Biographical summary
Peter Charles Rhee, DO, MS, is an orthopedic hand and microvascular surgeon, with special interest in upper extremity post-traumatic reconstruction. His clinic focus includes:
- Upper extremity reconstruction in adult and pediatric patients with brain injuries (cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic, and anoxic) for functional or hygiene benefits.
- Upper extremity reanimation in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.
- Providing comprehensive evaluation and surgical management of complex upper extremity (shoulder to fingertip) bone, soft tissue, and nerve injuries.
- Expertise in the management of arthritis, non-union, and complex ligament injuries within the wrist.
- Promoting wide awake hand surgery in a variety of procedures to enhance recovery and outcomes.
- Enhancing and optimizing sporting and athletic function in the upper limb.
A former active duty and current reserve hand surgeon (Lieutenant Colonel) for the United States Air Force, Dr. Rhee has a breadth of experience and knowledge in treating the traumatized upper extremity and has authored expert content within this field in high-impact scientific journals. His clinical interest in treating patients with upper motor neuron injuries (cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries) originate from taking care of his family members with these devastating injuries. Therefore, Dr. Rhee and his team are committed to providing compassionate and multi-disciplinary care to his patients.
Dr. Rhee is a former collegiate athlete and has a passion for everything outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. As such, he is passionate for helping patients to return to their sporting activities by employing minimally invasive and innovative surgical techniques. Due to his extensive experience in treating athletes, United States military service members and special forces soldiers, he utilizes advanced rehabilitative techniques to get his patients back to their activities as quickly as possible.
In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Rhee has a strong interest in promoting resident/fellow education and mentorship. He is a full Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and currently serves as the Program Director for the Mayo Clinic Hand Surgery Fellowship. He is an active member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS).
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
- Arthroscopy
- Free muscle transfer
- Hand reconstruction
- Joint replacement surgery
- Microvascular surgery
- Vascularized bone grafting
- Wrist fracture treatment
- Wrist reconstruction
Interests
- Correction of spasticity in the upper and lower extremities after brain or spinal cord injury
- Upper extremity reconstruction in spinal cord injury
- Management of fracture nonunions with vascularized bone grafts
- Post-traumatic reconstruction of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand
- Reconstructive microsurgery
- Peripheral nerve surgery
- Wide awake hand surgery
- Ligament repair and reconstruction
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2013
Fellow - Hand and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, Division of Hand and Microvascular SurgeryMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2013
FellowHand Surgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2012
ResidentOrthopedic Surgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2012
Residency - Orthopedic Surgery ResidencyMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2012
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), ValedictorianKirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- 2012
MS - Masters of Biomedical Science (M.S.), Orthopedic SurgeryMayo Graduate School
- 2008
Internship - Internship, Department of Orthopedic SurgeryMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2003
BA - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Major in BiologyGrinnell College
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2016
Hand SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2015
Orthopedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Awards and honors
- 2020
Teacher of the Year. Selected by the orthopedic surgery residency and all orthopedic surgery subspecialty fellowsMayo Clinic, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2020
Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery Teacher of the Year (Selected by the orthopedic surgery residency and all orthopedic surgery subspecialty fellows)Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2019
Lean and Green AwardAmerican Association for Surgery of the Hand
- 2018
Advancing Blended Education Award. (Selected to enhance the hand surgery fellowship online curriculum)Mayo Clinic
- 2018
Mayo Clinic Abroad Small Grant Award. (Grant received to support ongoing humanitarian medical mission trips to Honduras and Haiti. 2018, 2019)Mayo Clinic
- 2017
Sumner-Koch AwardAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand and Chicago Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2017
Mayo Hand Fellows Teacher of the Year. (Selected by the hand fellowship class of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019)Mayo Clinic
- 2017
Lean and Green Award (award to deserving association member who has decreased the amount of waste generated by hand surgery and decreased total costs related to hand surgery as a result)American Association for Surgery of the Hand
- 2016
Best Papers – American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) Annual MeetingAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2015
Warren R. Kadrmas Award for Excellence in TeachingSan Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium
- 2014
American Orthopedic Association (AOA) - Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)American Orthopedic Association
- 2014
Clinician Scientist Development ProgramAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2014
Young Leaders Program (ASSH)American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2013
Alice D. Jensen Fellowship in Hand SurgeryMayo School of Graduate Medical Education
- 2012
Patrick J. Kelly, M.D. Outstanding Basic Science Research Award. Mayo Graduate School of Medical Education
- 2012
Joseph M. Janes, M.D. Humanitarian Award. Mayo Graduate School of Medical Education
- 2012
Outstanding Resident Achievement Award, Knowledge in Orthopedic Surgery. Mayo Graduate School of Medical Education
- 2012
Mayo Orthopedic Trauma Program, Resident of the Year. Mayo Graduate School of Medical Education
- 2012
Kelly Award FinalistMayo Graduate School of Medical Education
- 2007
Stewart Award. Valedictorian of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2007Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- 2007
Highest GPA in the study of PharmacologyTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
- 2007
Who's Who among American Universities and Colleges
- 2003
Dean’s ListGrinnell College
- 2000
NCAA Academic All-Midwest Conference Linebacker. Fall ’00, Fall ’01, and Fall ’02.Grinnell College
Professional memberships
- 2021 - present
ChairMayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee
- 2020
Program Planning CommitteeAmerican Association of Hand Surgeons
- 2020 - present
MemberDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery Finance Committee
- 2019 - present
FacultyMayo Graduate Education Committee (GEC) for Surgical Subspecialties, Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees; Mayo Graduate Education Committee (GEC) for Surgical Subspecialties
- 2019 - present
Committee Member: Indian Health Service CommitteeAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2019 - present
Member: Hand Fellowship Directors AssociationAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2019 - present
MemberAmerican Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics
- 2019 - present
Program Planning CommitteeAmerican Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics
- 2019 - present
MemberClinical Orthopedic Society
- 2019 - present
Board of DirectorsClinical Orthopedic Society
- 2018 - 2020
Vice-ChairMayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee
- 2018
Education Committee MemberAmerican Association of Hand Surgeons
- 2018 - present
Executive Committee MemberDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2018 - present
Committee Member: Web-Based Longitudinal Assessment Knowlege SourceAmerican Board of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2018 - present
MemberOrthopedic Research Society
- 2018 - present
MemberAO North America; Hand Education Committee
- 2018 - present
MemberLinscheid-Dobyns "Excellence in Wrist Surgery Award" Mayo Clinic Review Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2017 - 2019
Co-ChairVeterans Mayo Employee Resource Group, Mayo Clinic Committees
- 2017 - present
MemberEducation Committee, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2017 - present
Clinical Competency CommitteeDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2017 - present
Chair: Military Relations CommitteeAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2017 - present
Committee Member: Practice Division CommitteeAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2016 - present
MemberAmerican Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons (ASRM)
- 2016 - present
MemberSelf-Assessment Examination Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2015 - present
DiplomatAmerican Board of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2015 - present
MemberCourses and Meetings Advisory Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2015 - present
MemberResident Education Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2015 - present
MemberPublications and Products Advisory Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2014 - present
MemberAdrian E. Flatt Residents and Fellows Conference, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2013 - present
MemberMilitary Relations Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2012 - present
MemberAmerican Association of Hand Surgeons
- 2011 - present
MemberMid-America Orthopedic Association
- 2011 - present
MemberAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
- 2009 - present
MemberSociety of Military Orthopedic Surgeons (SOMOS)
- 2007 - present
FellowAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS)
- 2007 - present
MemberAO Trauma North America
Publications