At OIBortho, we believe that excellence in patient care is closely tied to education, mentorship, and continued academic engagement. These values are reflected in Dr. Brian Katt’s ongoing involvement with the Hand and Upper Extremity Service at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, as highlighted in the 2025 Hand and Upper Extremity Year-in-Review.
Throughout the past year, Dr. Katt played an active role in advancing clinical education, resident training, and scholarly work within the hand and upper extremity service, contributing to a year defined by consistency, collaboration, and meaningful progress.
Clinical Teaching and Resident Development
The Hand and Upper Extremity Service maintained a stable faculty structure in 2025, allowing for continuity in patient care and surgical teaching. Within this environment, Dr. Katt served as a core faculty member, contributing to hands-on instruction in both the clinic and operating room.
Residents on the service benefited from progressive responsibility and close faculty supervision, with emphasis on sound clinical judgment, careful surgical technique, and thoughtful decision making—foundational principles that extend across orthopaedic practice. Medical students rotating on the service were actively involved in patient care, gaining early exposure to hand and upper extremity pathology and developing essential clinical skills under faculty guidance.
Leadership in Education
Education remained a central focus of the service, and Dr. Katt was directly involved in multiple educational initiatives throughout the year. He served as faculty for Resident Education Days covering key upper extremity topics, participated in anatomy-based teaching sessions, and remained engaged in recurring conferences such as Fracture Conference, Grand Rounds, and the Hand Round Table.
These structured learning environments reinforced core orthopaedic principles while promoting case-based discussion and resident-led learning. Medical students were also incorporated into these educational forums, supporting early engagement and mentorship within the specialty.
Research and Scholarly Contribution
Dr. Katt continued to play an active role in the service’s academic mission. The Hand and Upper Extremity Service produced eleven peer-reviewed publications in 2025, several of which included Dr. Katt as an author or senior collaborator. Research topics spanned biologic regeneration, fracture healing, health economics, artificial intelligence in surgical education, and upper extremity trauma.
Many of these projects were driven by residents and medical students, with faculty mentorship supporting projects from early concept through publication. This collaborative approach reflects Dr. Katt’s commitment to developing future orthopaedic surgeons through meaningful scholarly engagement.
Engagement Beyond the Institution
In addition to his institutional responsibilities, Dr. Katt remained active in regional professional societies, including participation in meetings of the New York Society for Surgery of the Hand. These efforts supported ongoing professional collaboration and provided residents with exposure to broader academic dialogue within hand surgery.
Why This Matters to Patients
For patients, physician involvement in education and research reinforces a commitment to thoughtful, evidence-based care. Teaching, mentoring, and contributing to academic work require continual learning and reflection—qualities that translate directly to clinical practice.
At OIBortho, we Dr. Brian Katt’s work with the Hand and Upper Extremity Service at Rutgers RWJMS reflects the same principles he brings to patient care every day: precision, collaboration, and a commitment to long-term excellence.