A beloved Long Island orthopedic surgeon, known for “serenading patients” with music between procedures, passed away Sunday after collapsing during a local triathlon he had competed in annually.
Dr. Peter Sultan, a renowned orthopedic surgeon at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, died suddenly at age 54 while participating in the Jamesport Triathlon, an event sponsored each year by the hospital. His unexpected passing has left colleagues and family members stunned and heartbroken.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Peter Sultan, a respected and compassionate physician whose dedication to patient care, medical excellence, and community well-being left a lasting impact on all who knew him,” Northwell Health said in a statement.
“Dr. Sultan was not only a skilled and trusted member of the medical community but also a mentor, colleague, and friend to many. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched throughout his distinguished career. He will be deeply missed.”
A father of two and avid athlete who had trained diligently for the multi-sport endurance race, Dr. Sultan was beloved for lifting the spirits of his patients and their families with his outgoing personality and his passion for music throughout his 20-year career.
The Westhampton resident and skilled pianist often found joy in performing impromptu concerts in the hospital lobby — frequently dressed in his scrubs — serenading patients alongside his musical partner, Jerome Foster Lewis. Their music helped ease the nerves of patients and their families after surgeries.
“The unexpected concerts gave them the uplift they needed,” Lewis, a patient experience specialist at Peconic Bay Medical Center, told the Riverhead Local.
“It was a joy for us too. The music was uplifting and gave us strength. Peter would always say, ‘Medicine cures the body, but music cures the soul.’ While many saw the analytical side of him as a surgeon, I was fortunate to witness his artistic side — a part of him I’m so grateful to have experienced.”
Sultan was well known for serenading patients with his music.
Lisa Hubbard, administrative director of orthopedic services, described the usually bustling hospital as eerily quiet following Sultan’s sudden passing.
“I’ve never seen it like this before,” she told the outlet, recalling that she and Dr. Sultan both joined the medical facility in 2005.
“Everyone loved Dr. Sultan. We are all still reeling from this loss.”
In 2012, he was honored with the hospital’s Physician of the Year award.
A Harvard Medical School graduate, Dr. Sultan served nine years as chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, according to his LinkedIn profile.
His unwavering dedication earned him a reputation as one of New York’s top hip and knee replacement surgeons. In 2012, he was honored with the hospital’s Physician of the Year award.
“He took a chance on us—as a hospital and as a community—and truly helped build the hospital while turning its reputation around. Patient by patient, he changed lives. Thanks to his joint replacement practice, thousands of people are now able to move, walk, dance, and enjoy time with their families.”
“He was deeply committed to his practice, his patients, and the hospital — truly an all-around great guy.”
A prayer service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead.
