Medical Advisory Council

Mark Bilsky, MD

MSKCC Neurosurgeon, NYRR Board member

Dr. Mark Bilsky is an attending neurosurgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and professor of neurological surgery at Weill Medical College at Cornell University. He holds the William E. Snee Chair in Neurosurgical Oncology and serves as chief of the MSKCC multi-disciplinary spine tumor service (MSTS). He received the annual Willet F. Whitmore Award for Clinical Excellence at MSKCC in 2014 and has been recognized for his efforts on New York Magazine’s annual Best Doctors and America’s Top Doctors for Cancer for the past 15 years.

Dr. Bilsky’s efforts to advance the treatment of both benign and malignant spine tumors of the MSTS have led to the development of international treatment paradigms that integrate tumor-specific surgical approaches with advanced radiation techniques and percutaneous interventional procedures. This combined modality treatment has significantly improved treatment outcomes and substantially reduced morbidity for patients with benign and malignant primary and metastatic spine tumors.

Based on this work, Dr. Bilsky has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles and delivered over 500 lectures worldwide. He’s also interested in sports-injury prevention research. He has been a dedicated advocate for incorporating technologies to reduce concussions in women’s sports. Dr. Bilsky has been an NYRR member since 1988 and has completed 10 marathons.

Steve Forti

HSS Chief Wellness and Resiliency Officer

Steven Forti, RN, is vice president and chief wellness officer at the Wellness and Resiliency Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). He served 23 years in the Army Special Forces, where his specialties included Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and Special Forces Intel Sergeant. He attended Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab at DIA as well as the Special Operations Planners Course in Norfolk, VA. He earned a BS in Nursing from Quinnipiac University, completed a Critical Care Residency at Yale New Haven Hospital Systems, and holds a BS from Southern Connecticut State University.

Steve has eight years of critical care and trauma nursing experience. In March of 2020 he was asked to join the team at HSS as the chief of staff for crisis management as they transformed the entire hospital into a COVID-19 treatment center, doing their part in the fight to save lives during the height of the pandemic. As the crisis ebbed, he was asked to join the leadership team at HSS.

Todd McGarth, MD

HSS Primary Sports Medicine

Dr. Todd McGrath is a sports medicine specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Dr. McGrath graduated from New Mexico State University and received his medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. After practicing emergency medicine, he completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Cone Health System in Greensboro, NC, where he obtained advanced training in non-operative sports medicine, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and care of the runner and endurance athlete.

Dr. McGrath is currently the team physician for the New York Mets. He was the medical director of the Trans-Sylvania MTB Epic stage race for 6 years and medical advisor/board member for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League. He has traveled as the team physician with U.S. Soccer's national teams and was the venue medical director for international soccer events in Philadelphia, including the Copa America Tournament. He has published numerous articles and book chapters in both emergency medicine and sports medicine. Dr. McGrath is a triathlete who has competed at the national and international level.

Laura Melville, MD

Weill Cornell, New York Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

Dr. Laura Melville, MD, MS is an associate research director at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where she is also the Sexual Assault Forensice Examiner (SAFE) Program medical director and core faculty for the emergency medicine residency program. She is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Melville serves on the board of directors for the New York Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, as well as the ALL NYC EM educational consortium.

Dr. Melville completed her undergraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College and attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. A lifelong New Yorker, Dr. Melville has run the New York City Marathon three times.

Jordan Metzl, MD

HSS Primary Sports Medicine

Jordan D. Metzl, MD, is a sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City where he provides comprehensive care for athletes of all ages and levels, from recreational enthusiasts to elite professionals. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Metzl is a passionate advocate for the importance of exercise in promoting overall health and well-being. He is a frequent lecturer at medical and public conferences where he shares his insights on the benefits of physical activity and provides practical tips for injury prevention and rehabilitation. In addition to lecturing about the role of physical activity for health promotion, he founded the Ironstrength fitness community, one of the first physician-led fitness initiatives that provides free fitness classes for more than 10,000 people annually.

Dr. Metzl is also a prolific author, having written several books on topics ranging from exercise science to injury prevention. His works include "The Exercise Cure", "The Athlete's Book of Home Remedies", and "Running Strong", all of which blend together medical expertise, practical advice, and motivational insights.

In addition to his clinical practice and writing, Dr. Metzl is actively involved in research aimed at advancing our understanding of sports-related injuries and improving treatment outcomes. He hopes to empower others to achieve their fitness and health goals and live life to the fullest. He has run 36 marathons and 14 IRONMAN triathlons and hopes to continue to run for many years to come. He lives in New York City.

Laura Moore, MD, PhD

HSS Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Laura Moore is an assistant attending orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Moore has experience treating a wide variety of sports-related and degenerative conditions of the shoulder, knee, and elbow. Dr. Moore is passionate about helping athletes of all ages, levels, and backgrounds get back to the activities they love using non-operative, arthroscopic and open techniques.

After completing her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at Duke University, Dr. Moore obtained her medical degree and PhD in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. She then completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco followed by a 2-year fellowship in sports medicine and research at HSS. She has been a part of the medical team for the New York Mets, New York Knicks, New York Liberty, Brooklyn Cyclones, New York PSAL, Golden Gate Rugby Club and New York Road Runners. Dr. Moore is also an avid all around athlete, enjoying sports ranging from basketball to snowboarding.

Benjamin Rapoport, MD, PhD

Mount Sinai Neurosurgeon, Scientific Director of Mount Sinai BioDesign

Ben Rapoport, MD, PhD, is a neurosurgeon and assistant professor of Neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He was born and raised in New York City, has run more than 40 marathons over two decades, and has made a number of contributions to the science and technology of endurance physiology.

Brett Sealove, MD, FACC, RPVI

Monmouth Cardiology Associates Cardiologist, Chief of Cardiology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Dr. Brett Sealove, MD, FACC, RPVI, CPE is an attending-level physician who is double-boarded in Cardiology and Vascular Medicine and is a Cardiologist/Partner at Monmouth Cardiology Associates and Chief of Cardiology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, majoring in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science, and attended medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - The Chicago Medical School. He spent the following seven years in his home state of New York, completing residency, cardiology fellowship, and a subsequent vascular medicine/imaging fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Dr. Sealove is currently the medical director of the non-invasive vascular lab at Monmouth Cardiology and is the former medical director/chair of wellness and prevention and the former associate program director for the Cardiology Fellowship at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. His subspecialty within cardiology is vascular medicine/imaging and preventative and clinical cardiology. Dr. Sealove's areas of interest also include cardiovascular imaging and preventive cardiology. He is board-certified in Nuclear Cardiology, Echocardiography, and Vascular Imaging.

Heidi Skolnik

HSS Sports Nutritionist, Exercise Physiologist

Heidi has been part of The Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery for over 25 years and brought the sports nutrition model to the performing arts where she oversees the Performance Nutrition program at The Juilliard School and the School of American Ballet. Heidi served as the team nutritionist with the New York Knicks for 7 years, the New York Giants for 18 years, and the New York Mets for 15 years and has worked with the NHL, MLS, WNBA.

She is co-author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Whole Body Reset. Heidi is a fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine and sits on the Medical Advisory Committee of The National Menopause Foundation. Heidi has two masters degrees, one in exercise physiology and another in human nutrition.

Samantha Stuek, MD

HSS Primary Sports Medicine

Dr. Stuek earned her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, where she was a member of both the field hockey and track and field teams. She then attended medical school at New York Medical College followed by a residency in family medicine with a concentration in sports medicine at INOVA Fairfax Family Practice in Virginia. She completed her fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Connecticut, where she assisted in providing medical coverage for all university athletics, including the Big East Track and Field Championships. She currently serves as a co-team physician for the United States Biathlon and as an assisting physician for St. John’s University Athletics.

With over a decade of experience as a medical volunteer at various marathons and endurance events across the country, including the New York City Marathon, Dr. Stuek is deeply committed to the running community. A runner herself, she primarily focuses on 5Ks and half marathons and completed the New York City Marathon.

Karen Sutton, MD

HSS Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Karen Sutton is a board-certified sports medicine surgeon with surgical expertise in arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee, and hip. She is an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Women’s Sports Medicine Center at HSS. She is also chief medical officer for World Lacrosse and Team Physician for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. She also served as team physician for Yale University Athletics, Albertus Magnus College, and the professional Women's Tennis Association (WTA). During her fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine, she assisted in the orthopedic care of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, and the New England Revolution.

Dr. Sutton began her academic career at Duke University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry and earned her medical degree at University of Maryland. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Yale University School of Medicine followed by fellowships in sports medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine and pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine. She was an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yale University.

She has run multiple New York City Marathons and qualified for the Boston Marathon in addition to having competed in 12 marathons total, two Ironman events at 140.6 distance, and 13 Ironman events at 70.3 distance.