Forty Under 40: C. Kris Hanby, M.D., 38

An interest in engineering led Dr. C. Kris Hanby into the field of orthopedic surgery. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Duke University before entering medical school at UAMS in 1995.

“There’s a ton of engineering in orthopedic surgery and particularly joint replacement,” Hanby said.

After completing a fellowship at the University of Utah in 2005, the Springdale native joined Ozark Orthopaedics, where he mainly performs hip and knee replacements. He’s the only surgeon in Northwest Arkansas who is fellowship-trained in joint replacement.
Last year, he did about 400 joint replacements, and he’s on track this year to do about 500.

Hanby also heads up the Total Joint Center at Washington Regional Medical Center. Created just for joint replacement patients, the 14-bed center opened in January.
Hanby serves on WRMC’s medical executive committee, too, and is a frequent speaker at nonprofit health events.

A father of three, Hanby also coaches youth soccer, and serves on several committees at his church.

Succeeding in the medical field requires tenacity, he said.

“It’s such a long road to get where you want to be, so you just have to keep at it and be patient,” he said. “Keep fighting, and eventually you’ll get there.”