We are excited to announce that Dr. P. Jamieson Kay has been selected as the Medical Honoree for this year’s Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash fundraiser on October 4! This special event brings together community leaders, medical professionals, arthritis patients and advocates to support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission of boldly pursuing a cure for arthritis and recognizing outstanding contributions in the field.
Each year, the Arthritis Foundation selects a Medical Honoree based on nominations from patients who have been positively impacted by care they’ve received. We received numerous heartfelt stories from patients who credited Dr. Kay for helping them return to a life with less pain and greater mobility. His dedication, empathy, and unique perspective – as both a surgeon and a joint replacement patient – made him a standout choice for this year’s honoree.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the Arthritis Foundation and by the patients I’ve had the privilege to care for,” Dr. Kay said. “Arthritis affects so many aspects of life, and I’ve experienced that firsthand. Helping people regain function and reduce their pain is what drives me every day.”
Dr. Kay, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Central Indiana Orthopedics, specializes in treating hip and knee arthritis and is certified in Mako SmartRobotics™, a cutting-edge technology for joint replacement surgery. What makes Dr. Kay’s story particularly compelling is that he isn’t just a Mako surgeon – he’s also a Mako patient. He underwent two Mako robotic total knee replacements himself, both performed by last year’s Medical Honoree, Dr. Brent Damer.
Dr. Kay had his first total knee replacement at age 48, done as an outpatient procedure at CIO’s Muncie surgery center. At age 52, he had his other knee replaced at CIO’s Fishers outpatient center, again with Dr. Damer as his surgeon. Having gone through the surgical and recovery journey himself, Dr. Kay offers patients not only expert clinical care but also personal insight into what to expect from the experience.
“Going through the surgeries gave me a new level of empathy and understanding. I can speak to what recovery feels like and how to mentally prepare for the ups and downs,” Dr. Kay said. “I share that with my patients to help them feel more confident and informed.”
You can read Dr. Kay’s personal account of his knee replacement experience and recovery in his blog, Diary of a Mako Total Knee Replacement.
With more than 78 million Americans projected to have osteoarthritis by 2040, the need for innovative treatments and compassionate care is greater than ever. Technologies like Mako SmartRobotics™ are transforming joint replacement by offering greater precision, which can lead to less pain and a quicker recovery for patients. CIO is proud to be a leader in this space – first in the region to adopt Mako technology and now offering access to five Mako robotic systems across both inpatient and outpatient locations.
Whether you’re facing arthritis yourself or supporting a loved one through their journey, know that resources and support are available. From the Arthritis Foundation to the dedicated surgeons at CIO, we are committed to helping you live a pain-free life.
We look forward to celebrating Dr. Kay and all the honorees at this year’s Bone Bash. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a CIO surgeon — your stories continue to inspire us and remind us why we do what we do.
Here are just a few of the kind words patients shared about Dr. Kay when nominating him for this recognition:
“Dr. Kay relieved my knee pain through partial knee joint surgery, first in 2008 and secondly in 2016, and basically both knees are functioning pain-free. Years later, both shoulders became major pain problems. After several treatments failed, I chose to have shoulder joint replacement surgery. After having these surgeries in 2019 and 2020, I have been basically pain-free since. At my age, 85 years young, I am still able to function individually and have a quality lifestyle. I would give Dr. Kay an A+ rating for his surgical skills and care. Thank you, Dr. Kay.”
“Dr. Kay is my hero!!! Before meeting Dr. Kay, I had severe osteoarthritis in my knees and hips and lived in so much pain – barely able to walk and with no real quality of life. Now, after multiple surgeries, Dr. Kay replaced both of my knees and hips. I get around great now and feel 20 years younger. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Kay and his team – they saved my life.”
“I have had severe arthritis pain in my knees. Medicine definitely helped decrease the pain. However, as I have aged, both joints continued to get worse, to the point that medicine was no longer helping and my quality of life suffered. Dr. Kay replaced both of my knees, and I am hiking 200 miles this June in Spain. I would not have been able to do that without his help. So thankful for his expertise and care for his patients.”
“Dr. Kay and his staff are wonderful. He has replaced my left shoulder and both knees. I no longer suffer with the pain and can walk so much better. He is kind and easy to understand when explaining the process. As you can see, I trusted him with 3 replacement surgeries, so he has to be great.”
“I had a Mako total knee replacement on my left knee and am pain-free for the first time in over 10 years. Dr. Kay and his staff were amazing!”
“Dr. Kay told me all my options after showing me my X-rays. He let me choose my course of treatment. After a few years of treatment, I finally gave in to have a total knee replacement surgery. He told me everything he was going to do before surgery. He made me feel at ease. I’m 16 days post-surgery and doing very well.”
“Dr. Kay replaced both of my knees and has also treated a lot of my family members for orthopedic issues. He is always professional and is the most caring doctor with outstanding outcomes. We need more doctors like him in the medical field. Highly recommend him and Central Indiana Orthopedics!!”
“Dr. Kay has done both of my knee replacements. He is just the nicest, most caring doctor. I recommend him all the time to my family and friends. His staff, Haley and Julie, are also wonderful gals. I feel like these three people are family!!”