Department of Orthopaedic Surgery welcomes Hess as 1 of 2 orthopaedic oncologists in Alabama

The UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is excited to welcome Matthew C. Hess, M.D., as a new faculty member and one of two specialists trained in pediatric and adult orthopaedic surgical oncology in the state of Alabama. Hess joins the department as an assistant professor in the Oncology Section. Additionally, Hess will serve on the Children’s of Alabama Orthopedics team and work with UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s bone cancer and multidisciplinary sarcoma teams.

Hess attended the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, where he completed medical school, followed by a residency with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. During his residency, Hess established multiple quality improvement initiatives for the department and served as one of two administrative chief residents in his final year.

Following residency, Hess completed fellowship training in musculoskeletal oncology at the University of Chicago and Northwestern Hospitals. He was also awarded the prestigious Hatcher Fellowship from the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and traveled to the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Center for additional training in rotationplasty surgery as well as the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in the United Kingdom to further study orthopaedic oncology and reconstructive surgery.

Hess joins our department with extensive training and expertise in orthopaedic oncology, bringing a rare but vital skillset to bone and soft tissue cancer patients of all ages in the Southeast.

We asked Hess more about his training, specialty, and new role:

Why is your specialty training in pediatric and orthopaedic oncology unique? What was your training comprised of? 

My additional training in pediatric and adult orthopaedic surgical oncology is unique because it is one of the more rare specialties when it comes to the field of orthopaedics. In fact, I am one of only two orthopaedic surgeons with this specialty training currently practicing in Alabama.

I received extra surgical and clinical training to take care of patients with cancer that has spread to the bone, tumors that developed within the bone – such as osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma – and soft tissue masses that are malignant cancers, such as sarcoma or benign lumps and bumps like lipomas. I spent one dedicated year as the solo oncology fellow in Chicago, seeing and taking care of a vast majority of the complex bone and soft tissue sarcomas and complex metastatic disease patients. This was a focused year of high-volume surgical and clinical training where I trained with many famous orthopaedic oncologists across several institutions in Chicago (University of Chicago, Northwestern, Lurie Children’s, and Rush University).

Can you tell us more about your new role as a faculty member in the department’s Oncology Section and where else your specialty will have you involved?

I have joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an assistant professor in the Oncology Section, where I educate medical students and residents as well as conduct research on bone and soft tissue sarcomas and metastatic bone disease.

I also serve patients at UAB, Children’s of Alabama, and the Birmingham VA Medical Center. I work closely with the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, where I am a member of the multidisciplinary sarcoma team that meets weekly to discuss personalized treatment plans and cutting-edge treatments. Being that I see orthopaedic oncology patients of all ages, I am also an orthopaedic surgeon for the Division of Orthopedic Surgery at Children’s of Alabama Hospital.

I believe in a multi-disciplinary approach to the management of bone and soft tissue tumors and work with a large team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, musculoskeletal radiologists, interventional radiologists, surgical oncologists, reconstructive surgeons, and specialized oncologic nurses who meet weekly to discuss care plans. 

As a new faculty member in the department, I aim to collaborate with the other specialized orthopaedic surgeons in the department to bring the best possible care to patients by harnessing the vast range of subspecialty training UAB has to offer. I plan to form a multidisciplinary metastatic bone disease team and specific protocols and quality improvement pathways focused on patients who present with pathologic or impending pathologic fractures.

In addition to orthopaedic oncology/musculoskeletal oncology, I also perform hip and knee replacements and general orthopaedic surgery at both the Birmingham VA and UAB locations. I take adult general orthopaedic trauma call as well.

What drew you to UAB and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery? How did completing your residency with the UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery impact this decision?

Since my time as a medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine, I have had an immense loyalty to UAB and the people of Alabama and the Southeast. I had absolutely tremendous mentors who shaped both the doctor and person I am today, and I fully intend to give back to the institution that I grew up in and help educate the next generation of physicians. My experience as a resident within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery only further strengthened my resolve to continue to make UAB a national leader in orthopaedic surgery and residency education. UAB’s culture is one of humble clinical excellence that helps foster a collaborative environment fueled by a very busy and complex clinical volume. It is an institution both with which I can grow and which I intend to grow. This is my dream job. I am excited for the opportunity and feel privileged to take care of our patients.

Training in the specialty of pediatric and adult orthopaedic surgical oncology is less common compared to other specialties in orthopaedics. Hess brings his training to an area where orthopaedic oncologists are not as readily accessible and offers this specialized patient care in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Southeast.

“I want people to know that this care exists at UAB, that we are highly accessible and make every effort to get new patients in within a week. Our experts are here to provide the best possible care to patients with metastatic bone cancer, bone tumors and sarcomas, as well as patients with soft tissue masses and sarcomas,” said Hess.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is thrilled to welcome Hess, his dedication to our department’s mission and vision, and his aligned approach to excellence in unmatched patient care.