Kyle N. Kunze, MD
Sports Medicine Surgeon | Hospital for Special Surgery
Sports medicine, joint preservation, and cartilage restoration specialist
Dr. Kyle Kunze is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine and Joint Preservation Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery, and an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. His expertise spans knee, hip, and shoulder injuries, with a focus on joint preservation and reconstruction.
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Dr. Kunze then went on to continue his athletic and collegiate career at the University of Chicago where he was a four-year varsity linebacker. He went on to graduate from the University of Chicago with honors in Biological Sciences. After graduating, he completed medical school at Rush Medical College and his orthopedic residency at Hospital for Special Surgery - the nation's #1 hospital for Orthopedic Surgery for the past 17 years. Dr. Kunze completed advanced fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, where he served as Assistant Team Physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Steel. He has supplemented his formal training by participating in a prestigious European Traveling Fellowship in complex knee and shoulder preservation surgery in France.
A world-renowned researcher on sports medicine outcomes and artificial intelligence, with over 250 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Kunze blends evidence-based medicine with a treatment philosophy built around each patient’s goals — whether returning to competitive sport as an athlete or simply moving through life pain-free.
Hospital for Special Surgery
The Nation's #1 Hospital for Orthopedic Surgery
Founded in 1863, HSS is the oldest orthopedic hospital in the United States and performs more than 32,000 surgical procedures each year. It has been ranked the No. 1 hospital for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 17 consecutive years.
Patients travel from around the world for orthopedic care at HSS, drawn by an unmatched reputation for surgical volume, specialization, and patient experience. HSS was the first hospital in New York City to receive the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence, and the first in New York State to earn that distinction four consecutive times.
HSS is also home to one of the most competitive orthopedic residency programs in the country — where Dr. Kunze completed his own residency training. That culture of training the next generation of orthopedic leaders keeps the institution at the forefront of surgical technique, research, and innovation.
Physicians and physical therapists from HSS serve as team medical staff for numerous professional and national teams, including the New York Giants, Knicks, Mets, Nets, Rangers, and Red Bulls, as well as USA Basketball and FIFA.
For more information about Hospital for Special Surgery, visit hss.edu.
Training, evidence, and judgment applied to your specific joint
Trained at the Top
Orthopedic residency at Hospital for Special Surgery — ranked the nation's #1 hospital for orthopedics for 17 consecutive years — followed by sports medicine and shoulder fellowship at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.
Evidence You Can See
Over 250 peer-reviewed publications on sports medicine outcomes, plus certification in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare through MIT — research that directly informs the recommendations you receive.
Joint Preservation First
Specialized training in hip, knee, and shoulder preservation — including a European traveling fellowship in complex preservation surgery — means nonoperative and cartilage-sparing options are explored before replacement.
Experience with Athletes
A former four-year varsity collegiate linebacker and Assistant Team Physician for the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Steel — return-to-play decisions grounded in what competition actually demands.
Licensure & Certification
- Physician License, New York State (2021 – Present)
- Physician License, State of Illinois (2025 – Present)
- Physician License, State of Indiana (2025 – Present)
- ACLS and BLS Certifications (2024 – Present)
Professional Societies
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)Fellow Member, 2020–Present
- Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA)Fellow Member, 2022–Present
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)Fellow Member, 2022–Present
- European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA)Full Member, 2025–Present
- International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS)Member
Honors & Recognition
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2026The Bernard Bach Jr. Research AwardMidwest Orthopaedics at Rush Annual Cougar Society Meeting
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2026American Journal of Sports Medicine Best Systematic Review Award
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2026AANA Annual Meeting Award for Best ePosterVirtual Reality / AI / Robotic Surgery category
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2025Todd J. Albert Academic Leadership Award
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2024Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Resident Clinician Scientist Training Grant$20,000 — joint mechanics after medial meniscus root repair
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2024Best Podium Presentation, Degenerative Knee TopicsBiannual Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Knee Surgery
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2024AANA Annual Meeting Award for Best ePosterVirtual Reality / AI / Robotic Surgery category
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2024Journal of Hand Surgery Editor’s Choice Award
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2024AANA Resident/Fellow Scholarship Recipient
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2023Orthopaedic Research Society Clinician Scholar Career Development ProgramSelected participant
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2023AANA Resident/Fellow Scholarship Recipient
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2023AANA Research Grant Recipient$22,000 — tranexamic acid in hip arthroscopy, randomized controlled trial (PI)
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2022HSS Surgeon-in-Chief Research Grant Recipient$8,499 — tranexamic acid in hip arthroscopy (PI)
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2022–2024POSNA Research Grant Recipient$30,000 — preseason injury risk calculator for adolescent athletes (Co-PI)
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2022The Hip Society’s John Charnley AwardDeep learning prediction of hip joint center on standard pelvis radiographs
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2022Best Poster AwardInternational Society of Arthroplasty Registries (ISAR)
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2021Arthroscopy Journal Best Resident/Fellow Research Award
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2021Runner Up, Arthroscopy Journal Best Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis Award
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2020James G. Clark, M.D. / Ruth E. Schmidt, R.N. Endowment AwardRush Medical College
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2020Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical SocietyZeta Chapter of Illinois, Rush Medical College
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2020Gold Humanism Honor SocietyRush Medical College
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2018Sigma Xi Research Award35th Annual Rush University Forum for Research and Clinical Investigation
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2017Rush University Dean’s Office Summer Research FellowshipAlumni Association Scholar designation, top 25 recipient
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2016–2020Medical Staff for Medical Students Scholarship
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2016Honors Thesis, University of ChicagoPeripheral circadian clocks and the obesity epidemic
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2012–2016Dean’s ListUniversity of Chicago
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Personalized, evidence-based care for hip, knee, and shoulder conditions.
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