Stephen Kim, M.D.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Kim's philosophy of care is "providing the best individualized care for each patient. Success is not just measured by degrees of knee movement or walking distance, but by patient satisfaction and their ability to return to the activities they love."
Specialties
Expertise Overview
Dr. Kim provides expert care in hip and knee replacements and hip resurfacing with a focus on outpatient procedures. He specializes in rapid recovery techniques that allow most of his patients to return home the same day as surgery.
Experience in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Kim's treatment philosophy centers on providing individualized care for each patient. While hip and knee replacements may seem routine, he approaches each case differently based on the patient's specific needs and lifestyle goals. By understanding what activities patients want to return to, Dr. Kim can tailor his approach to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Kim has been at the forefront of advancements in joint replacement surgery over the past decade. The most significant change has been the transition to outpatient procedures, with the majority of his patients now going home the same day as their surgery. This shift represents a dramatic improvement from the standard 2-3 night hospital stays that were common just ten years ago. This evolution in care delivery has been driven by enhanced surgical techniques, improved patient education and thorough pre-operative preparation.
Dr. Kim's expertise extends to hip resurfacing, an alternative to traditional total hip replacement that preserves more of the patient's natural bone. By preserving the femoral head and neck, hip resurfacing can allow for more natural hip mechanics and higher level of activity in appropriate candidates. Dr. Kim carefully evaluates each patient to determine whether traditional hip replacement or resurfacing would provide the optimal outcome based on their anatomy, age, activity level, and long-term goals.
Residency
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, New York
Medical Degree
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, New York
Associations
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons
- Georgia Orthopaedic Society
- Cobb County Medical Society
- Fellow of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Hospital Affiliations
- Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Major Accomplishments
- Co-Chair Wellstar Kennestone Joint Center
- Chief Fellow of Graduate Medical Education; Hospital for Special Surgery
- Research Fellowship; Brigham and Women's Hospital
Areas of Expertise
- Total and Partial Knee Replacement
- Total Hip Replacement
- Hip Resurfacing Surgery
- Revision Hip and Knee Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement
- Rapid Recovery and Same-Day Joint Replacement Surgery
- Anterior Hip Replacement
Fellowship
- Hospital for Special Surgery (Cornell University); Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement; New York, New York
Certifications
- Board Certified; American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Staff Working With Stephen Kim
Butterbean's Comeback Story
After losing over 200 pounds, boxing legend Butterbean underwent a life-changing hip replacement surgery performed by Dr. Stephen Kim.
"I wanted to help Butterbean get better because it was clear to me from his pre-surgery transformation, that he was willing to put in the work to help himself. That made me want to do whatever I could to help him on his journey," said Dr. Kim.
Leading up to the surgery, Butterbean was barely able to walk and turned away by other doctors due to his weight. Then he committed to his health journey with DDP Yoga and lost the weight. That dedication was the reason that Dr. Kim wanted to take on Butterbean's case.
"Watching the transformation of patients who really put in the work in order to safely undergo surgery is my favorite part of this job," he said.
