Abigail L. Campbell, MD

I had an athletic injury as a teenager, and this experience sparked my interest in orthopedics. As an undergraduate, I studied civil engineering as well as premed. I was interested in learning how towers and bridges were built and remained standing. After working in engineering, I found that the principles of bridge and building construction paralleled those in orthopedic surgery; and through surgery, I could apply these same principles to improve patients’ mobility and function.

Inspired by the intersection of anatomy and mechanics, I pursued medical school followed by orthopedic surgery residency. During training, I became interested in arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique performed through small incisions and requiring precision and care. In addition, I enjoyed the ethos of sports medicine, which is to return people to the activities they love. I spent my first few years in practice in Los Angeles treating sports injuries and orthopedic trauma before returning to NYU Langone as director of the Center for Women’s Sports Medicine.

At NYU Langone, the conditions I manage include injuries of the knee ligaments (most commonly anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL), the meniscus, and cartilage. I also perform shoulder surgeries, typically rotator cuff and labral repairs. I have a clinical interest in injuries of the patellofemoral or the kneecap joint. To manage these conditions, I specialize in arthroscopic and open surgeries, whichever is required for the injury. I also manage nonsurgical issues and can guide rehabilitation and recovery from all kinds of sports injuries of the elbow, hip, ankle, and foot.

As an active person and former college athlete, I have experienced many of the injuries that I manage in the people I care for. I value being a good listener and place myself in my patients’ shoes so that I understand their care goals. I am not just treating MRI and X-ray results—I treat each person’s symptoms, limitations, and goals.

Patient satisfaction is a priority of mine, and I view the doctor–patient relationship as a team effort aimed at getting you back to doing the things that you love. I work with an extensive group of specialists on both our physical therapy and physician teams, and we do everything we can to optimize care for a seamless experience.

My research interests include meniscal and cartilage healing, patellofemoral instability, and developing a better understanding of the basic science of tendon disease and healing.