John H. Healey, MD, FACS, FAAOS

When patients meet with me for the first time, they often have many questions and concerns about their diagnosis, treatment options, and how their quality of life will be affected. My approach to care is highly personalized, and I listen carefully to the patient’s needs and objectives. I take whatever time is necessary to educate them about their condition and explain how our team of experts will take care of them. This helps them understand their disease and gain the confidence they need to make informed decisions about their treatment. I ask each person to “take my hand” and I help them find the hope and courage to confront this rare diagnosis successfully. We then creatively work together to choose the best solution to cure the disease and reach their lifestyle goals. 

Limb reconstruction has become an important part of treatment. My expertise includes rebuilding bones and joints with bone transplants and joint replacements. I perform limb-preserving surgeries and am experienced in customized techniques to restore function using biologic and man-made materials.

My research involves understanding the biological makeup of sarcoma cells and how they behave. I also develop new ways to deliver chemotherapy to tumors and explore strategies to use the immune system and tumor environment to kill cancer.

In addition, I work to improve the durability and function of joint replacements. I have invented four joint replacement systems. I also lead clinical trials to study different surgical reconstructions, 3-D printed implants, and ways to reduce surgical complications.

I am a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. I am a founding board member of the pediatric osteosarcoma organization, Make it Better (MIB) Agents. Nationally, I have served as chair of the Children’s Oncology Group Orthopaedics Section, president of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the International Society of Limb Salvage, and the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. I am also on the boards of several musculoskeletal and orthopaedic organizations. I am an advisor to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Education is also an important part of my job. I directed the Orthopaedics Fellowship Program at MSK for 20 years and am proud to have trained leading specialists in this field in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. My academic career has allowed me to spend time abroad. I was the first American traveling fellow in Japan, and I studied at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

I played Division 1 baseball at Yale University and continue to love and follow the game.