Dr. James D. Kelly, II is an internationally recognized shoulder and elbow surgeon. He is an active member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and was elevated to the prestigious Neer Society in 2023. He authored numerous publications and presentations in the field and is also the director of the San Francisco Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Kelly has been on the medical staff at California Pacific Medical Center since 1999, and now leads the Orthopaedic Department as Chairman.

While he performs arthroscopic and minimally invasive treatment for sports injuries as part of his comprehensive skill set for shoulder surgery, his research interest is in shoulder replacement. He is a designer and developer of products to help his patients. Dr. Kelly and his partners started a medical device company which led to the creation of a complete, clean sheet, efficient and modern shoulder replacement system. Also interested in trauma, he was co-inventor of the fastest growing fracture prosthesis on the market. He has a special interest in options for younger patients with osteoarthritis, having successfully partnered in the investigational device pyrocarbon, which is now a commercially available shoulder replacement for young and active individuals.

Dr. Kelly trained in Orthopaedic Surgery after serving in the US Navy and Marine Corps as a flight surgeon for F/A-18 squadrons. A pilot himself, he enjoys flying and has used this skill in outreach to communities outside of the Bay Area. He is a member of the Doctors’ Ski Patrol at Sugarbowl Resort where he enjoys skiing the resort and backcountry and especially spending time with his family winter and summer in the mountains. Among his other interests are golf and mountain biking, two activities he especially enjoys as they facilitate time with family and friends. His love for the outdoors translates into his ambition to see his patients return to their activities.