Kristy L. Weber, MD, FACS
Areas of expertise: Bone tumors, Ewing sarcoma, Limb salvage surgery, Osteosarcoma, Sarcomas, Benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors
Locations: Main Building
About Kristy L. Weber, MD, FACS
Kristy L. Weber, MD, is an attending surgeon with the Cancer Center and Orthopedic Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She specializes in treating children, adolescents and adults with bone and soft tissue tumors.
Her philosophy of care is centered on minimizing stress. “I strive to treat my patients and their families how I would want to be treated,” she says. “It’s important to be honest and direct, but to also show compassion.” She goes on to explain the importance in involving the patients in all treatment decisions. “It’s not always about what is technically possible, but what is the ‘right’ decision. Ultimately, I try to get to know my patients as well as possible and give enough understanding of the issues, risks and options so they can make the decision that is right for them.”
Dr. Weber cites her work with bone or soft-tissue sarcomas as the most complex from a decision-making perspective — and one that is complicated with a growing child. “You are tasked with how to take out the cancer in a way that will prevent it from returning, while maintaining as much physical function as possible,” she says. “It can be a real balancing act.”
Along with her work at CHOP, Dr. Weber is the Abramson Family Professor in Sarcoma Excellence in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 to serve as Vice-chair of Faculty Affairs in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Director of the Sarcoma Program in the Abramson Cancer Center. She is also currently serving as the first female president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
In addition to her clinical role, Dr. Weber is a cancer researcher, with a particular emphasis on how to prevent sarcomas from metastasizing (spreading to other parts of the body). As part of this effort, she developed and helps raise money for a coordinated team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP and the Veterinary School of Pennsylvania to collaborate on sarcoma research and science.
According to Dr. Weber, the greatest challenge and opportunity lies in the biology. “Cancer treatments and success rates have been largely the same over the last 30 years. We are continually focused on finding a breakthrough in preventing the spread of cancer, so that we have a higher percentage of patients that are cured for life.”
This success, particularly with children, is Dr. Weber’s ultimate goal and reward. “I love taking care of kids,” she says. “You see them go through some pretty intense treatments – surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and watch them recover on the other side. Their bravery teaches me. It makes me a better doctor.”
Titles
Attending Surgeon
Professor and Vice-Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Orthopaedic Surgery – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Awards and Honors
2012, Invited honorary speaker to Johns Hopkins 1st year medical students – stethoscope ceremony
2011, Baltimore Magazine’s Best Doctors 2011 (Orthopedic Oncology)
2010, AAOS Achievement Award
2009, International Skeletal Society 2nd Place Exhibit Award - Metabolic Imaging of Musculoskeletal Pathology with MR Spectroscopy: How Far Have We Come? Fayad LM, Wang X, Machdo A, Weber KL, Barker PB. Washington D.C.
2009, Pi Beta Phi Member of Distinction Award – (National Individual Achievement Award)
2006, Compere Award (Best Scientific Paper – Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma Bone Metastasis), Twentieth Century Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, Rockport, ME
Kappa Delta Award (Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award) 2006 [Weber KL, Doucet M, Kominsky S: Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Blockade in Renal Cell Carcinoma Bone Metastasis].
2005, American Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS) Scholar
2003, ABC Traveling Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, Spring, (1 of 5 US orthopedic surgeons selected)
2002, Finalist - New Investigator Recognition Award – Orthopaedic Research Society, Dallas, Texas
2000, Young Investigator Award, Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2000, Finalist - New Investigator Recognition Award, Orthopaedic Research Society, Orlando, Florida
1999, John J. Fahey, MD, Memorial, North American Traveling Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, (1 of 4 US orthopedic surgeons selected)
1997, Mayo Clinic, Best Basic Science Center Research Award, Mayo Laboratory Medicine/Pathology and Cancer Center Symposium
1996, Emma Harper Turner Leadership Award (Exceptional leadership to a Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club)
1991, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honorary
1991, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Phi Beta Kappa Honorary
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
American College of Surgeons (ACS) – Fellow – inducted October, 2014 (FACS)
American College of Radiology
- 2011-2015, Appropriate Use Criteria Committee (Treatment of Bone Metastasis)
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
- 2008-2016, Question Writing Task Force
- Chair, Milestones Working Group (Fellowship)
Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF)
- 2003-present, Member, Shands Circle
- 2010-2014, Chair, Grant Review Subcommittee
2005-present, Twentieth Century Orthopaedic Association
- 2015, Program Co-Chair, 70th Annual Meeting
- 2014, Program Co-Chair, 69th Annual Meeting
2004-2014, University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics Second Century Committee
2004-present, American Orthopaedic Association
- 2004-present, Emerging Leaders Program Guide
- 2011-2014, Member, Orthopaedic Institute of Medicine Committee
- 2015-2015, Member (elected), Nominating Committee
- 2015-2018, Chairman – Critical Issues Committee
- 2015-2018, Executive Committee
- 2015-2018, Own the Bone Committee
- 2015-2018, Program Committee
2001-present, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
- 2012, 2014, Treasurer
- 2014-2015, Vice President
- 2015-2016, President
- 2016-2017, Past President
2002-present, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
- 2013-2014, President
- 2015-2015, Past President
- 2014-2015, Nominating Committee Chair
- 2015-2016, Past President (2nd)
2002-present, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2013-2015, Vice-Chair, AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline on Surgical Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee
- 2014-present, Member, Committee on Outside Interests
- 2017, Second Vice President
2002-present, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)
2002-present, Orthopaedic Research Society
- 2014-2018, Board of Directors
- 2015-2015, Secretary-Elect
- 2015-2018, Secretary
- 2015-2018, JOR Editorial Advisory Board
- 2015-2018, Finance Committee
1999-present, Member, International Society of Limb Salvage
1998-present, Member, Connective Tissue Oncology Society
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Boards
Editorial Board, JBJS Reviews, 2013-
Editorial Board, Current Surgery Reports (section editor for Ortho-Oncology), 2013-
Journal Peer Review Activities
- Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 1997-present
- Cancer, 2001-present
- Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, (Consultant Reviewer), 2001-present
- Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2003-present
- Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Am), 2004-present
- Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Br), 2007-present
- Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2008-present
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Internship
Orthopedic Surgery - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Fellowship
Orthopedic Oncology - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Additional Training
Orthopedic Oncology, Research Fellow - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Publications
Publications
2023
York, TJ, Lutfi W, Ajmera S, Su S, Chandler JM, Michaels MJ, Schuster JM, Zager EL, Weber KL, Braslow B, Martin ND, Sharoky CE, Malhotra N, Cannon J: Prone zone III REBOA rescue for post-operative hemorrhagic after sacrococcygeal tumor resection. J Endovascular Resuscitation and Trauma Mgmt. (in press 2023).
Azoury SC, Shammas R, Othman S, Sergesketter A, Brigman BE, Nguyen JC, Arkader A, Weber KL, Erdmann D, Levin LS, Kovach SJ, Innocenti M. Outcomes following free fibula physeal transfer for pediatric proximal humerus reconstruction: an international multi-institutional study. Plast Reconstr Surg, 151(4) 805-813, 2023.
Samora JB, Ghanayem AJ, Lewis VO, Weber K: Mind the Gap: Addressing confidence, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism in surgical training. AOA Critical Issues Symposium, J Bone Joint Surg, 105:1046-1050, 2023.
Weber K, Henley MB, Balaschak J, Weinstein SL: Leading an organization in the 21st century: The importance of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and good governance. Instr Course Lect, 72:39-46, 2023.
Johnson MA, Weber KL, Parambath A, Shah N, Dardas AZ, Ronen S, Shah AS: A glass ceiling in orthopedic surgery: Publication trends by gender. Orthopedics, 46(2)e118-e124, 2023.
2022
Fuller A, Devine A, Murazzi I, Mason NJ, Weber K, Eisinger TK: Comparative oncology reveals DNMT3B as a molecular vulnerability in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Cell Oncology, 45:1277-1295, 2022.
Perez JA, Weber KL, Bender SJ, Wulster KB, Parente EJ: Percutaneous doxycycline sclerotherapy in a horse with a mandibular aneurysmal bone cyst. Veterinary Surgery, 58:1265-1272, 2022.
Samora JF, Brown GA, Clohisy D, Weber, K: Coaching, separate from mentoring, may provide skill acquisition, improved well-being, and career advancement in orthopedic surgery. J Bone Joint Surg (AOA Critical Issues), 104:e76(1-6), 2022.
Deng Q, Natesan R, Cidre-Aranaz F, Arif S, Liu Y, Rasool R, Wang P, Mitchell-Velasquez E, Vinca E, Cramer Z, Grohar P, Chou M, Kumar-Sinha C, Weber K, Eisinger-Mathason K, Grillet N, Grünewald T, Asangani IA: Oncofusion-driven de novo enhancer assembly promotes malignancy in Ewing sarcoma via aberrant expression of the stereociliary protein LOXHD1. Cell Reports, 14;39(11):110971 2022.
Norris JR, Shabason J, Halpern JL, Schwartz HS, Weber KL, Holt GE, Wilson RJ: Multicenter, retrospective comparison of implant survival, complications and cost between plate and screw and intramedullary nail fixation for metastatic lesions of the diaphyseal humerus. Ann Joint, 7:24-32, 2022.
Thevendran G, Glazebrook M, Eastwood D, Weber K, Kit DCS, Johari A, Rajasekaran S, Khanduja V: Rising within the leadership of an orthopedic society: learning from the presidents. International Orthopaedics, 46:443-447, 2022.
2021
Venkat N, Weber KL, Bozic KJ: Value-Based Healthcare: The business case for sponsorship of women in high value orthopedic surgery. Clin Orthop Rel Res, 479:2591-2593, 2021.
Levy JL, Louka KL, Cooper K, Weber KL, Dianat S: Focal reactive periostitis ossificans in a long bone: radiologic and pathologic findings. Radiol Case Rep, 16:3638-3642, 2021.
Bunzli S, O’Brien P, Aston W, Ayerza MA, Chan L, Cherix S, de las Heras J, Donati D, Eyesan U, Fabbri N, Ghert M, Hilton T, Idowu OK, Imanishi J, Puri A, Rose P, Sabah D, Turcotte R, Weber K, Dowsey MM, Choong PFM: Life or Limb: an international qualitative study on decision making in sarcoma surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Open, 11:1-30, 2021.
Parisien RL, Gans I, Griffis M, Molligan JD, Jo SY, Sennett BJ, Weber KL: A Rare Incident of Intraarticular Fibromatosis of the Knee: A Case Report. JBJS Case Connector, 11, March, 2021.
Lin J, Weber K, Samora J: How Does Representation of Women on Editorial Boards Compare Among Orthopedic, General Surgery, and Internal Medicine Journals? Clin Orthop Rel Res, 479:1939-1946, 2021.
Reddy VK, Varsha J, Venigalla S, Levin W, Sebro R, Kalbasi A, Wilson R, Weber K, Shabason J: Radiotherapy remains underutilized in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas: disparities in practice patterns in the United States. J National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Feb, 2021.
Reddy V, Jain V, Wilson R, Hartner L, Diamond M, Sebro R, Weber K, Maki R, Shabason J: Adult pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas: assessing outcomes associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy use in the National Cancer Database. Sarcoma, March, 2021.
Reddy V, Jain V, Venigalla S, Nimgaokar V, Amurthur A, Lee D, Sebro R, Maki R, Wilson R, Weber K, Shabason J: Definitive local therapy is associated with improved survival in metastatic soft tissue sarcomas. Cancers, 13(5):932, 2021.
Cannada LK, Friebott CE, Strauch RJ, Weber KL: Top tips for an Orthopedic surgeon’s practice. Instr Course Lect 70:577-586, 2021.
2020
Stadtmauer EA, Fraietta JA, Davis MM, Cohen AD, Weber KL, Lancaster E, Mangan PA, Kulikovskaya I, Gupta M, Chen F, Tian L, Gonzalez VE, Xu J, Jung IY, Melenhorst JJ, Plesa G, Shea J, Matlawski T, Cervini A, Gaymon AL, Desjardins S, Lamontagne A, Salas-Mckee J, Fesnak A, Siegel DL, Levine BL, Jadlowsky JK, Young RM, Chew A, Hwang WT, Hexner EO, Carreno BM, Nobles CL, Bushman FD, Parker KR, Qi Y, Satpathy AT, Chang HY, Zhao Y, Lacey SF, June CH CRISPR-engineered T cells in patients with refractory cancer. Science. Feb, 2020
Lin JS, Lattanza LL, Weber KL, Balch Samora J: Improving sexual, racial and ethnic diversity in orthopedics: An imperative. Orthopedics, e131-e140, May 2020.
Nguyen JC, Biko DM, Nguyen MK, Othman S, Weber K, Ganley TJ, Arkader A: Magnetic resonance imaging features of intra-articular tenosynovial giant cell tumor in children. Pediatr Radiol, Nov, 2020.
Othman S, Azoury SC, Weber KL, Kovach SJ. Free Flap Reconstruction of Sarcoma Defects in the Setting of Radiation: A 10-year experience. J Plast Surg Hand Surg, 54:365-371, 2020.
Grinberg SZ, Posta A, Weber KL, Wilson RJ: Limb salvage and reconstruction options in osteosarcoma. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1257: 13-29, 2020.
Vajapey, SP S, Weber KL, Samora JB: Confidence gap between males and females in medicine: A systematic review. Current Orthopaedic Practice, 31:5, 494-502, 2020.
Baumann BC, De Amorim Bernstein K, Delaney TF, Simone II, CB, Kolker JD, Choy D, Levin WP, Weber KL, Muniappan A, Berman AT, Staddon A, Hartner L, Van Tine B, Hirbe A, Glatstein E, Hahn SM, Hagda SN, Chen YL: Multi-institutional analysis of stereotactic body radiotherapy for sarcoma pulmonary metastases: High rates of local control with favorable toxicity. J Surg Oncol, 122:877-883, 2020.
Othman S, Bricker JT, Elfanagely O, Azoury SC, Weber K, Kovach S: Allograft alone vs. allograft with intramedullary vascularized fibular graft for lower extremity bone cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Plast, Reconstr & Aesthet Surg. 73:1221-1231, 2020.
Samora JB, Van Heest A, Weber K, Ross W, Huff T, Carter C: Harassment, discrimination, and bullying in orthopedics: A work environment and culture survey. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 28:1097-1104, 2020.
Glauser G, Osiemo B, Goodrich S, McClintock SD, Weber KL, Levin LS, Malhotra NR: Assessment of short-term patient outcomes following overlapping orthopedic surgery at a large academic medical center. J Bone Joint Surg, 102(8): 654-663, 2020.
Devalaraja S, To TKJ, Folkert IW, Natesan R, Alam MZ, Li M, Tada Y, Budagyan K, Dang MP, Zhai L, Lobel GP, Ciotti GE Eisinger-Mathason TSK, Asangani IA, Weber K, Simon MC, Haldar M: Tumor-derived retinoic acid regulates intratumoral monocyte differentiation to promote immune suppression. Cell, 180:1098-1114, 2020.
Ye S, Liu Y, Fuller A, Katti R, Ciotti G, Chor S, Alam Z, Lorent K, Devalaraja S, Weber K, Pack M, Haldar M, Eisinger-Mathason TSK: TGFB and Hippo pathways cooperate to enhance sarcomagenesis and metastasis through the hyaluronan mediated motility receptor (HMMR). Molecular Cancer Research, 18(4): 560-573, 2020.
Green JA, Chye VPC, Hiemstra LA, Fellander-Tsai L, Incoll I, Weber K, Pohl M, Kollias C, Maasalu K, Iniguez M, Bytyqui D, Fok M, Liverneaux P, Hamdan E, Lupondo V, Hing CB: Diversity: Women in orthopedic surgery – a perspective from the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance. J Trauma and Orthopaedics, 8:44-51, 2020.
Mulcahey MK, Van Heest A, Weber K: Women in Orthopedics: How understanding implicit bias can help your practice. Instructional Course Lecture Series (AAOS), 69:245-254, 2020.
Books
2020
Weber KL and Rose, P: Musculoskeletal Oncology and Systemic Disease (Section Editor) In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1521-1653, 2020.
2015
Cannada LK, Wolf JM, Lajam C, Weber KL: Guide for Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (Section 2 Editor). Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society/Zimmer, (2015).
2014
Miclau T, Morshed S, Weber KL: Principles of Orthopaedics (Section 1 Editors) In AAOS Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 11, L. Cannada (ed), AAOS, 2014.
Weber KL: Musculoskeletal Oncology and Systemic Disease (Section Editor) In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 2nd Ed, M Boyer (ed), AAOS, 2014.
Chapters
2023
Cipriano CA and Weber K: Metastatic Bone Disease. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 4th Ed, Chapter 147, 2023 (in press).
Gundle KR and Weber K: Malignant Soft-Tissue Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 4th Ed, Chapter 146, 2023 (in press).
Gundle KR and Weber K: Benign Soft-Tissue Tumors and Reactive Lesions. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 4th Ed, Chapter 145, 2023 (in press).
Cipriano CA and Weber K: Malignant Bone Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review - 4th Ed, – Chapter 144, 2023 (in press).
Cipriano CA and Weber K: Benign Bone Tumors and Reactive Lesions. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 4th Ed, Chapter 143, 2023 (in press)
2020
Weber KL and Rose, P: Metastatic Bone Disease. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1627-1640, 2020.
Weber KL and Rose, P: Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1604-1617, 2020.
Weber KL and Rose, P: Benign Soft Tissue Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1586-1603, 2020.
Arkader A and Weber KL: Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors. In Lovell & Winters’ Pediatric Orthopaedics, 8th Edition (Two Volumes), Weinstein SL, Flynn J, Crawford H (Editors): Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PA, p.459-509, 2020.
Weber KL and Rose, P: Benign Bone Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1533-1558, 2020.
Weber KL and Rose, P: Malignant Bone Tumors. In AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review – 3rd Ed, J. Lieberman (ed), AAOS, p.1559-1585, 2020.