PHILADELPHIA, PA — Castle Connolly has named Dr. Asif Ilyas among its 2026 Top Doctors, recognizing him as one of the nation’s leading physicians. The Castle Connolly Top Doctor designation is bestowed upon the top 7% of U.S. practicing physicians, as determined through a peer-nomination and physician-led research process that identifies doctors who demonstrate excellence in both clinical expertise and interpersonal care.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by my peers through Castle Connolly,” said Dr. Ilyas. “This recognition reflects our collective work to provide the highest quality care to our patients while advancing research and education that lead to safer, more effective treatments.”
Every year, Castle Connolly conducts an extensive review of practicing physicians across the United States. In 2025, more than 47,000 peer nominations were submitted for consideration, and just over 72,000 physicians ultimately earned Top Doctor status from a pool of more than 1.1 million. The recognition serves as a trusted resource for patients seeking top-tier medical care and highlights physicians who excel not only in clinical outcomes but also in compassion and leadership.
Dr. Ilyas is board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery with a certificate of added qualification in Hand Surgery. He specializes in hand, wrist, elbow, nerve, and orthopedic trauma surgery, with particular expertise in fracture surgery, nerve injury management, and pain management in orthopedics. He is also recognized as an expert in “wide awake hand surgery” and has served as the Consulting Hand Surgeon for both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Currently, Dr. Ilyas serves as President of the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education and as Chairman & Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Ilyas lectures extensively at national and international conferences and is actively involved in the design and development of innovative implants for fracture and joint replacement in the upper extremity.
Dr. Ilyas’s recent research has focused on opioids and pain management strategies to reduce postoperative opioid use and dependence. His leadership in this field has led to the launch of the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute’s Foundation for Opioid Research and Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing evidence-based pain management strategies and combating opioid abuse and addiction.
As both a surgeon and organizational leader, Dr. Ilyas continues to shape national conversations about pain management, opioid safety, and advances in orthopaedic research. His ongoing work reflects the mission of the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education to inform practice, influence policy, and improve patient outcomes.
For more information on the 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors, visit www.castleconnolly.com/castle-connolly-top-doctors.
About the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research and Education.
The Rothman Opioid Foundation, for short, is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing opioid crisis, educating physicians and patients on safe opioid prescribing and use, respectively, and advising policymakers on sound opioid and pain management policy. Most importantly, the Rothman Opioid Foundation performs and supports the highest quality research on opioids and alternative pain modalities to yield findings that can better inform patients, physicians, and the greater healthcare community in the most evidence-based pain management strategies while working to mitigate opioid abuse and addiction. https://www.rothmanopioid.org/
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