Greenwich Street Surgical, a new membership-based surgical facility in Manhattan, was designed to give aesthetic surgeons access to hospital-grade operating rooms without the costs and administrative burden of ownership.
Co-founders Oren Tepper, MD, and Evan Garfein, MD, joined Becker’s to discuss the unmet needs that inspired the project and how their “turnkey” model works in practice.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What unmet needs in Manhattan’s surgical landscape (particularly in regard to workforce) led to the creation of Greenwich Street Surgical?
Dr. Tepper: Manhattan has no shortage of skilled aesthetic surgeons, but many face significant barriers when it comes to accessing operating rooms that match the level of safety, efficiency, and patient experience they want to deliver. Hospital ORs are costly, bureaucratic, and difficult to schedule. At the same time, building or leasing a private surgical suite in New York City is often financially prohibitive and administratively overwhelming. Greenwich Street Surgical was designed to solve that problem: a turnkey, AAAASF-accredited facility that gives surgeons access to hospital-grade safety in a boutique environment, without the burdens of ownership or overhead.
Q: In practical terms, how does the “turnkey, no-ownership” setup cut costs and lighten surgeons’ administrative load?
Dr. Garfein: We’ve taken on everything a surgeon would otherwise need to manage themselves: facility build-out, accreditation, staffing, scheduling, billing infrastructure and even patient recovery accommodations. That means surgeons can walk in, operate and walk out, their patients enjoy seamless pre- and post-op care, and their team doesn’t get bogged down in logistics. Instead of sinking capital into real estate and administration, members can focus entirely on patient care and practice growth.
Q: Could this membership model work beyond aesthetic surgery and in other markets? Where do you see it thriving?
Dr. Garfein: Yes, absolutely. While aesthetic surgery is uniquely suited because of its high patient volume and demand for privacy and experience, the model could extend to other specialties where hospital ORs aren’t always the best fit, such as dermatology, ENT or oral surgery. We also see potential in other metropolitan markets where surgeons face the same challenges we did in New York: scarce space, high real estate costs and a growing patient demand for convenience and concierge-level service.
Question: What’s been the reaction from surgeons since you launched?
Dr. Tepper: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Surgeons appreciate that they can offer their patients a hospital-grade, luxury surgical experience without compromising safety or efficiency. Many tell us they feel like they’ve “leveled up” their practice, both in terms of patient satisfaction and their own ability to scale. Membership has grown quickly, and we’ve already seen word-of-mouth referrals within the surgical community, which to us is the strongest endorsement of all.
