About Us

The Christine M. Kleinert Institute is a nonprofit education and research organization funded by an endowment for education and research in hand and microsurgery. We welcome any and all donations to the endowment.

Harold E. Kleinert, M.D., started a hand surgery clinic in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1953.  Joined by Joseph E. Kutz, M.D., in 1964, they formed the organization now known as Kleinert Kutz. The Christine M. Kleinert Institute was founded by the physicians of Kleinert Kutz in 1960. Named in honor of Dr. Kleinert’s mother, CMKI has developed an accredited fellowship program and world-renowned research program. Through CMKI, the physicians of Kleinert Kutz are training the next generation of hand surgeons in upper extremity care and microsurgery.

The accredited fellowship program is a cooperative effort of CMKI, the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center, and the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Fellows are fully trained plastic, orthopedic or general surgeons who come to Louisville from all over the world for additional training in hand and microsurgery. To date, more than 1,400 physicians from 60 countries have served as Fellows.