Orthopedics, Lynn re-channeled her research acumen and began highly productive research projects on pediatric orthopedic patients with clubfoot and on analysis of the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System dataset to examine relationships between common pediatric orthopedic pathologies and social/demographic factors. She has co-authored multiple abstracts, presentations and posters on this research. Lynn was recognized by the NYU Community Service Program for volunteering more than 130 hours in various volunteer organizations. She was a preclinical student, clinical volunteer and then clinical coordinator at the New York City Free Clinic, our student-run medical clinic caring for underserved populations without access to affordable health care. She also served as the director of their fundraising committee. Lynn also volunteered her time for New York Cares, NYU Mini-Meds, New York Road Runners and as a tour guide and student host for the medical school. She also serves as a peer mentor of the NYU SOM Violet Society advising program advising fellow medical students and provides career oriented support. She was also the co-director of the NYU Running Club, organizing events for fitness and group runs to enhance health and wellness among the students. Yes, Lynn has some spare time and enjoys trail running, road races, hiking, potlucks, rowing, New York Times crossword puzzles, yoga, ballet and gardening.

Justin Hellwinkel, MD

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine

Undergraduate: University of Colorado Boulder

Justin grew up in a small town in Westchester County, New York and graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Art in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a Master of Science in Integrative Physiology. During medical school Justin engaged in the local community through service initiatives with a nonprofit organization called Helmet Heads whose mission is to provide helmets and safety demonstrations to low‐income elementary schools in the Denver‐metro area. He served on the Board of Directors for four years and as interim Chair of the Board for one year. He also wrote a grant that secured funding to provide helmets and live safety demonstrations for over 1,200 students. As a medical student he also received a grant for injury prevention research, he became integrated in the clinical research team with significant contributions in adult reconstruction, spine and various case reports. Justin is also a world‐caliber BMX racer, racing on the national and international circuit. He enjoys BMX racing, skiing, ultramarathon trail running, backpacking and rock climbing.

Daniel Hong, MD

Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis

Dan attended Washington University in St. Louis and double majored in Biology and Anthropology. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Betta Kappa. Dan has been an active student leader in medical school with roles ranging from his long‐term service on the admissions committee to service and leadership through the Orthopedics and Physical Therapy Clinic at the student run Shade Tree Clinic, where he created and implemented a new referral and scheduling system for all specialty clinics. He implemented an Orthopedics Journal Club and a resident‐led Musculoskeletal Evening Lecture series for students. He also created an annual Surgery Attending Lifestyle Panel with multidisciplinary specialists talking with students about life as a surgical attending and the ‘Question of the Month’ initiative, developing cases for medical students to learn about Orthopedic Pathology. He was also a student representative to the Nation Education Committee of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dan also volunteered at the Nashville Food Bank. Dan is fluent in Chinese and enjoys fantasy football and exercise.

John Mueller, MD

Medical School: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Undergraduate: Notre Dame

Born in Bakersfield, California, John had vast life experiences, that he terms ”nomadic”, as he grew up in Indonesia, Canada, and Montana. He would go on to become the Valedictorian of Biologic Sciences at Notre Dame earning magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. During his undergraduate years, John founded and presided over “Mending Minds”, a volunteer club with the purpose of coordinating service projects and developing interpersonal relationships with residents of the Healthwin Specialized Care Facility, especially with those living with Alzheimer's and dementia. John conducted research throughout college, including a study of malaria transmission in Africa and Southeast Asia, followed by a similar study in the Solomon Islands. He also conducted qualitative research at the Ruth Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine, investigating effective communication by physicians who are breaking bad news to patients. At Columbia P&S John was awarded an NIH T35 grant studying the impact of non‐fusion scoliosis correction on pulmonary function in patients with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA). He also created a sports injury severity score for UCL ligament injuries in the elbow. John enjoys skiing, squash, hiking and cooking. He was a forward on the legendary P&S rugby team and he also enjoys Notre Dame football.

Andrew Luzzi, MD

Research Track, Class of 2025

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Undergraduate: Cornell University

Andrew became involved in research as an undergraduate at Cornell University, during which he conducted research in the nutritional sciences and in tissue engineering and regeneration. Subsequently, Andrew worked in the Weill Cornell Medical MRI Research Lab following graduation and conducted clinical research at the Rothman Institute throughout his time in medical school. Andrew has made service an integral part of his life. He volunteered at a soup kitchen and an educational program for children as an undergraduate, continued to volunteer at a soup kitchen while working at Cornell, and served others during his time in medical school through his volunteer work at JeffHOPE, a free clinic for the underserved, and KIPP Healthy Living, an educational program for fifth graders. He has been very active in the Jefferson community and was a leader in several organizations. He is the research symposium chair for the AOA Honor Medical Society. He was the president of an inter‐class learning society, took on several roles in the inter‐professional school Health Mentors Program, served as a liaison for the general surgery and neurosurgery third year clerkships, and organized an award ceremony for the Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society. Andrew was drawn to Orthopedic Surgery by the growing needs of its patient base, its interventional nature, and the required innovation it demands of its providers. He enjoys playing the violin and basketball and he also enjoys reading and exercising.