Brian S. Kern, M.D.
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Sports Medicine Specialist
Dr. Brian Kern is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in reconstructive surgery of the shoulder and knee, arthroscopic surgery, and sports medicine. He holds a subspecialist certificate in orthopedic sports medicine. Dr. Kern is recognized as one of the top shoulder and knee surgeons in the region, serving Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, and West Tennessee. He is listed on Castle Connolly Top Doctors, America’s Best Physicians, and America’s Most Honored Doctors.
Dr. Kern attended Rend Lake College, where he became an Academic All American in baseball and basketball. He also attended St. Louis University on a Division 1 baseball scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts in pre-med biology. Dr. Kern, then, signed a contract to pitch for the Oakland Athletics in professional baseball. While with the Oakland A’s, he was named the Dave Stewart Community Service Player of the Year. After a three-year stint in professional baseball, Dr. Kern attended graduate school at St. Louis University and studied biomedical engineering.
After graduating from St. Louis University, Dr. Kern attended the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine before completing an orthopedic surgery residency at Southern Illinois University of Springfield. Finally, he ended his medical training with a sports medicine fellowship at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Kern has practiced orthopedic medicine at The Orthopaedic Institute of Western Kentucky (OIWK) since it began in 2009. In 2021, he was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel for his service and accomplishments in the community. He is also the co-founder and President of OIWK and the Medical Director of The Orthopaedic Institute Surgery Center. Dr. Kern is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, a diplomat in the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons, and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, Kentucky Medical Association, and Southern Orthopedic Association.
Specialties
Comprehensive Shoulder and Knee Surgery
Operative Interests
- Robot-Assisted and Traditional Total Knee Replacement
- Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction
- Arthroscopic Meniscus Surgery
- Cartilage Restoration
- Reverse and Anatomic Shoulder Replacement
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair
- Fracture Care of the Upper and Lower Extremities
Non-operative Interests
- Non-operative Treatment of Arthritis
- Non-operative Treatment of Sports Related Injuries includes:
- Viscosupplementation (lubrication injections for arthritis)
- Steroid Injections
- Platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP)
Education
- Rend Lake College – Academic All American in baseball and basketball
- St. Louis University – Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Med Biology – Division 1 Baseball Scholarship
- St. Louis University – Graduate School Biomedical Engineering
- Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (1999-2003)
- Southern Illinois University of Springfield (2003-2008) – Orthopedic Surgery Residency
- Illinois Army National Guard – Captain (2003-2008)
- Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Los Angeles, California – Sports Medicine Fellowship
(Sports medicine, Arthroscopy, Adult reconstructive surgery on the shoulder and knee)
Memberships & Accreditations
- Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Diplomat at the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Southern Orthopedic Association
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Louisville
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
- American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
- Kentucky Medical Association
- Mid American Orthopedic Association
- American Medical Association
