Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the world’s largest academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health, today announced that Bryan T. Kelly, MD, will succeed Todd J. Albert, MD, as Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director. The transition will occur at the conclusion of Dr. Albert’s term in June, when he will continue his Spine practice as the fourth Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus currently serving at HSS.

Founded in 1863, HSS has been the nation’s top-ranked hospital for Orthopedics for the past nine consecutive years according to U.S.News & World Report.  It currently ranks third in the nation for Rheumatology, and is a Best Hospital for Pediatric Orthopedics.

Dr. Kelly has led in many capacities at HSS since completing his residency there in 2001.  For the past five years he has served as the Chief of the HSS Sports and Shoulder Service, strengthening its position as the leading Service of its kind in the nation.  In that time he led the Service to make advancements in multidisciplinary clinical care, research and innovation, education, and medical staff development.  Building on the work of his predecessors he led the formation of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute, a multidisciplinary program that provides care for athletes from around the world.  

A recipient of multiple national honors for excellence in research and teaching, Dr. Kelly has authored more than 190 scientific publications, chapters, review articles and books and is Co-Investigator for an NIH Research Project Grant. He also leads orthopedic care for multiple high-performing professional athletic organizations, and treats athletes from around the world.

Dr. Albert has long been a world renowned spine surgeon and acclaimed as a leader in the field of Orthopedics.  As Surgeon-in-Chief for the past five years, Dr. Albert strengthened the culture of the institution in many ways, cultivating a breadth and depth of physician talent, championing patient safety and opioid stewardship programs, and presiding over unprecedented growth for HSS in the metropolitan New York City market and beyond.  During his tenure, HSS opened new locations in Westchester, NY, Paramus, NJ, and Stamford, CT, and in 2019 will expand to new locations in Florida, on the West Side of Manhattan, in Brooklyn, and provide services in Aspen, Colorado.  During his tenure, HSS was named Top Orthopaedic Residency Program by Doximity for five consecutive years and further enhanced its position as the leading academic institution for Orthopedics.

"This leadership transition will ensure HSS further extends our leadership position in musculoskeletal health," HSS Board of Trustees co-chairs Thomas H. Lister and Robert K. Steel said in a statement. "On behalf of the Board, we congratulate Dr. Kelly on earning this prominent appointment. We thank Dr. Albert for his extraordinary service and for the legacy he has established at HSS."

"This evolution is made possible by the depth of leadership talent and collaboration cultivated at HSS over many years," said Louis A. Shapiro, President and CEO at HSS.  "I look forward to partnering closely with Dr. Kelly to fulfill HSS’ responsibility to lead, and privilege to serve."