{{short description|American orthopedic surgeon and academic}} {{Infobox scientist | name = James D. Kang | image = frameless|James K-opt | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Seoul, South Korea | fields = Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Surgery | work_institutions = Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, University of Pittsburgh | alma_mater = Washington University in St. Louis, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine | known_for = Research on intervertebral disc degeneration }}
'''James D. Kang''' is an American academic, orthopedic surgeon, and scientist, specializing in spinal surgery. He is Chair Emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and holds the Thomas S. Thornhill and Karen N. Thornhill Distinguished Professorship at Harvard Medical School.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kang Named Thornhill Family Professor of Orthopedic Surgery {{!}} Harvard Medical School |url=https://hms.harvard.edu/news/kang-named-thornhill-family-professor-orthopedic-surgery |website=Harvard Medical School |language=en |date=1 December 2016}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the United States in 1967. He attended Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, graduating in 1978. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 1982 and obtained his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1986. Kang completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1992, followed by a fellowship in spine surgery at Case Western Reserve University in 1993 under the direction of Henry Bohlman.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Kang {{!}} Harvard Catalyst Profiles {{!}} Harvard Catalyst |url=https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/141732 |website=Harvard Medical School}}</ref>
==Career== Following his fellowship, Kang joined the faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he was later promoted to full professor and appointed the UPMC Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=James D. Kang, MD - Brigham and Women's Hospital |url=https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/Details/12847 |website=Brigham and Women's Hospital}}</ref> He also served as the executive vice chairman for clinical services and director of the Ferguson Laboratory Musculoskeletal Research Center for Spine Research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).<ref>{{cite web |title=James D. Kang, MD |url=https://www.bwhneurosciences.org/leadership/james-kang/ |website=bwhneurosciences |date=20 June 2017}}</ref>
In 2015, Kang was appointed chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at BWH, succeeding Thomas S. Thornhill.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kang Appointed Chair of Department of Orthopedic Surgery |url=https://bwhbulletin.org/2015/07/23/kang-appointed-chair-of-department-of-orthopedic-surgery/ |website=Brigham and Women's Hospital |date=23 July 2015}}</ref> In 2016, he received the Thomas and Karen Thornhill Professorship at Harvard Medical School. After a ten-year tenure as chair, he transitioned to chair emeritus and distinguished professor at Harvard Medical School in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=James D. Kang |url=https://www.medcentral.com/author/james-d-kang |website=MedCentral}}</ref>
Kang served as President of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery for the 2023–2024 term, a role that kept him centrally engaged with issues of board certification, maintenance of certification, and professional standards for orthopaedic surgeons nationwide. As ABOS president he publicly addressed evolving issues such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence in assessment and exam workflows<ref>{{Cite web |last=M.Ed |first=Elizabeth Hofheinz, M. P. H. |date=2023-10-31 |title=James D. Kang, M.D. Elected ABOS President |url=https://ryortho.com/2023/10/james-d-kang-m-d-elected-abos-president/ |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Orthopedics This Week |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ab">{{cite web |date=31 October 2023 |title=James D. Kang, M.D. Elected ABOS President |url=https://ryortho.com/2023/10/james-d-kang-m-d-elected-abos-president/ |website=Orthopedics This Week}}</ref>
In 2016, he was also president of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine.<ref>{{cite web |title=PAST PRESIDENTS |url=https://www.issls.org/past-presidents |website=The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Research and contributions== Kang has performed research on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). His research established that disc cells are biochemically active, producing inflammatory cytokines that may contribute to back pain and radicular pain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peloso |first1=Marissa |title=Can Degenerative Disc Disease Be Treated Without Invasive Surgery? |url=https://www.brighamhealthonamission.org/2021/12/21/can-degenerative-disc-disease-be-treated-without-invasive-surgery/ |website=Brigham On a Mission |date=21 December 2021}}</ref> His studies explored the interactions between aging and disc degeneration using animal models.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rider |first1=Sean M. |last2=Mizuno |first2=Shuichi |last3=Kang |first3=James D. |title=Molecular Mechanisms of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration |journal=Spine Surgery and Related Research |pages=1–11 |doi=10.22603/ssrr.2017-0095 |date=25 January 2019|volume=3 |issue=1 |pmid=31435545 |pmc=6690117 }}</ref>
Kang also investigated molecular therapies for disc degeneration, including gene therapy.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=James D. |title=Commentary on "Gene Therapy Approach for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: An Update" |journal=Neurospine |pages=15–16 |language=English |doi=10.14245/ns.2040092.046 |date=31 March 2020|volume=17 |issue=1 |pmid=32252150 |pmc=7136106 }}</ref> His studies demonstrated the feasibility of gene transfer into the disc and the therapeutic potential of enhancing matrix proteins.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hofheinz |first1=Elizabeth |title=James D. Kang, M.D.: New Orthopedic Chair at BWH |url=https://ryortho.com/2015/09/james-d-kang-m-d-new-orthopedic-chair-at-bwh/ |website=Orthopedics This Week |date=18 September 2015}}</ref>
Kang has performed more than 14,000 spinal surgeries. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and more than 73 book chapters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hip-Spine Syndrome: It's Complicated (and Often Overlooked) {{!}} Mass General Brigham |url=https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/hip-spine-syndrome |website=www.massgeneralbrigham.org}}</ref> He has served as deputy editor of ''Spine'' as well for the spine section of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research (JOR).<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. James Kang Named a Top Spine Surgeon |url=https://mirm-pitt.net/dr-james-kang-named-a-top-spine-surgeon/ |website=McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine |date=27 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. James Kang to receive 2016 McEllroy Award {{!}} Department of Orthopaedic Surgery {{!}} University of Pittsburgh |url=https://www.orthonet.pitt.edu/news/dr-james-kang-receive-2016-mcellroy-award |website=www.orthonet.pitt.edu}}</ref>
In August 2025, he co-authored ''Sex Disparities in Spine Surgeon Leadership of Clinical Trials for Degenerative Spine Disease Research'', a study assessing the representation of women as principal investigators in spine surgery clinical trials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Silvestre |first1=Jason |last2=Walker |first2=Jasmine J. |last3=Kang |first3=James D. |last4=Ravinsky |first4=Robert A. |last5=Lawrence |first5=James P. |last6=Van Nortwick |first6=Sarah S. |last7=Reitman |first7=Charles A. |date=2025-08-28 |title=Sex Disparities in Spine Surgeon Leadership of Clinical Trials for Degenerative Spine Disease Research |url=https://journals.lww.com/10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00222 |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons |language=en |doi=10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00222 |pmid=40907001 |issn=1067-151X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He published ''Shifts in Diversity Along the Spine Surgery Training Pathway'', a cross-sectional analysis examining racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among academic orthopedic spine surgeons in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Silvestre |first1=Jason |last2=Hernandez |first2=Jaslyn A. |last3=Ravinsky |first3=Robert A. |last4=Kang |first4=James D. |last5=Wu |first5=Hao Hua |last6=Reitman |first6=Charles A. |last7=Lawrence |first7=James P. |date=2025 |title=Shifts in diversity along the spine surgery training pathway: racial, ethnic, and gender representation from medical school to fellowship |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1529943025007363 |journal=The Spine Journal |language=en |doi=10.1016/j.spinee.2025.08.332|pmid=40876778 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 2024, Kang explored translational therapies in ''Rapamycin Mitigates Inflammation-Mediated Disc Matrix Degradation'', investigating the potential of rapamycin to regulate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and counteract inflammation-induced disc degeneration.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yurube |first1=Takashi |last2=Buchser |first2=William J. |last3=Zhang |first3=Zhongying |last4=Silwal |first4=Prashanta |last5=Lotze |first5=Michael T. |last6=Kang |first6=James D. |last7=Sowa |first7=Gwendolyn A. |last8=Vo |first8=Nam V. |date=2024 |title=Rapamycin mitigates inflammation-mediated disc matrix homeostatic imbalance by inhibiting mTORC1 and inducing autophagy through Akt activation |journal=JOR Spine |volume=7 |issue=1 |article-number=e1303 |doi=10.1002/jsp2.1303 |issn=2572-1143 |pmc=10782056 |pmid=38222800}}</ref>
==Selected publications== * Kang JD, Stefanovic-Racic M, McIntyre L, et al. "Towards a Biochemical Understanding of Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Herniation: The Contributions of NO, Interleukins, PGE2, and MMPs." ''Spine'', 22:1065-1073, 1997. * Vo N, Seo HY, Robinson A, et al. "Accelerated Aging of Intervertebral Discs in a Mouse Model of Progeria." ''J Orthop Res'' 2010; 28(12):1600-7. * Nishida K, Kang JD, Gilbertson LG, et al. "Modulation of the Biological Activity of the Rabbit Intervertebral Disc By Gene Therapy." ''Spine'', 24:2419-2425, 1999. * Leckie S, Bechara B, Hartman R, et al. "Injection of AAV2-BMP2 and AAV2-TIMP1 into the nucleus pulposus slows the course of intervertebral disc degeneration in an in-vivo rabbit model." ''The Spine Journal'', 12(1):7-20, 2012. *{{Cite journal |last1=Schoenfeld |first1=Andrew J. |last2=Xiang |first2=Lingwei |last3=Adler |first3=Rachel R. |last4=Schoenfeld |first4=Alyssa L. |last5=Kang |first5=James D. |last6=Weissman |first6=Joel S. |date=2024 |title=Clinical Outcomes Following Operative and Nonoperative Management of Odontoid Fractures Among Elderly Individuals with Dementia |journal=Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery |volume=106 |issue=20 |pages=1850–1856 |doi=10.2106/jbjs.23.00835 |pmid=38896721 |pmc=11560718 |issn=0021-9355}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Massaad |first1=Elie |last2=Mitchell |first2=Taylor S. |last3=Duerr |first3=Emmy |last4=Kiapour |first4=Ali |last5=Cha |first5=Thomas D. |last6=Coumans |first6=Jean-Valery C. |last7=Groff |first7=Michael W. |last8=Hershman |first8=Stuart H. |last9=Kang |first9=James D. |last10=Lipa |first10=Shaina A. |last11=Small |first11=Lianne |last12=Tobert |first12=Daniel G. |last13=Schoenfeld |first13=Andrew J. |last14=Shankar |first14=Ganesh M. |last15=Zaidi |first15=Hasan A. |date=2024-04-18 |title=Disparities in Surgical Intervention and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Racial/Ethnic Groups With Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis |journal=Neurosurgery |volume=95 |issue=3 |pages=576–583 |doi=10.1227/neu.0000000000002925 |pmid=39145650 |issn=0148-396X}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Silvestre |first1=Jason |last2=Kang |first2=James D. |last3=Ravinsky |first3=Robert A. |last4=Lawrence |first4=James P. |last5=Reitman |first5=Charles A. |date=2024 |title=Establishing case volume benchmarks for ACGME-accredited orthopedic surgery of the spine fellowship training |journal=The Spine Journal |volume=24 |issue=8 |pages=1495–1501 |doi=10.1016/j.spinee.2024.03.014 |pmid=38554735 |issn=1529-9430}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Taiji |first1=Ryo |last2=Kang |first2=James D. |last3=Mizuno |first3=Shuichi |date=2024-01-15 |title=Cellular behavior and extracellular matrix turnover in bovine annulus fibrosus cells under hydrostatic pressure and deviatoric strain |journal=Journal of Orthopaedic Research |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=1326–1334 |doi=10.1002/jor.25779 |pmid=38153697 |issn=0736-0266|doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Nguyen |first1=Andrew T. |last2=Aris |first2=Izzuddin M. |last3=Snyder |first3=Brian D. |last4=Harris |first4=Mitchel B. |last5=Kang |first5=James D. |last6=Murray |first6=Martha |last7=Rodriguez |first7=Edward K. |last8=Nazarian |first8=Ara |date=2024 |title=Musculoskeletal health: an ecological study assessing disease burden and research funding |journal=The Lancet Regional Health - Americas |volume=29 |article-number=100661 |doi=10.1016/j.lana.2023.100661 |pmid=38225979 |issn=2667-193X|pmc=10788788 }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Yurube |first1=Takashi |last2=Buchser |first2=William J. |last3=Zhang |first3=Zhongying |last4=Silwal |first4=Prashanta |last5=Lotze |first5=Michael T. |last6=Kang |first6=James D. |last7=Sowa |first7=Gwendolyn A. |last8=Vo |first8=Nam V. |date=2024-01-02 |title=Rapamycin mitigates inflammation-mediated disc matrix homeostatic imbalance by inhibiting <scp>mTORC1</scp> and inducing autophagy through Akt activation |journal=JOR Spine |volume=7 |issue=1 |doi=10.1002/jsp2.1303 |pmid=38222800 |issn=2572-1143|pmc=10782056 }} *{{Cite journal |last1=Mizuno |first1=Shuichi |last2=Vadala |first2=Gianluca |last3=Kang |first3=James D. |date=2024 |title=Biological Therapeutic Modalities for Intervertebral Disc Diseases: An Orthoregeneration Network (ON) Foundation Review |journal=Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=1019–1030 |doi=10.1016/j.arthro.2023.10.032 |pmid=37918699 |issn=0749-8063}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kang, James}} Category:Living people Category:American orthopedic surgeons Category:Harvard Medical School faculty Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni Category:University of Oklahoma alumni Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty Category:South Korean emigrants to the United States Category:Scientists from Seoul Category:Medical doctors from Massachusetts Category:American medical researchers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)