Kristin E. Karim, M.D.

Dr. Kristin E. Karim, M.D. is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with a certificate of added qualifications in Hand Surgery. She specializes in the comprehensive management of traumatic, degenerative, and neoplastic conditions, with a particular interest in hand trauma and the management of post-traumatic arthritis. Dr. Karim completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame and obtained her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She pursued her residency training at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program and further specialized through a fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery at the Raymond Curtis National Hand Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

After several years at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Karim returned to the East Coast to join the faculty at Raymond Curtis National Hand Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, as well as Greater Chesapeake Hand and Shoulder. She is dedicated to providing innovative clinical care and plays an active role in teaching and mentoring residents and fellows. Dr. Karim has held leadership positions, received professional awards and honors, authored book chapters, and published research studies in prestigious medical journals. Her research interests include functional outcomes and patient satisfaction especially in hand trauma patients, as well as the development of arthritis in men versus women in specific regions of the hand and wrist. 

Dr. Karim believes that patient/family-centered care is of the utmost importance. She encourages shared decision making and active collaboration to form customized and comprehensive care plans for each patient. 

Dr. Karim's achievements and awards include:

• Attending surgeon at Curtis National Hand Center, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore

• An active member of several committees of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand

• An active member of several committees of the American Association for Hand Surgeons

• Chief Resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital
• Recipient of the Newman/Schreiber Merit Scholarship at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Dr. Karim is distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. She is also a member of the Maryland Orthopaedic Society and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. 

Dr. Karim enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, running, and following sports teams including the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

Dr. Karim provides care at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder’s LUTHERVILLE – Main office and CLARKSVILLE/ RIVER HILL, Physiotherapy Associates locations.