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Dr. Ben Kibler retires from Lexington Clinic after 43 years

Dr. William Ben Kibler

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Dr. William Ben Kibler has retired from Lexington Clinic Orthopedics – Sports Medicine after 43 years of dedicated service.

Having joined Lexington Clinic in 1977 and establishing The Shoulder Center of Kentucky, Kibler has been at the forefront of comprehensive shoulder repair and rehabilitation, and has had a profound impact in the field of sports medicine.

Throughout his career, Kibler has provided specialized shoulder surgery, scapula, acute knee injury surgery, sports medicine and arthroscopic surgeries of the knee, ankle and elbow. Countless patients and healthcare providers have and will continue to benefit from his outstanding scientific and scholarly contributions to sports medicine.

“Dr. Kibler’s passion for healthcare and his inspiring spirit will be greatly missed here, but we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement,” said Dr. Andrew Henderson, CEO of Lexington Clinic. “We seek to honor Dr. Kibler’s contributions in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine by continuing with the elevated levels of service we provide to our patients and the community at large.”

Prior to joining Lexington Clinic, Kibler completed a Neuromuscular Diseases fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Vanderbilt as well, an internship at Parkland Hospital, Dallas, and graduated from the Vanderbilt Medical School.

As an internationally recognized and renowned visionary in his field, Kibler has shared his expertise through speaking engagements and educational symposiums both domestically and abroad. Those in the field have benefited from his hunger for excellence, his wisdom, the enthusiasm of his teachings, his discipline and his mentoring.

Kibler has held many important posts over the years with various organizations such as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, the Society for Tennis Medicine and Science, ISAKOS etc. He has also contributed to many professional publications and been honored with numerous awards including the coveted Thomas Brady Award by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, which recognized Kibler for his service and dedication to sports medicine and the impact he has made on his community.

Some of his other achievements include:

  • Developing the first comprehensive sports medicine program in Kentucky
  • Being the first to provide athletic training services to area schools and sports organizations in Kentucky
  • Developing 3 Consensus Conferences on Disorders of the Scapula
  • Performing over 23,000 surgical procedures
  • Founding member of the Society for Tennis Medicine and Science
  • Head Team Physician for the Lexington Legends since 2001

Within the realms of medical innovations, Kibler:

  • Was the first to describe kinetic chain in sports activities
  • Was the first to describe scapular kinematics and scapular dyskinesis
  • Wrote and co-edited first and only book on scapular disorders
  • Developed concepts of core stability and closed chain rehabilitation
  • Developed protocols and programs that set the basis for comprehensive shoulder rehabilitation
  • Developed and described 3 clinical exam tests for shoulder pathology
  • Developed and determined outcomes for 2 operations for AC injury and scapular muscle detachment
  • Developed the Personal Insight Program to address issues of professional and personal burnout.

We wish Kibler the very best in this new chapter of his life.

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  • Dr. Kibler did my shoulder surgery several years ago and alleviated so much pain for me. He is a brilliant surgeon and his retirement will leave a big hole in orthopedic medicine in Kentucky. Enjoy your well-deserved leisure time!

  • Great Orthopedist & a great man–I practiced in the same Lexington Clinic group & was always pleased with how Ben took care of my/our patients–plus he is a great Friend–Bill Underwood