HSS Announces Dr. Bryan Kelly to Succeed CEO Louis Shapiro on September 5
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) today announced its phased leadership transition will be completed on September 5, when Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA succeeds Louis A. Shapiro as CEO. The role of President passed to Dr. Kelly when the announcement was first made in January, and since then HSS has implemented a variety of adjustments to support a seamless transition following 17 years of leadership by Shapiro.
A world-renowned surgeon, scientist and educator specializing in sports medicine and hip preservation, Dr. Kelly joined HSS in 1996 and since 2019 has served as Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director. Those roles will transition to Douglas E. Padgett, MD, currently Associate Surgeon-in-Chief, when Dr. Kelly becomes CEO.
In a message to HSS staff today, Board of Trustees Co-Chairs Thomas H. Lister and Robert K. Steel expressed support for the timing of the transition in light of substantial progress made since January.
“Dr. Bryan T. Kelly leads the enterprise forward from a position of unprecedented strength and opportunity fostered under Lou’s 17 years of leadership,” said Lister and Steel. “HSS has blossomed from a great hospital into a system projecting knowledge, talent and impact far and wide, recognized as the world leader in its field. His greatest legacy may be the culture that has fueled leaps of vision, performance and resilience, and a daily pursuit of excellence by the most talented and dedicated people in every role.
“During Lou’s tenure, HSS grew by more than 300 percent, substantially increased its footprint, dramatically improved its balance sheet, and enhanced its performance in virtually all metrics across clinical quality, patient experience, value, employee engagement, financial and market position. These achievements under Lou’s leadership, combined with his focus on culture and patient experience, have led HSS to be top-ranked in the nation for orthopedics and rheumatology the past 13 years.”
After a short break, Shapiro is expected to remain active in the healthcare field. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to historic advancements at HSS, and am excited to explore my next chapter.”
HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 14th consecutive year), No. 2 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2023-2024), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2023-2024). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fourth consecutive year (2023). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.
