Testimonials
"I often ask a surgeon who practiced for 20 years or more, if he
would have referred a patient to the "first-year surgeon" he once was. The
surgeons I ask this question to are almost always top-of-the- game.
They are the best. Yet, when I ask this, the answer is always, "Oh no. I
wasn't very good when I started." Dr. Stillwell is the lone exception.
Without a trace of arrogance, he told me, "Yes, I would. I am that good." He
then showed me a hard-cover manual he wrote for all the orthopedic
surgeons in the world. He not only wrote it, he drew many of the illustrations
which are even clearer than actual photos. Truly mind-boggling. What I'm
saying is simple: If you're looking for advice on how to get rid of knee
pain... permanently; if you're looking for expert advice - you cannot find a
finer source of knowledge than Dr. Stillwell. To say "he knows his stuff"
would be an insult. The good doctor literally wrote the book on what to do.
Get his program and experience the benefits."
Matt Furey
author of Combat Conditioning
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Few are the times in life that one comes across a book that actually reveals the cure to a medical problem.
But that is exactly what happened when I read the book "How to Avoid Knee Surgery."
Even though, like Dr. Stillwell, I too am a physician, another facet of my life is my time spent as a
competitive martial artist. With all the extensive training and competing, like most athletes, my knees really suffer, especially my right knee because of all the kicks I've thrown.
I have tried EVERY pill, cream, brace, and contraption out there with very little relief. In fact, on
several occasions I had a good friend of mine, a board certified orthopedic surgeon, evaluate my problems. He finally said I needed the S-word, surgery.....oh boy!
Despite being a surgeon myself, I must say that being on the other end of that conversation
made me very uneasy. I was well aware of the risks, including infection, numbness, swelling, etc., etc., etc. To be honest with you, it's the whole "being put to sleep"thing that sort of "freaks me out."
And if that wasn't enough, then my buddy actually told me the odds for successful knee
surgery are at best 70% and I would probably have some residual pain. I really did not like those odds.
That's why, when I saw Dr. Stillwell's book, I picked it up immediately. And I must say the book is impressive.
He has taken a complex joint that can have complex problems and explained it such
that one doesn't have to be a fellow physician like me to easily understand it.
And he is specific. He addresses every possible type of knee pain, AND
he has a very specific approach on how to get rid of it....if you have knee pain, this book is a "no brainer."
It has saved me from going under the knife, and I know it will save countless others from a similar fate.
Dr. Trevor Neal, MD
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"Before meeting Dr. Bill, I had lingering knee pain from squats - both with a barbell AND just my bodyweight.
I figured the only thing I could do was rest, but every time I tried working out again after a break the knee pain would return.
Luckily I met Dr. Bill at a seminar and he convinced me to let him examine my knee, and I'm glad he did. In less than 3 minutes he
figured out the problem and gave me a very unusual exercise for strengthening my legs. I thought for sure it would make my knee worse not better.
But lo and behold it's been over 3 months and my knee feels great and I'm using heavier weights on it all the time. This doctor definitely knows his stuff."
Nate Rifkin
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When I think of Bill Stillwell, one word comes to mind - - - Passion.
Passion for life and everything about it. Whether it be his Orthopaedic Surgery,
his artwork, love of his family, or the cats and dogs he rescues, Bill
does everything at 110%. His clinical and academic competence in his field of
Orthopaedic Surgery are second to none. He is truly a good man who serves his
community and loves his family. I am proud to call him my friend.
I had injured my knee after running the Long Island Half Marathon and
really had no idea what to do. I was in a lot of pain and called Bill.
He saw me immediately, diagnosed the problem, treated the injury successfully
and I was able to run again. I can not thank Bill enough for his prompt, kind
and professional treatment
David E. Parker, DDS, FAGD
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I have known Bill Stillwell for 27 years, both as a friend, and professionally.
I first came to know Bill professionally. Of similar age, we both entered practice
in Western Suffolk County, New York at about the same time.
As a rheumatologist, I needed my "A team" for referrals. I learned
about Bill from a nurse, and my first professional contact with him
was actually as a patient myself, for a knee problem. In the years following,
his skills and talents as a surgeon, and his warmth, respect, and regard for
his patients, as well as his passion for his work led him to be my number one
choice for any patient needing reconstructive knee or hip surgery. I trusted him
multiple times personally as well- to operate on and care for my father, and to
operate on my own knee several times. He never let me down as regards his
technical skills, and as important, as regards his relationships with patients.
I knew I could depend on his compassion and his ability to help a patient to
understand difficult choices. I was impressed that he would never leave on vacation
until every patient was home from the hospital- the patients and I knew he would
be there for them from start to finish.
On Long Island, in medicine, we refer to the "East to West" mentality. Patients from
the eastern areas of Long Island travel west for their care, often all the way into Manhattan.
There is a concept that physicians become more talented, smarter, when they cross the East
River. I don't generally agree with that concept, but it is prevalent. Bill's talents and skills as
a surgeon equaled any in Manhattan, and over time, his remarkable reputation grew, so that it
became easy for me to send patients needing reconstructive surgery to him. I knew it would be
easier for them to have their surgery in their own community, rather than going with the East to
West tide, and I knew they would get the best possible care from Bill. It was in my interests to
have happy patients, and I knew a referral to Bill for a hip or knee replacement would assure the
highest chance that a patient would come back to me afterward and say: "thanks for sending me
to him."
It was with enormous regret that I witnessed Bill's leaving practice on Long Island.
For selfish reasons, it meant I would now have to find someone else to do my own
knee replacement, an eventuality I know I face. It also meant that the area was losing
a precious resource - a surgeon with decades of experience to supplement his natural
talents and skills, with a quality so important in a surgeon, but not always there - instilling
confidence in patients not only in his skills, but in his caring for them as people outside the
arena of the operating room. Bill maintained a currency in awareness both about topics of
immediate importance to him as a surgeon, but also about the medical or non surgical aspects
of the musculoskeletal diseases that brought patients to him. For about 15 years, our offices
adjoined, and it made for the most remarkable teamwork in caring for patients.
He will I am certain bring all these skills and qualities forward with him as he finds
ways to put his knowledge to use.
Max I Hamburger, MD
President, New York State Rheumatology Society
President, American Society of Clinical Rheumatologists
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, SUNY Stony Brook
Smithtown, NY
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I have had the pleasure of calling Dr. William Stillwell a close and
dear
friend for over two decades now. I also had the privilege of training
under
Dr. Stillwell during my medical school rotation in adult
reconstructive
Orthopaedics. It is during this time I grew to appreciate and respect
him
not only as a compassionate person who genuinely cared about his
patients,
but also as a world-class surgeon who had mastered his field
completely.
In fact over the years I have learned so much from William Stillwell,
both
on a personal and professional level. His wisdom is an invaluable
resource
that I am happy to hear is being made more accessible to the general
public
via this website. I am certain the lucky few who get access to Dr.
Stillwell's advice will benefit greatly as he is a wonderful clinician
whose
keen insight and skills have already help countless patients live a
healthier, longer life.
Sincerely,
Raihan Haque M.D.
Irvine, California
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Over the 30+ years that I have known Bill Stillwell, he has
consistently demonstrated honesty, integrity, and the ability to integrate state of
theart knowledge and skill with excellent clinical judgment. I have
always viewed him as a respectful teacher who educates his patients,
providing them with up to date information that allows them to make appropriate
treatment decisions for themselves, rather than telling them what to
do.
Benjamin D. Rubin, M.D.
Orange, CA
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"I lived with severe knee pain for nearly a year. Dr Stillwell identified the problem within just a few minutes of conversation. He offered several suggestions to relieve the pain as well as giving me solid advice on
what steps to take to address the problem permanently.
Rarely have I had the pleasure of conversing with a medical professional so knowledgeable and caring."
Penny Thomas
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Dear Dr. Stillwell,
I cannot begin to tell you the number of times that I reflect upon you
with a smile on my face and a glow of joy in my heart. Without your
skill
and caring I could not dance with the passion that I do to to all the
great
rhythms that life has to offer.
Also, there are many people who will never have the occasion to
introduce
themselves to you, but who can truthfully say they owe their lives to
Dr.
William Stillwell. For without you, I would never simply be able to do
my
job
and make the ocean rescues at Robert Moses State Park, saving the lives
of people just 50 to 60 yards off shore.
The majority of people when saved are both embarrassed and grateful.
They say a quick thanks and walk away. I woulkd tell them that I
appreciate
their acknowledgment, but I knew they had no idea the REAL hero they
should be saying thanks to is you.
So let me take this opportunity on their behalf to say it for them:
"thank you from all of us!"
Sincerely,
Rob Delaney
Amityville, NY
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I do not usually write testimonial letters, but I do want to
thank you for major knee operations you performed on my wife. You worked hard
twenty-six years ago to repair my wife's compound fractured leg after
her near fatal accident when she was hit by a car.
In the twenty years between operations you were a great comfort
to my wife. She could always depend upon you to answer all of her questions,
examine her leg when she had a complaint and make her comfortable with
caring words, medication or arthroscopic evaluation. Your medical expertise
was always what was new in the field of orthopaedic medicine.
Twenty years later, you replaced the severely damaged knee with a
new artificial knee. Once again, you succeeded beyond all our
expectations. You were the only doctor who, when performing a knee replacement, would
personally stitch the incision. This was a unique approach that
allowed the incision to heal with minor scarring.
Congratulations on your progressive move into Dr. Bill's Clinic.
Your medical background and tenacious investigation into the ever changing
world of medicine will enhance the clinic's advice.
I am sure you will once again be highly successful.
Very Sincerely,
Richard and Adrienne Giannadeo
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Dr. Stillwell performed surgery on my knee around six years ago and I am pleased to say that it is still as good as new!
I suffered from multiple knee injuries throughout my high school and college lacrosse career. After having three surgeries by other physicians, it was such a relief to finally have a complete recovery.
In what I am sure is a result of his extensive experience dealing with the struggles of his patients; Dr. Stillwell addressed my situation with the urgency and compassion warranted by my injury.
I was pleased to hear Dr. Stillwell was bringing his knowledge and expertise to the internet arena. In this way, he will be able to broaden his reach to help those seeking medical advice.
Physical activity is a very important part of my life and I will be forever grateful to Dr. Stillwell for his skillful and thoughtful work on my knee.
Ashley King
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I HAVE BEEN AN EXTERMELY ACTIVE PERSON ALL MY LIFE. I PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL ,WRESTLING, LACROSSE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. I BECAME A TEACHER,1968, AND STARTED COACHING THESE SPORTS UNTIL 2000.
ALL ALONG I HAD ALSO BEEN WORKING AS A LIFEGUARD AT JONES BEACH IN N.Y. ADDING TO ALL THIS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY I ALSO ENJOYED RUNNING,SKIING,ROWING ........ETC. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES WERE MY PASSION.
1999 BROUGHT ABOUT CHANGE. MY LEFT KNEE, WHICH HAD SOME PROBLEMS BEFORE, STARTED BECOMING VERY PAINFUL. A FRIEND REFERED ME TO DR. STILLWELL. THE DOCTOR INFORMED ME OF MY OPTIONS AND ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED HE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS. WHEN I LEFT, I FELT COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE UPCOMING OPERATION.
DEC 2000, DR. STILLWELL PREFORMED A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT. I WONDERED IF MY WAY OF LIFE WOULD CHANGE. WOULD I BE ABLE TO COMPLETE AT LEAST 40 YEARS AS A LIFEGUARD? COULD I STILL COACH?
DR STILLWELL WITH HIS SKILLED HANDS AND COMPASSIONATE SOUL WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK. HE CALLED PERSONALLY TO SEE HOW I WAS DOING. I REMEMBER HAVING A QUESTION A FEW DAYS AFTER COMING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AROUND CHRISTMAS, HE CALLED ME, HE TOOK TIME FROM HIS HOLIDAY TO CALL AND AMSWER MY QUESTION. HOW CARING AND CONCERNED.
MY LAST YEAR LIFEGUARDING WAS 2OO5,HE GAVE ME 5 YEARS.{TOTAL, 42YEARS} THE KNEE IS GREAT. I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE MY OTHER KNEE NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. I ONLY WISHED DR. STILLWELL COULD HAVE DONE IT.
IT IS RARE TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR WORK. IT IS RARER TO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT RESTORING AND IMPROVING QUALTIY OF LIFE. DR.STILLWELL IS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND I THANK MY FRIEND AND THE GOOD DR. EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
RESPECTFULLY,
BOB LENTI.
MILLER PLACE, N.Y.
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"It has been my pleasure to know Dr. Stillwell for these past 30 years.
I have found him to be not only an excellent physician and surgeon,
but also one of those rare individuals who has a real interest in people,
a true humanitarian.
A few years back, my father had severe knee pain and trouble
walking. When I mentioned his ailment to Bill during a phone
conversation, he immediately recognized the problem and
recommended a simple treatment that had my father up and
around again within just a few days, with all traces of pain and
the related infirmity gone. "
" On many occasions, I have also seen him go through his patient
files to see which people were in need and completely cancel
their
bills,
which in many cases were quite high, due to the intensive level
of
treatment they needed. His interest in medicine was not derived
from
a misplaced drive for personal gain or wealth, but the desire to
heal
the sick. "
"He has always shown great compassion and genuine concern for
people in his care and and he is the type of person that you can
trust
with your health concerns. He is a true renaissance man, who
epitomizes
the Ideal Physician. "
" In closing, I want to recommend to anyone seeking medical advice
to
trust
Dr. Bill, as he is one of the finest physicians and human beings
I
have had the
honor and privilege to know."
"In all sincerity, "
A. Ingoglia
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"Dear Dr. Stillwell,
I just had to send you a letter of thanks, even though I have said
thanks
many times personally to you. Thank you for giving my knees back to me.
The
pain that I had on a daily basis was no longer.
I was like a new person. I find that I am about 98% pain free. I thank
you
for your expertise and knowledge. I thank you for your constant caring.
I
thank you for being my doctor and friend. "
"Very truly yours, "
Vincent Fabiano
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"Dear Dr. Stillwell,
For the first time in more than eight years I no longer take medication
for
pain, I can actually sleep
the entire night without the gnawing pain associated with
osteoarthritis and
most important of all I can do the activities (both fun and work) that
were
limited by pain and instability in my knee. "
"My sincere thanks! "
"Sincerely, "
Cathy Hart, NP
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"Dear Doctor Stillwell,
"I just got back from my first "Power Walk" in about three years -- I
feel so
good that I just had to write and thank you again for giving me back my
"quality of life." I haven't felt this well in quite a few years.
Because
I'm no longer in pain from that "bad" knee, my whole body feels better.
If any of your patients need encouragement, I would be glad to tell
them my
success story.
Thank you for using your talent so well.
"Sincerely, "
Jane Emons
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Dear Dr. Stillwell,
Words cannot express adequately our deep gratitude to you. We are in
awe at
the extent of your kindness and generosity. With a gentle smile and
gracious
manner you touched our lives. We are eternally grateful to you and the
team
of benefactors that you assembled on our behalf. This has truly been a
moving and religious experience for us.
We will forever give thanks to God for your gifted hands, kind heart
and
supportive wife.
With love and appreciation,
Sincerely,
Ruby Nanton and Family
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Dear Dr. Stillwell,
I hope and pray that you are well and happy.
I will always be grateful to you for the masterly way in which you
relaced
my two hips. My gratitude extends beyond that, though, to your highly
personal style, your humor, and your Shakespeare. An erudite but not
pedantic specialist in this age of "cowboys!"
I thank God for you, and ask that He continue to bless you with the
abundance of gifts that you so generously share.
Sincerely,
Brother Amian Paul Goodwin,
FSC (Christian Brothers)
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Dear Dr. Stillwell,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the professional, top
notch surgeon that you are. As important as expertise is your caring
empathetic manner, something that can't be learned, but is a great gift
that
you have. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you.
Sincerely,
Laura Ferryz
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Dear Dr. Stillwell,
It hardly seems possible that just one year ago every step I took
generated
pain, movement was severly limited, I could not even tie my shoes. Now
I
appreciate life much more and value the ability to walk, climb stairs,
and
exercise without experiencing pain.
I am writing to let yopu know how appreciative I am. In today's
frenetic
world we sometimes forget to stop and thank the people who touch our
lives
in a positive way. Well, I just wanted to let you know what a great job
you
do.
Sincerely,
Robert De Marc
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"I have known Dr. Bill Stillwell since 1985 and propbably know him
better
than anyone, other than his wife. Since Bill had a pure referral
specialty
practice, over the years, we worked side by side on some of the most
difficult and technically challenging surgical cases in the region.
I easily assisted him with over 90% of his surgeries. In this way, I
came
to know him well and to trust his clinical judgment, as well
as his truly excellent skills with the scalpel and arthroscope. Over
the
years,
his ability won my respect and his manner, my friendship and
affection.
He inspired confidence in his patients, his staff and his colleagues.
His
superb
skill as a surgeon was only surpassed by his bedside manner:
kindness,
genuine
compassion, caring and a cheerful sense of humor. As a teacher of
patients,
therapists, nurses, medical students, residents, physicians,
surgeons,
general
orthopaedists and other orthopaedic specialists, he was unmatched.
He has
that great gift of simplifying the complex to make it understandable,
no
matter
the level of his listener.
Bill led our Orthopaedic Department as Chairman, until his early
retirement.
I am now honored to fill that office he served so ably. While I am
saddened
that we are all denied his uncommon surgical skills, I am so glad he
has
decided to
dispense his specialized knowledge and his decades of broad clinical
experience to
the public on this web site. He has so much to teach, and so few can
match
his ability
to do so.
When my children, both now physicians, were in residency, both of
them
served
with Bill in the OR and the office as elective preceptorships, at my
request.
I can think of no better recommendation than this: I trusted my own
son
and daughter
to this man's teaching. And I strongly urge you to do the same.
Sincerely,
Izhar U. Haque, MD, FRCS(E)
Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
Smithtown, NY
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It has been my sincere pleasure and honor to both know and
work with Dr. Bill Stillwell, who has been a mentor, teacher
and friend to me. In the OR and in the office, I learned that
he enjoyed an outstanding reputation among patients
and other physicians, as one of our top orthopaedic surgeons.
While working with him, as his medical student eleven years ago,
I saw that Dr. Stillwell exuded expertise, patience, confidence,
and compassion in his interactions with patients. He was able to
draw complex information from his vast knowledge base and explain
it to patients and students in a way that was readily
understood and appreciated. His sense of humor and
positive outlook were infectious and he was able to lift
the spirits of everyone around him.
As a friend, Dr. Stillwell has been endlessly supportive and kind.
His charming company and his anecdotes, about both medicine
and life were always enjoyed by those lucky enough to know him as a
friend, colleague, or patient. I am thrilled to hear that more people
will have access to his clinical expertise through this website. I have
no doubt that they will benefit from his advice, as have so many in
this community.
Sincerely,
Tehmina Haque, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
State Uiversity of New York @ Stony Brook, NY
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My name is Gary Mazzeo and I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Bill Stillwell for 20 years.
Not only has he been a good friend but he saved my life. I was over at his house and he
noticed a lump on my neck and asked what it was. I told him that I saw a doctor and
was told that it was a waxy gland. Being a plumber and not knowing any better
I was satisfied with what the doctor said. Bill took a look at it, felt it and set-up an
appointment with a throat specialist. It turned out to be a cancerous salivary gland.
It was removed and if not for Bill, I probably would not be around to write this.
On another occasion I mentioned to Bill that I would feel a vibration in my chest
on occasion. He drove me to the hospital and had specialist from St. Francis
Hospital examine me. I have never met anyone as compassionate, intelligent
and down to earth as Bill Stillwell. I have always admired Bill's talent as a surgeon and artist.
I worked for a School District and spoke with other co-workers that had knee and hip surgery
and went to Bill. One of the co-workers that had knee surgery said that when she walked
into physical therapy after her knee was operated one therapist knew exactly who did the
surgery because of how well she walked into their office. When Bill unfortunately stopped
performing surgery one of my co-workers who had her hips operated on by Bill actually
cried to find out he would not be practicing surgery any longer. All I can say is that Bill
cares about everyone and has always given me good advice about anything I have ever
asked him. There are certain people in life that touch your heart and I feel very lucky to
have met two, Bill and Judy Stillwell.
Gary Mazzeo
Retired Plumber
Saint James, NY
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Dr. Stillwell is a physician who advances Medicine by
keeping an open mind to many treatment modalities.
It is refreshing to seean approach to health care that
is inclusive of several aspects of Medicine. After evaluating
my specific case, he formulated a plan designed to meet
my needs and objectives. Ultimately, the therapy
recommended for my orthopaedic injury worked soon
after the first treatment. Accolades to Dr. Stillwell for his
ability to see the big picture.
Sincerely,
M. Alexandra Sumerlin, DVM
The Cat Hospital of Orlando
Altamonte Springs, FL
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I have known Bill Stillwell for over 25 years as a fellow physician
and close personal friend. During my tenure as President of the
Medical Staff of the hospital at which Dr. Stillwell served as Chief
of Orthopaedics, I was well aware of the esteem in which Bill was
held. The regard for his competency as a surgeon was universal
and the respect he attained when the major surgical text he wrote
was published made him a local legend.
Because of his modesty, only those that knew him well were aware
that he had another remarkable talent. His ability as an illustrator
was
and is amazing. I know of no other physician who could be said to be
an artist both on canvas and in the operating room.
But the highest honor a doctor can obtain can never be bestowed;
it comes from doctors and nurses who really know how he performs.
Bill Stillwell was the surgeon that the doctors and nurses, who knew
his work, chose when they or a close family member or good friend
needed surgery. To this day, my daughter's knee is as good as new,
thanks to Bill.
Sincerely,
Joel H. King, M.D.
Smithtown, NY
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I went to Dr. Stillwell in 1999 for a total knee replacement. It was
like getting a new life. He was by far one of the most caring, competent
and knowledgeable doctors I have ever met. Here it is 2007 and I'm still
doing great!
Sincerely,
Karen Morreale
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