“Dr. Puri has done both a hip replacement and a full knee replacement for me. Both went very smoothly, and Dr. Puri’s calm manner and obvious expertise were most comforting. Kim and Marie in his office were extremely helpful and always very responsive. His PA, Andrew, was also very knowledgeable.
”
Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago
Vice Chairman of Clinical Excellence & Chief of
Adult Reconstruction
Endeavor Health Orthopaedic Institute
Lalit Puri, MD, knew from a young age that he wanted to become a doctor. He’d always felt a desire to help people, and making rounds with his mother, a physician, gave him a behind-the-scenes look at the impact he could have working in medicine.
“Early on, I was exposed to surgery and decided the best way I could make an impact, besides having compassion, was to use my hands to help people,” he says. “Joint replacement was the obvious choice for me. It’s the ultimate privilege to be part of a team that helps people walk again.”
His family and his patients inspire Dr. Puri to keep learning and growing as a physician. His patients specifically remind him of what’s possible as they return to their lives—work, sports, grandchildren—activities that we so easily take for granted.
“The best case scenario differs for every patient, but the one thing that everybody should expect after treatment is to be able to get back to doing the things in life that make them happy,” Dr. Puri says.
For Dr. Puri, that happiness comes in large part from his work with Operation Walk. He started working with the program in 2005, and has since performed joint replacement surgeries in China, India, Nepal, Brazil, and beyond for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to even the most basic medical care.
In Vietnam, Dr. Puri operated on one man who had been carried to the hospital from his village because he couldn’t walk. The man mistakenly assumed that he was being transported to the hospital in order to die. When he realized that Dr. Puri and his team were instead going to operate on him and restore his ability to walk, he cried tears of joy.
“This has been a tremendous opportunity to give back and to team build,” Dr. Puri says. Many times, Kim Prado, RN, and Marie Albarillo, PA, travel with him. “We’re helping restore people’s ability to walk, but I also hope we’re restoring their life.” Just as he has had the privilege to do for his patients at Endeavor Health.
Education
Undergraduate: Northwestern University, Chicago
Medical: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago
Masters of Business Administration: Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Illinois
Training
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Fellowship in Adult Reconstruction Total Joint Arthroplasty: New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons
American Orthopaedic Association
International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty
Illinois Orthopaedic Society
Kim Prado, BSN, RN, ONC
Certified Orthopaedic Nurse
Certified Orthopaedic Nurse Kim Prado felt drawn to nursing in order to help others. Time and again, her orthopaedic patients stick with her. They trust her—from the anxiety of their initial consultations through the journey to decide yes to joint replacement surgery.
This year marks Kim’s 17th working with Dr. Puri. She had been working as a nurse for five years when a physical therapist friend encouraged her to look for a position in orthopaedics.
Kim hasn’t looked back since. “I love being with our patients and seeing how much their lives change because joint replacement surgery truly is life changing,” she says. “They come in tired, in a lot of pain, and you see them come back as a different person. That’s really rewarding.”
Outside of work, Kim enjoys playing tennis and spending time with my family, traveling, and exercising.
Education
Undergraduate: BSN from Creighton University—Omaha, Nebraska
Certified Orthopaedic Nurse (ONC)
Maria Baker
Orthopaedic Surgery Medical Assistant
As an orthopaedic surgery medical assistant, Marie enjoys her work because it gives her the chance to meet new people, help others, and learn new things — every day. Marie joined Dr. Puri’s team nearly a decade ago, having started at Endeavor Health a few years prior. She says she values working with a great team. And outside of work, Marie stays active outdoors whenever possible.
Andrew McCarthy
Orthopaedic Physician Assistant
Andrew McCarthy began his physician assistant career working in vascular care. Looking for a change, he switched to orthopaedics and hasn’t looked back.
“I like the ability to give someone back their function and quality of life,” Andrew says. “You can see for yourself that you actually made a difference.”
Andrew’s interests align with his work. He plays intramural soccer and practices yoga. He also volunteers at the Anti-Cruelty Society.