Kushal Patel, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery with Endeavor Health, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor. This marks the second consecutive year Dr. Patel has received the prestigious designation, which is awarded to only 7 percent of licensed physicians nationwide based on peer nominations and a rigorous selection process.
Dr. Patel, who is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and holds a subspecialty certificate in surgery of the hand, expressed gratitude for the recognition. "Being recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor is a profound honor because it reflects the trust of my peers within the medical community," he stated. "To me, this recognition isn't just about individual achievement; it's a testament to the high standard of specialized care we provide at Endeavor Health."
His practice encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting the hand, wrist, and elbow, including traumatic injuries, degenerative disorders, and congenital anomalies. Dr. Patel performs key surgical procedures such as hand and wrist fracture repair, trigger finger release, tendon and nerve repair, joint reconstruction, and management of deQuervain's disease. He also performs anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion for complex cervical spine issues.
Dr. Patel earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois Hospital, where he served as Academic Chief Resident, and pursued advanced fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
In addition to clinical care, Dr. Patel has contributed to orthopaedic research and global health. He served as the Morgan & Madison McClellan Research Fellow at the Institute for Global Orthopaedics & Traumatology (IGOT) at the University of California, San Francisco. His research includes publications on anesthesia effectiveness and global orthopaedic gaps, and he has held leadership roles such as Chair of the AAOS Resident Assembly Education Committee.
Castle Connolly Top Doctors are selected through a peer-nomination process and evaluated by a physician-led research team. The full list is published at castleconnolly.com. Doctors cannot pay to be selected, ensuring the recognition reflects genuine professional esteem.
This recognition underscores Dr. Patel's ongoing commitment to advancing hand and upper extremity surgery and improving patient outcomes in the Chicago area.
