Nicholas Francis Cozzarelli, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident
Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC)
Hackensack, NJ
Member Since: 2023
Why did you join AAOS?
I joined AAOS because I wanted to surround myself with the best surgeons, researchers, and innovators so that I could learn to be my best for my future patients. I want to learn even more about how to help patients have their function restored, improve the quality of their lives, and to assist them in achieving their goals using evidence-based guidelines and research, which is exactly what AAOS promotes.
What are you looking forward to most about AAOS?
From attending and presenting in San Francisco in 2024, I most look forward to being a part of OrthoPAC and advocate for patients and surgeons in many ways. Also, I look forward to continuing to connect with members from all over to keep growing in my understanding of how orthopaedic care is delivered throughout the world.
What interested you about orthopaedics?
My upbringing was influenced by the values of Italian immigrants and a lesson I have been taught my whole life was the importance of doing it ourselves. No matter the task, my father, brothers and I learned it together. We do winemaking, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, appliance and car repairs, and more. The pleasure of working with them to see a problem, intervene, and view the result of a properly functioning job energizes me. As I progressed through medical school, my surgical rotation stood out amongst my clinical experiences because the attention to detail, hands-on work, and real-time visualization of a surgeon’s impact on their patients took me back to the tenets that have defined my values as long as I can remember. My father’s emphasis on self-sufficiency taught me that not only was I responsible for fixing a leak or building a bookshelf, but I also was tasked with acquiring the knowledge and skills to ensure my work was of high quality and built to last. Whether in medicine or outside the sphere of my profession, I approach all challenges with a mindset of knowing that the work that bears my name must always be completed with pride, respect, and honesty. Reflecting on my family's lessons guided me to the field of orthopaedic surgery. The similar feeling of pride and satisfaction, camaraderie, focus, and purpose of being able to create something from start to finish is what I have longed for in my career.
What's one thing you're currently trying to make a habit?
A physical habit I am working on is to stretch before bed every day. A mental habit I am working on is to take walks outside every day in nature. A spiritual habit I am working on is to practice gratitude by writing down three things I am grateful for at the end of each day.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
In my free time, I love to make homemade wine, skateboard, run, train in mixed martial arts, and preserve my family’s history and immigration through my research. My family and I make 500-700 gallons of wine per year for passion.
I have been a sponsored skateboarder since I was 15 years old.
I just completed my first marathon ever, the Jersey City NJ Marathon. I have been boxing and wrestling for most of my life. I love spending time doing traditions of my Italian heritage like making capocollo aka “gabagool”, tomato sauce, homemade pasta, wine, and more.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know!
I have a YouTube video of “The Sopranos Greatest Scenes” that has more than 5 million views and The Sopranos used my family’s funeral home, Cozzarelli Funeral Home, throughout the whole series.