Sports Medicine Center

A common question among athletes is: “How can I find a sports injury doctor near me?” The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey provides the best sports medicine care in NJ, with offices across Morris County, Sussex County and Warren County. Whether you’re a college football player in Morristown with a knee injury, or a weekend warrior tennis devotee in Hackettstown with shoulder pain, OINJ has got you covered with state-of-the-art sports orthopedic care.

Serving patients from age one to 101, OINJ is sure to have the right sports orthopedist for you. Our nationally recognized sports medicine doctors work collaboratively to evaluate your situation and develop a personal care plan specifically with you in mind. We offer a full array of orthopedic services to meet your needs, with a patient-first approach designed to get you feeling better quickly. OINJ physicians continually raise the bar when it comes to exploring innovative, less invasive treatments that help you get back on your feet in no time. Across our locations we provide both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic solutions, with sports medicine specialists who are dedicated to using cutting-edge techniques and equipment.

Whether you have a small injury or a complex one, OINJ is committed to getting you to become your very best YOU. Our team of sports medicine doctors offers expertise for the following conditions and more: ACL Injuries, Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder), Bursitis, Concussion, Fat Pad Impingement, Fractures, Impingement Syndrome, Mallet Finger, Muscle Cramps, Muscle Strains, Overuse Injuries and Conditions, Patellofemoral Stress Syndrome, Quadriceps Contusion, Sprains and Turf Toe.

OINJ’s comprehensive Sports Medicine Center offers the following targeted treatments:
Articular Cartilage Restoration, Cartilage Transplantation, Concussion Management, Instability Surgery, Joint Reconstruction of Shoulder & Knee, Ligament Reconstruction, Physical Therapy & Occupational Hand Therapy, Rotator Cuff Repair, Spine Conditioning and more.

OINJ offers expert orthopedic care across multiple specialty areas, with dedicated Service Centers for Sports Medicine, Foot & Ankle, Rheumatology and more. Each Service Center features an on-staff, board-certified specialist in order to deliver the highest level of care for that specific department or area. Our Centers of Excellence include our Spine Center, Sports Medicine Center, Women’s Sports Medicine Center, Hip & Knee Reconstruction Center, Hand & Upper Extremity Center, Foot & Ankle Center and Rheumatology Center.

Caring for athletes of all ages, our Sports Medicine Center will provide you with a personalized orthopedic care plan that is just right for you. Leveraging the latest tools and techniques, our team of stellar physicians work together to get you back in the game. We also have a Women’s Sports Medicine Center serving individuals, schools and sports teams. The ultimate Women’s Sports Medicine Headquarters, this Service Center specializes in helping female athletes recover from injuries and feel their best.

Looking for a top-notch sports medicine specialist? OINJ offers an array of orthopedic surgeons and non-operative specialists to help you on your road to recovery. Here are just a few of our talented physicians.

Ashley J. Bassett, MD is a fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. She graduated top of her class at Rutgers UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Following medical school, Dr. Bassett completed her residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program. Prior to this position, Dr. Bassett served as a team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and 76ers as well as Villanova University and Saint Joseph’s University Athletics. She has a special interest in sports-related injuries of the female athlete and serves as the director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey.

Dr. Robert A. DeFalco, Jr. is an orthopedic surgeon with OINJ. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Prior to joining OINJ, Dr. DeFalco served on the medical staff for the Phantoms and Flyers hockey teams. He also served on the medical staff for Drexel University. Dr. DeFalco is a member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Osteopathic Association. He has also lectured at national meetings and is published in peer reviewed journals.

Stephen Koss, MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine with OINJ. Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Koss is an attending physician at Newton Medical Center, where he previously served as the Chief of Surgery in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Koss has been recognized as America’s Top Physician in Orthopedic Surgery for many years and is published in numerous orthopedic journals. He has also made presentations on a variety of subjects related to orthopedic care and sports medicine.

William Matthew Sayde, MD is an orthopedic surgeon at OINJ. Prior to this position, Dr. Sayde served as Assistant Team Physician for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Nationals, and Morgan State University and Towson University teams. He also assisted the medical team during the Gore-Tex® Philadelphia Marathon (2012, 2013). Dr. Sayde has co-written peer-reviewed publications as well as abstracts and presentations on topics related to Sports Medicine.

Ferheen Shamim, MD is a dedicated Sports Medicine Physician focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries. Dr. Shamim is Dual Board Certified by The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. During Dr. Shamim's fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, she studied and gained expertise in bedside musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation and guided injections. She has a keen interest in using regenerative medicine to help treat orthopedic conditions. During her fellowship, she volunteered at a charitable program called Team-to-Win, which provides free comprehensive orthopedic care to student athletes at weekend clinics throughout football season.

Paul G. Teja, DO is an orthopedic physician at The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. He is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.  
Prior to his position at OINJ, Dr. Teja was in private practice within the Kennedy Health System and served as a team physician for local schools in South Jersey. He is a member of:  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, The Arthroscopy Association of North America and The New Jersey Osteopathic Association of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Osteopathic Association.

Diane Niestepski, PA-C is a board certified physician assistant with The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. Since joining OINJ in 2006, Niestepski plays an intricate role in patient care, working with patients to address their orthopedic conditions.  Whether she’s performing injections, assisting in surgical procedures or catering to in-office visits, Diane ensures that patients have the care, information they need and compassion both in advance and after their surgery.

Victoria Kummer, RN, APN-C/RNFA is a nurse practitioner with The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. She is Board Certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Nurse First Assistant. With over 20 years of critical care nursing experience, Victoria works in collaboration with the experienced physicians at OINJ both in the office and during surgical procedures.

Kayvon Ameri is a Physician Assistant with The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. Before OINJ, Kayvon worked in Morristown Medical Center with the Department of Surgery which is where he discovered his passion for being in the OR. He also volunteered as a medical interpreter at Eric B. Chandler Health Center which focuses on helping medically underserved patients. Orthopedics has always been Kayvon's favorite specialty given his interest in sports medicine, exercise science and working with athletes.

See our complete list of physicians here.