Obituary for Dr. Michael A. Kelly
Michael Aloysius Kelly M.D., age 70 of Franklin Lakes, N.J. passed away on Monday, October 10, 2022 after a long and valiant battle with prostate cancer. Michael was born in Washington, D.C. to Jacques Michael and Ann Muse Gillespie Kelly and was raised in Plainfield, N.J. before moving back to Washington, D.C. for high school where he attended Gonzaga College High School. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University Medical School. He began his medical training in New York City where he met and later married Sarah Babcock Brand. They married in 1987 and moved to Franklin Lakes, N.J. in 1988 where they raised their two children Michael Aloysius Kelly Jr. and Alexa Nash Kelly.
After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Kelly completed a surgical internship and residency in general surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City and an orthopedic surgery residency at the New York Orthopedic Hospital at Columbia-Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons where he was chief resident and junior Annie C. Kane Fellow. Dr. Kelly also completed a fellowship in knee surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery under the legendary mentor Dr. John Insall.
Dr. Kelly began his career at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1986 when he began his practice specializing in knee surgery and sports medicine. In 1991 he became a founding member of the Insall Scott Kelly Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. In 2002 he joined the medical staff at Hackensack University Medical Center. In 2005 he was named Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Kelly was also named the Founding Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Under Dr. Kelly’s leadership, the total joint service at HUMC has become one of the premier programs in New Jersey.
Over his illustrious career, Dr. Kelly served as president of the prestigious American Knee Society, was head team physician for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association from 1999 to 2006, named Orthopedist of the Year by the New Jersey Arthritis Foundation, and received two Lifetime Achievement awards for academic contributions to orthopedic learning from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Kelly pioneered many of today’s surgical techniques and helped to design and develop many of the industry’s most advanced orthopedic implants. Dr. Kelly lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on topics related to knee reconstruction, replacement, clinical research and sports medicine. He published numerous professional articles on knee surgery including co-editing the textbook Surgery of the Knee 2nd Edition. Dr. Kelly was a member of many professional organizations including The American Orthopedic Association, The American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, and the American Knee Society.
In recent years, he focused much of his efforts on the opioid epidemic through giving lectures and writing publications. He was influential in educating physicians, oral surgeons and leaders about combating the opioid addiction problem by minimizing the exposure to patients, either by reducing the number of prescriptions, or using safer forms of pain management. He traveled extensively to both middle and high schools in New Jersey to educate students on the dangers of opioids and the new generation of fatal drugs coming from overseas into our communities.
Michael was an athlete from a very young age. He spent much of his elementary and middle school years competing in and winning swim meets all over the state of New Jersey. He is in the Gonzaga College High School Athletic Hall of Fame where he excelled in varsity football, basketball and tennis. While at UNC, he played intramural basketball and tennis and was voted the best intramural athlete in the school. Most recently, tennis, platform tennis and golf brought him great joy with his friends and family. Mike strongly believed that staying fit helped him with his fight against cancer. He ran numerous marathons, including the NYC Marathon, and participated in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
Beyond an internationally renowned career and making profound advancements to all aspects of knee surgery, Dr. Kelly made it a priority to spend time with his loving family. His long and very brave fight against prostate and colon cancer failed to dampen the quality time he spent with his wife Sarah, his two children, Michael and Alexa and his numerous dear friends.
Michael is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Sarah Brand Kelly, his son Michael Aloysius Kelly Jr. and his daughter Alexa Nash Kelly, his sisters, Adrianne Posey Kelly and Jacqueline Kelly Collamore (Thomas), and his brother Sean Christopher Kelly (Catherine), and numerous nieces and nephews. A consummate professional who cared deeply for his family, friends, patients and his fellow man. He devoted his life to helping and caring for others with a deep devotion to his faith and positive attitude.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament Restoration Fund 787 Franklin Lake Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 or to Gonzaga College High School, 19 Eye Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001.
After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Kelly completed a surgical internship and residency in general surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City and an orthopedic surgery residency at the New York Orthopedic Hospital at Columbia-Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons where he was chief resident and junior Annie C. Kane Fellow. Dr. Kelly also completed a fellowship in knee surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery under the legendary mentor Dr. John Insall.
Dr. Kelly began his career at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1986 when he began his practice specializing in knee surgery and sports medicine. In 1991 he became a founding member of the Insall Scott Kelly Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. In 2002 he joined the medical staff at Hackensack University Medical Center. In 2005 he was named Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Kelly was also named the Founding Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Under Dr. Kelly’s leadership, the total joint service at HUMC has become one of the premier programs in New Jersey.
Over his illustrious career, Dr. Kelly served as president of the prestigious American Knee Society, was head team physician for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association from 1999 to 2006, named Orthopedist of the Year by the New Jersey Arthritis Foundation, and received two Lifetime Achievement awards for academic contributions to orthopedic learning from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Kelly pioneered many of today’s surgical techniques and helped to design and develop many of the industry’s most advanced orthopedic implants. Dr. Kelly lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on topics related to knee reconstruction, replacement, clinical research and sports medicine. He published numerous professional articles on knee surgery including co-editing the textbook Surgery of the Knee 2nd Edition. Dr. Kelly was a member of many professional organizations including The American Orthopedic Association, The American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, and the American Knee Society.
In recent years, he focused much of his efforts on the opioid epidemic through giving lectures and writing publications. He was influential in educating physicians, oral surgeons and leaders about combating the opioid addiction problem by minimizing the exposure to patients, either by reducing the number of prescriptions, or using safer forms of pain management. He traveled extensively to both middle and high schools in New Jersey to educate students on the dangers of opioids and the new generation of fatal drugs coming from overseas into our communities.
Michael was an athlete from a very young age. He spent much of his elementary and middle school years competing in and winning swim meets all over the state of New Jersey. He is in the Gonzaga College High School Athletic Hall of Fame where he excelled in varsity football, basketball and tennis. While at UNC, he played intramural basketball and tennis and was voted the best intramural athlete in the school. Most recently, tennis, platform tennis and golf brought him great joy with his friends and family. Mike strongly believed that staying fit helped him with his fight against cancer. He ran numerous marathons, including the NYC Marathon, and participated in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
Beyond an internationally renowned career and making profound advancements to all aspects of knee surgery, Dr. Kelly made it a priority to spend time with his loving family. His long and very brave fight against prostate and colon cancer failed to dampen the quality time he spent with his wife Sarah, his two children, Michael and Alexa and his numerous dear friends.
Michael is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Sarah Brand Kelly, his son Michael Aloysius Kelly Jr. and his daughter Alexa Nash Kelly, his sisters, Adrianne Posey Kelly and Jacqueline Kelly Collamore (Thomas), and his brother Sean Christopher Kelly (Catherine), and numerous nieces and nephews. A consummate professional who cared deeply for his family, friends, patients and his fellow man. He devoted his life to helping and caring for others with a deep devotion to his faith and positive attitude.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament Restoration Fund 787 Franklin Lake Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 or to Gonzaga College High School, 19 Eye Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001.