Dr. Mo Athar

The Doctor You Want in Your Corner

Choosing a surgeon is one of the most personal decisions you’ll ever make. You’re trusting someone with your body, your mobility, your quality of life. Dr. Mohammad Athar understands this deeply—and he doesn’t take that trust lightly.

From the moment you walk into his office, you’ll notice something different. Dr. Athar doesn’t rush. He sits down, asks questions, and genuinely listens. What’s been bothering you? How long has it been going on? What activities have you had to give up? What does a good outcome look like for you? These aren’t just intake questions—they’re the foundation of every treatment plan he creates.

“Every patient is different,” Dr. Athar explains. “A weekend golfer and a construction worker might have the same diagnosis, but their goals and lifestyles are completely different. My job is to understand what matters to you and build a plan around that.”

A Journey Built on Dedication

Dr. Athar’s path to becoming a surgeon was never about shortcuts. After completing medical school in Ireland and a rigorous orthopedic surgery residency in Northern Ontario—where he served as Chief Resident—he made an unusual choice: instead of entering practice immediately, he pursued two fellowships at the University of Toronto, one of the most respected orthopedic training programs in North America.

His first fellowship focused on hip and knee reconstruction, where he spent a year immersed in joint replacement surgery—learning the latest techniques in primary and revision arthroplasty, including robotic-assisted procedures. His second fellowship took him deeper into the intricate world of foot and ankle surgery, training under Dr. Timothy Daniels and Dr. Johnny Lau, surgeons recognized internationally for their expertise in total ankle replacement and complex reconstruction.

Two fellowships meant two extra years of training. Two years of early mornings, late nights, and thousands of additional surgical cases. But for Dr. Athar, it was worth it. “I wanted to be the kind of surgeon who could handle whatever walks through the door,” he says. “A patient shouldn’t have to see three different specialists for their knee, their ankle, and their hip. I wanted to offer comprehensive care—and that required comprehensive training.”

More Than Just Credentials

Yes, Dr. Athar is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Yes, he’s a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He’s certified in MAKO robotic-assisted surgery, trained in minimally invasive techniques, and has published research in peer-reviewed journals like the Canadian Journal of Surgery and Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics.

But credentials only tell part of the story.

What the letters after his name don’t capture is the extra twenty minutes he spends with a nervous patient, walking through what to expect before and after surgery. Or the phone calls he makes personally to check on someone’s recovery. Or the way he draws diagrams on the exam table paper to make sure you actually understand what’s happening inside your body.

Dr. Athar believes that informed patients make better decisions—and have better outcomes. He’ll never pressure you toward surgery. In fact, he’ll often do the opposite, recommending physical therapy, injections, or lifestyle modifications first. “Surgery is a tool,” he says. “It’s a powerful tool, but it’s not always the right one. My job is to give you options and help you choose what’s best for your life.”

A Surgeon Who Never Stops Learning

Medicine doesn’t stand still, and neither does Dr. Athar. He stays actively involved in research, presenting at national and international conferences, and contributing to studies that shape how orthopedic conditions are treated. His recent work has explored topics ranging from the effects of obesity on knee replacement outcomes to the role of socioeconomic factors in ankle surgery recovery.

Why does research matter for patients? Because it means Dr. Athar isn’t just practicing medicine—he’s helping to advance it. When you’re in his care, you benefit from a surgeon who knows not only what works today, but what the latest evidence says about tomorrow.

What You Can Expect

When you become Dr. Athar’s patient, you’re not just getting a surgeon—you’re getting a partner in your care. Here’s what that looks like:

• A real conversation. Your first appointment isn’t a five-minute formality. Dr. Athar takes the time to hear your full story and answer every question you have.
• A clear explanation. No medical jargon, no confusion. You’ll leave understanding your diagnosis, your options, and the pros and cons of each approach.
• Conservative treatment first. Surgery is always the last resort, not the first recommendation. If there’s a non-surgical path that makes sense, Dr. Athar will pursue it.
• Skilled, precise surgery when needed. When surgery is the right choice, you’ll be in the hands of a fellowship-trained specialist using the most advanced techniques available.
• Follow-through. Your care doesn’t end when the procedure does. Dr. Athar and his team are with you through recovery, rehabilitation, and beyond.
Serving the Community

Dr. Athar sees patients at Complete Orthopedics locations throughout Long Island, New York City, and New Jersey. He holds privileges at leading hospitals across the region, including St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, South Shore University Hospital, Mather Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, and many others.

Whether you’re an athlete dealing with a stubborn ankle injury, a grandparent whose knee pain has stolen the joy of playing with your grandchildren, or someone facing a diagnosis that feels overwhelming—Dr. Athar is here to help. His mission is simple: to provide expert, compassionate care that helps you get back to the life you love.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re living with pain or limitation, you don’t have to keep pushing through it. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Athar to discuss your options and find out what’s possible.

Licenses:

• New York
• New Jersey

Certifications:

• FRCSC — Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
• FAAOS — Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• ABOS — Board Certified (2025)
• New York State Medical License — Active
• New Jersey State Medical License — Active
• MAKO Robotics Certification
• MIS Foot and Ankle Surgery Certification

Fellowship Training

• Foot and Ankle Surgery with Trauma
  University Health Network, University of Toronto | Toronto, ON
  July 2021 – June 2022 – High-volume total ankle arthroplasty experience (100+ cases) – Advanced training in adult foot and ankle surgery including arthroscopy, arthroplasty, reconstruction, and diabetic foot care – Exposure to minimally invasive techniques and modern implant systems – Concurrent trauma call coverage – Faculty: Dr. Timothy Daniels, Dr. Johnny Lau
• Hip and Knee Reconstruction with Trauma
  Michael Garron Hospital, University of Toronto | Toronto, ON
  July 2020 – June 2021 – Specialized in primary and revision hip/knee arthroplasty – High-volume joint replacement experience while maintaining trauma skills – Coverage of busy community orthopedic trauma service

Residency

• Orthopedic Surgery Residency
  Northern Ontario School of Medicine | Thunder Bay, ON
  July 2015 – June 2020 – Core rotations at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center – Specialized rotations in trauma, oncology, and pediatrics at University of Toronto affiliated centers – Comprehensive training in high-volume community and academic settings

Medical School

• Doctor of Medicine (MB, BCh, BAO)
  University College Cork | Cork, Ireland
  August 2011 – May 2015 – Four-year Graduate Entry program

Graduate Education

• Master of Science, Biology (Honors)
  McMaster University | Hamilton, ON
  September 2009 – August 2011 – Focus: Cellular and molecular biology – Thesis: Characterization of ERK2 as a transcriptional repressor of growth arrest specific genes
• Bachelor of Science, Biology (Honors)
  McMaster University | Hamilton, ON September 2005 – April 2009 – Focus: Cellular and molecular biology – Thesis: Characterization of hEst1A: A structure/function analysis of Telomerase

• Complete Orthopedics | Stony Brook, NY
  Orthopedic Surgeon — Foot & Ankle, Hip & Knee Reconstruction, Trauma
  December 2023 – Present
• Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine | West Orange & Westfield, NJ
  Orthopedic Surgeon — Foot & Ankle, Hip & Knee Reconstruction, Trauma
  July 2022 – December 2023

Research Experience

• University of Toronto | 2020–2022
  Clinical Research Fellow – Investigated prognostic indicators of outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty – Led study on socioeconomic status effects on TAA outcomes (first author) – Contributed to ankle arthritis classification research and anatomical foot/ankle studies
• Northern Ontario School of Medicine | 2015–2022
  Resident Researcher – Conducted prospective cohort study on obesity and functional outcomes after TKA/THA – Published case report on complications of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
• University College Cork | 2012–2014
  Medical Student Researcher – Investigated bacterial microbiome of ovarian tumors and role in tumor pathogenesis – Analyzed comorbidities in hip fracture patients with in-hospital mortality
• McMaster University | 2008–2011
  Graduate & Undergraduate Researcher – Investigated molecular signaling pathways in cancer progression and metastasis – Characterized protein interactions in telomere maintenance and regulation

Teaching

• Medical Student Lecturer | University of Toronto School of Medicine | 2021–2022 – Developed and delivered curriculum on upper/lower extremity clinical examination – Taught didactic lectures on osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, septic arthritis, and common surgical pathologies – Coordinated hands-on training during COVID-19 medical education disruption
• Teaching Assistant | McMaster University | 2009–2011 – Planned and supervised lab sessions for first-year biology students – Helped establish integrated science program
• Guest Lecturer | McMaster University | 2009–2011 – Delivered lectures on DNA replication, telomere maintenance, transcription, and cancer cell pathogenesis
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) | UCC, Ireland | 2011–2013 – Participated in awareness campaigns and fundraising for international medical relief
• Hospital Volunteer | Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital | 2007–2009 – Assisted with patient care, transport, and nursing support
• UNICEF Campus Volunteer | McMaster University | 2007–2008 – Contributed to malaria relief fundraising campaigns

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Athar M, Saini R, Chahal S, Siddiqui R, Littlefield S, Naeem L, Dubois S, Droll K, Marion TE, Puskas D, Cullinan C. The effects of obesity on functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study. Can J Surg. 2025 May;68(3):E214-E220. PMID: 40441878
• Cristofaro C, Athar M, Pinsker EB, Meulenkamp B, Daniels TR, Halai MM. Celecoxib as heterotopic ossification prophylaxis in total ankle arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2025 May;10(2). PMID: 40453511
• Mercier MR, Ratnasamy PP, Yee NS, Hall B, Del Baso C, Athar M, Daniels TR, Halai MM. Differential utilization patterns of total ankle arthroplasty vs arthrodesis: a United States national ambulatory database analysis. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2023 Dec;8(4). PMID: 38145273
• Athar M [co-author]. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and CHOP restrict the expression of the growth arrest-specific p20K lipocalin gene to G0. Mol Cell Biol. 2016 Nov;36(23):2890-2902.
• Athar M [first author]. Characterization of comorbid factors in hip fracture related in-hospital mortality. Irish Medical Journal. 2014 Oct;107(9):284-287.

Manuscripts Under Review / In Preparation

• The effects of socioeconomic status on outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (Under review)
• Radiographic analysis of talar neck varus malalignment (Under review)

2025

• 71st ORS Annual Meeting | Phoenix, AZ | Feb 2025
  The effectiveness of AI in providing ankle sprain related material (Podium)
• 71st ORS Annual Meeting | Phoenix, AZ | Feb 2025
  The effectiveness of AI in providing lumbar spine related material (Podium)
• 37th American Academy of Pediatrics Conference | Denver, CO | Sept 2025
  The effectiveness of AI in providing ankle sprain related material
• Canadian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting | Vancouver, BC | June 2025
  The effects of obesity on functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study

2024

• 13th Annual MSK Repair & Regeneration Symposium, Montefiore Einstein | New York, NY | Nov 2024
  The effectiveness of AI in providing ankle sprain related material
• 13th Annual MSK Repair & Regeneration Symposium, Montefiore Einstein | New York, NY | Nov 2024
  The effectiveness of AI in providing lumbar spine related material
• 61st Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium | New Orleans, LA | April 2024
  Use of robotics for medical practice administrative tasks
  2022
• Canadian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting | Quebec City, QC
  Effects of socioeconomic factors on outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (Podium, First Author)
• American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting | Quebec City, QC
  Effects of socioeconomic factors on outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (Podium, First Author)

2014

• European Hip Society Congress | Stockholm, Sweden
  Characterization of comorbid factors in hip fracture related in-hospital mortality (Poster, First Author)
• Nordic Orthopaedic Federation Meeting | Helsinki, Finland
  Characterization of comorbid factors in hip fracture related in-hospital mortality (Poster, First Author)
• Sylvester O’Halloran Surgical Symposium | Limerick, Ireland
  IM nail tip cortical distance and peri-prosthetic fracture rates (Poster, Second Author)

2013

• Canadian Cancer Research Conference | Toronto, ON
  Transcriptional control of growth arrest genes by ERK2 (Poster, Third Author)
• Atlantic Orthopaedic Meeting | Galway, Ireland
  Comorbid factors in hip fracture related in-hospital mortality (Podium, First Author)
• Atlantic Orthopaedic Meeting | Galway, Ireland
  IM nail tip cortical distance and peri-prosthetic fracture (Podium, Second Author)

Teaching

• Medical Student Lecturer | University of Toronto School of Medicine | 2021–2022 – Developed and delivered curriculum on upper/lower extremity clinical examination – Taught didactic lectures on osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, septic arthritis, and common surgical pathologies – Coordinated hands-on training during COVID-19 medical education disruption
• Teaching Assistant | McMaster University | 2009–2011 – Planned and supervised lab sessions for first-year biology students – Helped establish integrated science program.
• Guest Lecturer | McMaster University | 2009–2011 – Delivered lectures on DNA replication, telomere maintenance, transcription, and cancer cell pathogenesis

Leadership

• Chief Resident | NOSM, Thunder Bay | 2019–2020 – Managed call schedules and teaching rounds – Guided junior residents and resolved program issues – Organized journal clubs and M&M conferences
• Program Representative | Canadian Orthopaedic Resident Association | 2018–2020 – Represented NOSM at national meetings – Addressed issues affecting Canadian orthopedic residents
• Resident Program Committee | NOSM | 2015–2019 – Served as junior (2015–2017) and senior (2017–2019) representative – Provided input on program evolution and improvements

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Athar M, Saini R, Chahal S, Siddiqui R, Littlefield S, Naeem L, Dubois S, Droll K, Marion TE, Puskas D, Cullinan C. The effects of obesity on functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study. Can J Surg. 2025 May;68(3):E214-E220. PMID: 40441878
• Cristofaro C, Athar M, Pinsker EB, Meulenkamp B, Daniels TR, Halai MM. Celecoxib as heterotopic ossification prophylaxis in total ankle arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2025 May;10(2). PMID: 40453511
• Mercier MR, Ratnasamy PP, Yee NS, Hall B, Del Baso C, Athar M, Daniels TR, Halai MM. Differential utilization patterns of total ankle arthroplasty vs arthrodesis: a United States national ambulatory database analysis. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2023 Dec;8(4). PMID: 38145273
• Athar M [co-author]. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and CHOP restrict the expression of the growth arrest-specific p20K lipocalin gene to G0. Mol Cell Biol. 2016 Nov;36(23):2890-2902.
• Athar M [first author]. Characterization of comorbid factors in hip fracture related in-hospital mortality. Irish Medical Journal. 2014 Oct;107(9):284-287.

• At. Catherine of Siena Hospital
• St. Charles Hospital
• St. Joseph’s Hospital
• South Shore University Hospital
• Mather Hospital
• Peconic Bay Medical Center
• Syosset Hospital
• North Queens Surgery Center
• Port Jefferson Surgery Center
• Center for Advanced Joint and Spine