On the morning of September 11th, 2001, having begun my practice as an orthopedic oncologist at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and Bellevue Hospital less than two weeks before, I was called to service after two airplanes hijacked by terrorists took down the Twin Towers.

That evening, I found myself at Ground Zero, where buildings surrounding the collapsed World Trade Center were still burning, and where ashes, including the remains of thousands of innocent victims, filled the streets, and twisted and melted metal, concrete, glass, crushed fire trucks and police vehicles created a surreal surface and horrific experience.

I was part of a team of surgeons equipped to perform field amputations, procedures that could save the lives of those trapped under massive mountains of debris.

We carried our instruments and training in trauma surgery in cases of mass casualties, but tragically, there were no survivors to save.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke, dust, and death. I remember stepping on a torn page from an encyclopedia. A section on Bone Tumors, my field. In that moment, it felt like a sign, a reminder that even in such darkness, I had a responsibility to use my gifts for good.

When I returned home the next morning, I sealed away my scrubs, my shoes caked with dust, and those encyclopedia pages in a bag. For twenty-one years, I could not bring myself to open it. The memories were too raw, the images too vivid. I donated those items to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum so that the story of that day, and the countless lives it touched, would never be forgotten.

This experience changed my life for good.

I prayed over that pile, and have remained in prayer ever since, a loyal servant of God, the son of two amazing parents of deep faith, and of grandparents I miss more than ever each day.

Earlier this year I chose to go on my first sabbatical after practicing medicine for 24 years to learn more ways to help my patients holistically, to become a better leader, to write another text book pertaining to orthopedic oncology, to start a few businesses, and to establish the Pediatric Cancer Foundation New Jersey, which we introduced last week.

I continue today to build on my accomplishments, most recently as the chair and medical director of orthopedics at Morristown / Atlantic Health.

My team and I surpassed our goals, achieving a 5-year strategic plan initiated in 2018 in 4 years, despite challenges from COVID.

I was delighted to help propel a fast-growing community orthopedic program into a nationally renowned academic leader during that same span of time.

We grew in national reputation and rankings becoming the #1 orthopedic program in NJ and #16 in the country according to US News and World Report. I had the honor to start the first orthopedic residency program at Morristown Medical Center and Atlantic Health System, funded through a generous $5M generous donation from a grateful patient.

I established a unique orthopedic oncology practice, growing from zero orthopedic oncology surgeries to over 500; at the same time, general orthopedic volume grew from approximately 9,000 surgeries to over 12,500, and left on a high note to begin my very meaningful and active sabbatical.

These last few months have opened my eyes and heart to so many insights – and have set in motion so many initiatives including my decades-long dream to build the Pediatric Children’s Foundation New Jersey, which we introduced last week.

The Power of Prayer is Real

I believe in God and in the power of prayer.

I have learned that when we ask God with true and good intentions for outcomes and blessings, we will receive, but according to his timing.

And what we receive may not always be exactly what we asked for. In my experience, we get what we ask for or better, when we truly believe and have faith.

As painful and confusing moments like 9/11 naturally can be, there are no mistakes. Events that impact the entire world, and betrayals behind the scenes that many of us suffer in silence, are all meant to teach us, to call us to rise, and to take us to higher ground.  

Prayer is also the oldest form of meditation.

I often pray before big cases and especially with children afflicted with cancer.

I equate cancer to being possessed by a demon, and when we walk into the OR, it’s time for that demon to get exorcised.

I’ve prayed with my whole team at times in the OR before the case, sometimes listen to prayer music, and always make sure everyone takes a moment of silence and thinks about how much trust the patient or parents have in us to save their limbs and help save their lives.

I’ve seen God guide us during surgery and deeply believe that our success rate comes as a direct result of prayerful work combined with medical training, skill, experience, dedication, and purpose.

To this day, I pray every day, several times each day, and practice gratitude while pushing myself to remain strong, healthy, happy, productive, and kind so I can serve my patients and support my team.

The Progressive Importance of Family: The Truest Blessings

Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my family, my son, my son’s brother, my friends, my patients, and the colleagues in my work family.

I am grateful today as well for the reminder that, even in moments of unspeakable loss, there is goodness in humanity. We saw it in the selflessness of first responders, in the tireless efforts of volunteers, in the hundreds of service dogs trained to find bodies hidden under the rubble, in the volunteers who came from across America and the world to help comfort and rebuild, and in the resilience of families who carried on.

On this day, I am remembering the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the countless heroes who stepped forward. And I am taking time to be still and reflect on all the sacrifices my amazing parents made and continue to make in their golden years, on their care for their parents – my beloved grandparents – for my beautiful sister who us helping us build the PCFNJ, my courageous brother retired from law enforcement after fulfilling his duties for decades, for my aunts and uncles, cousins, my adopted son and his brother, and others in my family who have made my life of service possible.

On this day, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering of the families of the 2,753 innocent souls whose lives were cut down by evil terrorists, for no reason other than misguided hatred. We all suffered that day, the entire world, but none suffered as much as the husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren, cousins and friends of those who took their final breaths on September 11, 2001.

Please join me in praying for them, however you pray, to whomever you pray to, and even if you are not a person of faith:

Remembering them.

Honoring them.

Being humbled by them.

Being moved by them.

This is a day we can all use to serve others, because as my parents taught me early on – the best way to heal is to help.

May God bless you, may God Bless America, and may God Bless the billions of human beings on this earth with good health, safety, essential food, clothing, and shelter, with endless opportunities for those willing to put in the work, and with peace.

Jim