OsteoarthritisofHand near Belmont, NC

Biography: My subspecialty is foot and ankle reconstruction. I use both open and minimally invasive surgical techniques such as arthroscopy to help athletes and other active people recover from orthopedic injuries and conditions. These conditions include bunions, hammertoes, arthritis of the foot and ankle, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis and ruptures, ankle replacement, and the correction of complex lower extremity deformity, among others. \n I was drawn to medicine at age 18, when I became an emergency medical technician. I chose a career in orthopedic surgery after my rotation as a third-year medical student at Georgetown University. I realized at that point how enjoyable it is to work with motivated and active patients of all ages who have a goal of returning to or maintaining an active lifestyle. \n I take a patient-centered and goal-oriented approach to treating orthopedic conditions. The process begins with a thorough assessment of not only the medical problem, but also the individual's goals and ambitions. Factoring these elements into patient care allows me to develop an individualized approach that helps to relieve pain and let patients pursue their specific athletic goals and hobbies. \n Since residency, this approach has also guided my research, which has examined a range of topics, including the safe return to driving after lower extremity orthopedic surgery and minimally invasive surgery of the foot and ankle, among other topics. \n I live in Charlotte with my wife and two young daughters. As a family, we enjoy spending time in the outdoors, golfing, grilling and exercising.

Biography: Dr. Jess Kirby, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist who practices in Cornelius, NC. He is 52 years old and has been practicing for 24 years. Dr. Jess Kirby, MD is affiliated with Novant Charlotte NC.

Biography: Actively listening to somebody's story comforts them with the purest sincerity. I started to believe this early in life when I recognized that my most meaningful relationships were built on this principle. My love for science has always drawn me to the stories of people struggling with their health. Even before having any medical training, I found that listening was therapeutic to these people. Years later in medical school, I learned that listening is how you obtain a detailed patient history, the essential information required to correctly diagnose and treat patients. Medicine has been the perfect arena for me to actively listen with empathy and apply my love of science. This is my passion and how I can best serve those in need. \n In college, I was fortunate to work with Dr. Robert Booth, an orthopaedic surgeon who treated patients incapacitated with knee arthritis. I became fascinated with joint replacement surgery, human anatomy, and the mechanical devices implanted to reconstruct the knee joint and give a patient their mobility back. I decided then, at the age of 19, that I wanted to be an orthopedic surgery specializing in joint replacement. 17 years later I accomplished this goal when I completed my orthopaedic surgery training, spending the last year with Dr. Doug Dennis who taught me the principles of adult reconstruction and how thoughtful clinical research has evolved the practice and technology we use. \n Every day of my surgical training and clinical practice has given me the privilege of meeting new patients with their own story that challenges my understanding of how we practice orthopaedic surgery. These challenges have motivated me to study patient outcomes and publish research hoping to improve current techniques in orthopaedic surgery. This curiosity has naturally encouraged me to take care of patients with complex orthopaedic problems who inspire me to listen harder and learn more. These have been the most rewarding patient relationships that continue to mature my practice and make me a better physician. \n Outside of work, time with family is my priority. I enjoy cooking, woodworking, Philadelphia sports, and being outdoors fishing at the beach or in the mountains. I was an avid skier until 2022 when I was involved in a trauma. That incident afforded me the unique opportunity to become an orthopedic patient myself and better understand what my own patients are experiencing. \n I am the proud recipient of the following awards: \n UNC Hospitals Carolina Care Excellence Physician Award (2024, 2023, 2022) \n Frank E. Pollock Academic Excellence Award, Wake Forest Department of Orthopaedics \n Gold Medal in Basic Science Research, Wake Forest Surgical Sciences Research Day \n AAOS Now Featured Research: "Xenograft-derived Bone Scaffold Shows Promise" \n Young Investigator Travel Award: AAOS Biologic Treatments of Orthopaedic Injuries Symposium \n Scientific Exhibit Award of Excellence: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) \n Award in Resident Radiation Biology Research: American Society for Radiation Oncology \n AO Trauma North America Resident Research Award (Principal Investigator) \n OREF Resident Clinician Scientist Training Grant Award (Principal Investigator)