Dr. Joel C. Klena

Joel Klena, MD, is chief of the Division of Hand and Microvascular Surgery for the Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute, as well as program director for the Geisinger Orthopaedic Surgery Residency. He assumed this role in 2017 after being the associate residency director for eight years.|Dr. Klena received a BS with honors from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y., graduating ninth in his class with dual degrees in marine engineering and marine transportation. His time at the USMMA included service in the Gulf War conflict and captaining the Academy’s NCAA Division I Rugby Team.|After fulfilling his naval and maritime commitments, he attended medical school at the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical College in Syracuse and completed orthopaedic surgery residency training at Geisinger Medical Center. He returned to Syracuse for a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery, including time at Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Dallas.|Dr. Klena serves on the resident education committee for the American Society for the Surgery of Hand and is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society. He has extensive peer-reviewed publications within the hand literature. He has provided guidance for resident research efforts, with a particular focus on upper extremity trauma, minimally invasive surgical techniques and resident education.|In 10 years with Geisinger, Dr. Klena has led the hand division from a single surgeon based in Geisinger’s central region to the successful recruitment and geographic expansion of six hand surgeons providing care for patients throughout Geisinger.|The motto of his undergraduate alma mater best summarizes his approach to leadership and his dedication to service: “Acta non verba” or “Deeds, not words.”|His interests include family, women's lacrosse, fly fishing and Pittsburgh sports.

Dr. Klena is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Dupuytren Contracture. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Mononeuritis Multiplex, Dupuytren Contracture, Trigger Thumb, and Endoscopy.

His clinical research consists of co-authoring 77 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 2 articles in the study of Dupuytren Contracture.