The Curtis National Hand Center

What The Curtis National Hand Center does

The Curtis National Hand Center is a specialty medical practice dedicated to the treatment of hand and upper extremity conditions, founded in 1975 by Dr. Raymond M. Curtis in Baltimore, Maryland and operated as part of the MedStar Health system, with its clinical home in a 23,000 sq ft facility at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. It is Congress-designated as the National Center for Treatment of Hand and Upper Extremity (1994) and is the only Level 1 Hand and Upper Extremity Trauma Center in Maryland under MIEMSS designation, giving it exclusive regional trauma referral standing. The center is staffed by 14 board-certified hand surgeons, 6 physician assistants, and 12 research staff, organized across five clinical teams.

The center's core offering combines clinical care, surgical services, a 50-year-old fellowship training program (established 1977) with approximately 200 alumni, and an active research program. Research infrastructure includes a STAT Lab and an AAALAC-accredited 1,600 sq ft Microsurgery Lab, with patented innovations spanning a BTE device, nerve regeneration techniques, artificial joints, and battlefield elbow fixation technology. Revenue is generated through professional services billing within MedStar Health, supplemented by fellowship training, externally delivered courses such as the 2025 ASRM Functional Extremity Reconstruction Skills Course, and an international mission fund supporting biannual trips to La Romana, Dominican Republic. Multi-institutional teaching partnerships with Johns Hopkins, Walter Reed, Georgetown, and CHOP, plus consultant roles with the Baltimore Ravens, Orioles, Washington Nationals, Towson, Morgan State, and Stevenson athletics, extend its referral and brand footprint across the Mid-Atlantic.

Name

The Curtis National Hand Center

Legal name

The Curtis National Hand Center

Website

https://curtishand.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Curtis National Hand Center is a Congress-designated specialty practice within MedStar Health providing hand and upper extremity surgery, fellowship training, and research, serving patients across the Mid-Atlantic as Maryland's only Level 1 Hand Trauma Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hand and Upper Extremity Surgical Care

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Hand & Upper Extremity (HLAKALAF)

Keywords

• Hand surgery services
• Upper extremity care
• Microsurgery procedures
• Hand therapy rehabilitation
• Surgical fellowship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Patient Care Services: Fee-for-service medical care delivery providing surgical treatment, diagnostic services, and hand therapy for patients with hand and upper extremity conditions. Patients are referred from regional hospitals, emergency departments, and physician practices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.
2. Medical Education and Fellowship Training: One-year ACGME-accredited hand surgery fellowship program providing advanced surgical training to orthopedic, plastic, and general surgery residents. The fellowship accepts military-trained surgeons from Walter Reed and produces nearly 200 alumni nationwide.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Curtis National Hand Center is a specialized medical center providing comprehensive surgical treatment for hand, wrist, arm, elbow, and shoulder conditions, including trauma, congenital differences, arthritis, nerve disorders, and sports injuries. It also operates a one-year ACGME-accredited hand surgery fellowship program, a dedicated hand surgery research program, and hand therapy/rehabilitation services. The center is the largest hand center in the world and the only Level 1 Hand and Upper Extremity Trauma Center in the U.S.

Product overview

The Curtis National Hand Center is a specialized medical facility offering comprehensive hand and upper extremity care. The organization operates as a single unified center providing surgical services, rehabilitation therapy, fellowship training, and clinical research. Core offerings include hand and upper extremity surgery (treating conditions from shoulder to fingertips), a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship program established in 1977, a dedicated research division with STAT and Microsurgery labs, and specialized hand therapy services. Additional programs include international medical missions through the Dorothy Scott International Mission Fund and the annual ASRM Functional Extremity Reconstruction Skills Course.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Services Comprehensive surgical treatment for hand, wrist, arm, elbow, and shoulder conditions including trauma, congenital differences, arthritis, nerve disorders, and sports injuries. Services are provided to patients of all ages and include microsurgery, vascular surgery, nerve regeneration, and complex reconstructive techniques. The center is the only Level 1 Hand and Upper Extremity Trauma Center in the U.S. designated by MIEMSS.
• Hand Fellowship Training Program One-year ACGME-accredited fellowship program providing advanced training in hand surgery with rotations at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Established in 1977, the program has produced nearly 200 alumni practicing throughout the country and accepts two military-trained surgeons from Walter Reed each year.
• Hand Surgery Research Program Comprehensive research program including STAT Lab (Surgical Technique and Technology Lab), AAALAC-accredited Microsurgery Lab (1,600 square feet with three dissecting microscopes), and Health Services Research using the largest upper extremity trauma database in the region. Research focuses on outcomes, care delivery, and implementation research.
• Hand Therapy Services Specialized rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and certified hand therapist (CHT) services for hand and upper extremity recovery. Provided in association with the largest hand rehabilitation center in the nation.
• Dorothy Scott International Mission Fund International humanitarian program providing hand surgery care to underserved communities in La Romana, Dominican Republic, with expeditions every six months.
• ASRM Functional Extremity Reconstruction Skills Course Annual educational course co-hosted with Johns Hopkins Medical Center offering hands-on training in upper limb reconstruction techniques for surgeons.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 fellowship alumni practicing throughout the country
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• MedStar Union Memorial HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975The Curtis National Hand Center is housed in the Johnston Professional Building at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. The center occupies two floors of the specially designed 23,000 square-foot facility. Union Memorial is accredited by The Joint Commission and designated as the Hand Trauma Center for Maryland. The hospital provides surgical facilities, operating rooms, and supporting infrastructure for all clinical operations.
• MedStar HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedStar Health is a non-profit, regional health care system with a community-based network of nine hospitals and other healthcare services in the Maryland-Washington, D.C. region. The Curtis National Hand Center operates as part of the MedStar Health network.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Johns Hopkins University in the field of hand transplantation, in research as well as in performing hand transplant surgery. Orthopedic and plastic surgery residents from Johns Hopkins Hospital work closely with hand fellows. Faculty appointments include Assistant Professor positions in Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
• Walter Reed Military Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Walter Reed Army Hospital for military fellowship training. Since the formal inception of the hand fellowship program in 1977, the center honors its humble beginnings by seeking applicants from Walter Reed. The center accepts two military-trained surgeons into the fellowship program each year. Collaboration on caring for injured soldiers returning from abroad.
• Georgetown UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrthopedic and plastic surgery residents from Georgetown University work closely with hand fellows. Faculty appointments include positions in Georgetown University Department of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Aviram Giladi holds appointments as Associate Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellows spend one month at CHOP with Drs. Ben Chang, Robert Carrigan, Ines Lin, and Apurva Shah for immersion in congenital and pediatric surgery. An apartment is furnished for fellows during this rotation. Fellows are fully credentialed at CHOP for the entire year to participate in complex congenital cases.
• Operation SmileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian partnership. In 2011, Dr. Higgins spearheaded the inaugural international hand mission with Operation Smile. Several faculty members participate in international hand missions providing surgical care to underserved communities.
• Baltimore RavensminorOthersProfessional sports team consulting for hand and upper extremity injuries. Dr. Kenneth R. Means Jr. serves as consultant for the team.
• Baltimore OriolesminorOthersProfessional baseball team consulting for hand and upper extremity injuries. Dr. Kenneth R. Means Jr. serves as consultant for the team.
• Washington NationalsminorOthersProfessional sports team consulting for hand and upper extremity injuries. Dr. Kenneth R. Means Jr. serves as consultant for the team.
• University of Maryland School of MedicinesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency training partnership. Residents from University of Maryland participate in the plastic and reconstructive training program and work with hand fellows at the center.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mayo Clinic Hand Surgery: Mayo Clinic's Division of Hand and Microvascular Surgery is a leading academic hand surgery program offering comprehensive surgical care, fellowship training, and outcomes research. Directly comparable specialty depth, multi-surgeon team, and fellowship pipeline make it one of the closest peers to CNHC.
• Rothman Orthopaedic Institute: Large orthopedic specialty practice with a hand and upper extremity service line serving the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Comparable in orthopedics scale and surgical specialization, with a strong regional presence in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that overlaps geographically with CNHC's referral base.
• Massachusetts General Hospital – Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery: MGH's Hand & Upper Extremity program is a top-tier academic specialty offering microsurgery, complex reconstruction, and fellowship training within Harvard. Comparable in surgical complexity, training pedigree, and research output.
• Stanford Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery: Stanford's Hand & Upper Extremity program offers tertiary surgical care, microsurgery, and research within a leading academic medical center. Comparable in specialty surgical depth, research focus, and fellowship training.
• NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital – Hand Surgery: NYU Langone's Hand Surgery division provides complex reconstructive and microsurgical care with strong fellowship training heritage. Comparable in academic pedigree, surgical complexity, and concentration of hand surgeons in a major metropolitan area.
• Cleveland Clinic Hand & Upper Extremity Center: Cleveland Clinic's Hand & Upper Extremity Center offers integrated surgical care, therapy, and research within a large academic system. Directly comparable in specialty depth, multi-disciplinary care model, and outcomes research priorities.

Direct peers

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) – Hand Surgery: CHOP's Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery includes a congenital hand surgery program. Already a partner site for CNHC fellows, CHOP is a direct peer in pediatric/congenital hand surgery and shares training infrastructure.
• Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) – Hand & Upper Extremity: HSS Hand & Upper Extremity Service is a globally recognized specialty program within a specialty hospital, providing surgical care, research, and fellowship training. Direct overlap in specialty surgical focus, fellowship training, and research output makes it a leading direct peer.

Regional players

• MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – Hand Surgery: Georgetown's hand surgery program is part of the same MedStar Health network and trains residents alongside CNHC fellows. A regional/affiliated peer with overlapping academic and operational relationships.

Emerging players

• Washington University in St. Louis – Hand Surgery: WashU/Barnes-Jewish Hand Surgery provides academic specialty care with fellowship training and research. A peer academic hand program with comparable fellowship training and clinical scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curtis-national-hand-center
• Xx.com/CurtisHandAlum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Curtis National Hand Center