About Us  Our Surgeons
Kevin D. Plancher, MD
 Kevin D. Plancher, MD, MS, FACS, FAAOS, is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine expert with extensive practice in knee, shoulder, elbow and hand injuries. Dr. Plancher is an Associate Clinical Professor in Orthopaedics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY. He is on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Journal of Medicine and Sports and the American Journal of Orthopedics.
Dr. Plancher graduated from Trinity College with B.S., Major in Biochemistry and Chemistry. He then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he received an M.S. in Physiology and an M.D. from their school of medicine (cum laude). He did his residency at Harvard's combined Orthopaedic program and a Fellowship at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colorado where he studied shoulder and knee reconstruction. Dr. Plancher continued his relationship with the Clinic for the next six years as a Consultant. Dr. Plancher has served as team physician for many athletic teams, including high school, college and national championship teams. Dr. Plancher is an attending physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY and has offices in Manhattan and Cos Cob, Connecticut.
Dr. Plancher lectures extensively domestically and internationally on issues related to Orthopaedic procedures and injury management. From 2001 through 2006, Dr. Plancher was named among the Top Doctors in the New York Metro area. He has been appointed the New York State Representative for the Council of Delegates to the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons. For the past six years Dr. Plancher has received the Order of Merit (Magnum Cum Laude) for distinguished Philanthropy in the Advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2001, he founded "The Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles", a non-profit foundation focused on maintaining and enhancing the physical well-being of active individuals through the development and promotion of research and supporting technologies.
Eric J. Balaguer, MD
 Eric J. Balaguer, MD is an upper extremity surgeon specializing in hand, wrist and elbow conditions as well as microvascular surgery and nerve repairs.
His undergraduate education took place at The Ohio State University majoring in biological sciences. He then returned to his native Puerto Rico to complete his medical training at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Center.
Upon graduation from medical school, he obtained an NIH grant and spent 2 years at the Orthopedic Research Laboratory of Columbia University Department of Orthopedic Surgery. There, he focused in research in hand osteoarthritis and hand biomechanics under the supervision of Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, director of the division of Hand Surgery of The New York Presbyterian Hospital. After a successful and productive time in the lab, he then continued to do residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. His formal training was finalized at The University of Miami where he trained in hand and upper extremity surgery under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Ann Ouellette, director of the hand and upper extremity fellowship of Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
Dr. Balaguer’s areas of expertise include fractures of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbows, as well as conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger fingers, arthritis of the hand and wrists and laceration repair of nerves and arteries among others. He is an attending physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY and has offices in Manhattan and Cos Cob, Connecticut.
Dr. Balaguer is also very passionate about his charity work. He is involved in many charities including the Make a Wish Foundation, Operation Smile and Health Volunteer Overseas. He is also still very active in athletics, his interests include, golf, volleyball, tennis and snowboarding.
Alberto R. Rivera, MD – Associate
Dr. Alberto Rivera received his B.S., Major in Biology Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He then completed with honors medical school at Ponce School of Medicine at Ponce, Puerto Rico. Dr. Rivera then did a Straight Surgical Internship at the General Surgery Program of the University of Puerto Rico and then his Residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the same institution. Currently he is an attending surgeon at Beth Israel Hospital in New York, Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut and Northern Weschester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Dr. Rivera has demonstrated great commitment and passion for his medical profession. He has special interests in shoulder, elbow, hip and knee surgery. Dr. Rivera is very active in sports, a former baseball player and now an avid triathlete.
Raheel Shafi, MD – Associate
Dr. Raheel Shafi graduated from Sind Medical College - University of Karachi where he completed his general surgery and orthopaedic training. He also did an orthopaedic trauma fellowship at University of Vienna School of Medicine in Austria. Since moving to the United States, Dr. Shafi has participated in both orthopaedic research and clinical fellowships in plastic surgery, hand surgery and adult reconstruction. Outcomes from his research have been presented at international and national meetings including AOA, AAOS, and a full article has been published in J Trauma. 2004; 56(6). Dr. Shafi has a great interest in orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, Ilizarov, limb lengthening, and deformity correction. He recently published a case report in Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery and he delivered a podium presentation at LLRS at Louisville, KY in July 2009. He was a clinical fellow at Orthopaedic Limb Lengthening from August 2007 to July 2009.
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