Dr. John G. Kennedy is the assistant attending orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Department of Orthopedic surgery, as well as Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Kennedy’s medical career stretches over twenty years and is buttressed by a commitment to teaching, researching, and administering quality care ded- icated to the lower limbs.

A native of Dublin, John was a big sports fan as a child, later playing as an adolescent and young adult. He went on to compete at the national and international levels in track, rugby, fencing, and water skiing.

Kennedy’s interest in basic science research was initiated as a medical student. As a result, in his intern year he began his first post-doctoral thesis investigating the effects of oxygen free radical scavengers on tourniquet induced ischemia. This formed the basis of his Masters in Medical Science. Following this, he continued to be involved in basic science at the Enders Laboratory at Harvard Medical School under Dr. Melvin Glimcher, where he defended his thesis on new composites in bone regeneration. Shortly after that, he was instrumental in setting up a basic science laboratory at University College Dublin as part of his role of Senior Lecturer in Orthopedic Surgery.

Since his time in HSS, Dr. Kennedy has been involved in several basic science investigations principally involving cartilage regeneration but also involving biomechanics and biological augmentation of healing processes.

As a principle supporter of the Foot and Ankle Registry, HSS has developed a database that has been instrumental in supporting excellent clinical outcome. This research is published in over 117 peer-reviewed articles and is represented by over 150 national and international podium presentations, as well as numerous book chapters. Dr. Kennedy’s goal in both clinical and basic science research is to establish HSS as a world leader in ankle cartilage regeneration and arthroscopy through continued collaboration with national and international colleagues and institutions.

Dr. Kennedy has sat on a number of boards and organizations while receiving a number of awards for his work. He was the foot and ankle consultant for the New York Giants in 2004, was a founder and co-chair of the International Congress on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Kennedy was also awarded the Wounded Warrior award in 2009 and a guest of honor at the British Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society in 2013.

Dr. Kennedy’s interest in teaching stems from his time as a physiology demonstrator at the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin when he was completing his MMS. He continued as Senior Lecturer in Orthopedics at the University College Dublin, and is currently pursuing a post-doctoral degree, under the direction of Prof. Jon Karlsson, investigating cartilage regeneration in the talus both in terms of basic science and clinical outcomes.

“Surgical innovation is critical to improving patient outcome, but this must be accomplished with evidence. Research through basic science evidence, translational incorporation and clinical outcomes is an algorithm that we have used to define areas that need to be improved. We have made great inroads into arthroscopic and tendoscopic procedures around the hind foot, as well as in establishing improved biologic augmentation for cartilage regeneration in the ankle,” said Dr. Kennedy.

His goal is to continue to innovate in the field of sports ankle, as well as understanding the fundamentals of these innovative procedures through basic science research and to teach not only the successful outcomes, but more importantly, those that are not successful. “In this way,” he says, “I hope that my office will leave a legacy of excellence in research, education and clinical experience.”