Biographical summary
Kevin J. Renfree, M.D., is an orthopaedic surgeon, with specialty interest in hand, wrist, and elbow disorders. His clinical focus includes:
- Expertise in management of sports injuries, including arthroscopy, fractures, and ligament injuries.
- Special interest in complex elbow reconstruction, including elbow replacement arthroplasty, fractures, and ligamentous injuries.
- Conducting clinical research and participating in trials of novel treatments for finger, thumb, and wrist arthritis.
- Providing care in Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Program, offering personalized and time-effective evaluations catered to the unique needs of professional and collegiate athletes.
- Extensive experience with complex tendon and nerve injuries.
In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Renfree is active in research and education, providing teaching and mentorship to medical students and residents. He is actively involved in leadership activities within Mayo Medical School, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee. He authors expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals.
Conditions treated
- Broken elbow
- Elbow impingement
- Elbow instability
- Elbow loose body
- Finger instability
- Hand arthritis
- Hand injury
- Nerve compression syndrome
- Nerve entrapment
- Nerve irritation
- Tendon pain
- Wrist instability
- Wrist ligament injury
- Wrist pain
Procedures performed
- Arthroplasty
- Arthroscopy
- Elbow replacement
- Elbow surgery
- Finger fusion
- Finger joint replacement
- Finger ligament reconstruction
- Finger reattachment
- Hand surgery
- Wrist arthroscopy
- Wrist fracture treatment
- Wrist fusion
- Wrist ligament reconstruction
- Wrist reconstruction
- Wrist replacement
Interests
- Orthopaedics: Hand, wrist, forearm and elbow surgery. Complex trauma and arthritis reconstruction, and nerve repair/reconstruction/transfers. Tendon repair/reconstruction/transfers. Elbow fractures, elbow joint replacement and complex revision arthroplasty.
- Hand Surgery Center: Trauma and arthritis/ rheumatoid reconstruction, nerve and tendon injuries, plastic surgery and hand surgery. Joint replacement in fingers and thumb.
- Sports Medicine: Athletic injuries/fractures and ligament injuries of the hand, wrist, and elbow.
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 1998
Clinical Fellowship - Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida
- 1994
Resident - Orthopaedic SurgeryJackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami
- 1990
Clinical Research Fellowship - Orthopaedic SurgeryMount Sinai Medical Center
- 1989
Postdoctoral Internship - General Surgery Internship/Post-Doctoral Training
(Active Duty)Fitzsimons Army Medical Center
- 1988
MDTulane University School of Medicine
- 1983
BA - HistoryUniversity of Notre Dame
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2000
Hand SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 1996
Orthopedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Awards and honors
- 2022
Faculty Educator of the YearOrthopedics Residency Program, Department of Orthopedics
- 2022
Top Residency Research Award (Mentee)Orthopedics Residency Program Research Day, Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic Arizona
- 2014
Third Place Poster PresentationAcademic Excellence Day
- 2011
Faculty of the YearOrthopaedic Residency Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
- 2005
Cum Laude Award, Scientific Exhibit: Assessment of the Delta Reverse Shoulder ArthroplastyRadiological Society of North America, Chicago, Illinois, Categorical Course, American College of Radiology
- 1998
John Snow Award for Best Resident/Fellow Paper: "Surgical correction of extensor tendon subluxation and ulnar drift in the rheumatoid hand: long term results"Florida Hand Society
- 1997
Meritorious Service MedalAwarding Organization
- 1997
Army Achievement MedalUnited States Army
- 1997
National Defense Service MedalAwarding Organization
- 1990
Resident of the Year (first year residents only)Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Miami
- 1988
Top Medical Graduate AwardHewlett-Packard Company
- 1987
Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical HonorsTulane University
Professional memberships
- 2023
VolunteerHoly Family Surgery Center, Nuestro Pequenos Hermanos; Holy Family Surgery Center
- 2022 - present
ChairPre-Clerkship Committee, Mayo Medical School-Arizona Campus, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
- 2021 - 2023
ChairAcademic Advancement and Academy of Educational Excellence Task Force and Workgroup, Education Committee - Arizona, Executive Operations Team - Arizona
- 2018
VolunteerHoly Family Surgery Center, Nuestro Pequenos Hermanos; Holy Family Surgery Center
- 2018 - 2022
Co-ChairCurriculum Committee, Mayo Medical School-Arizona Campus, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
- 2017
VolunteerNuestro Pequenos Hermanos; Holy Family Surgery Center
- 2016 - present
ChairScientific Foundations Subcommittee, Mayo Medical School-Arizona Campus, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
- 2015 - present
MemberAcademic Affairs Executive Committee, Mayo Medical School-Arizona Campus, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
- 2013
Chairperson/ModeratorCMCJ Arthroplasty Session (FP 05-25), 12th Triennial Congress, International Federation of Surgical Societies of the Hand
- 2012 - present
ChairAnatomy Block, Mayo Medical School-Arizona Campus, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
- 2012
VolunteerSurgical Relief Mission, Project Medishares, Bernard St. Mev's Hospital
- 2012 - present
Board MemberArizona Orthopaedic Society
- 2012 - present
RepresentativeMaricopa County, Arizona Orthopaedic Society
- 2011
VolunteerSurgical Relief Mission, St. Damien's/St. Lucs Hospitals
- 2010 - 2015
InstructorHand and Upper Extremity Surgery Rotation, Orthopaedic Residency Program, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
- 2009 - present
Case ReviewerArizona Medical Board
- 2000 - 2012
DirectorEducation Activities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
-
MemberClinical Practice Innovation Oversight Subcommittee, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
-
FellowAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
-
Active MemberAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand
-
MemberNew Millennium Hand Study Group
-
MemberOrthopedic Alumni Association, University of Miami
-
MemberOrthopedic Association, University of Florida
-
MemberOrthopaedic Club, University of Notre Dame
-
MemberArizona Medical Association
Publications