Aristides I. Cruz, Jr.

Dr. Aristides I. Cruz, Jr. is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School and an attending orthopedic surgeon in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at Boston Children’s Hospital. He specializes in treating children, adolescents, and young adults with orthopedic and sports-related injuries. His clinical focus spans ACL injuries, tibial spine fractures, shoulder dislocations, patellar instability, and osteochondritis dissecans.

Education & Training

• Undergraduate: Tufts University (2002) – summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
• Medical: Tufts University School of Medicine (2006) – Alpha Omega Alpha
• Internship: General Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital (2007)
• Residency: Orthopedic Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital (2011)
• Fellowship: Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2015)
• MBA: Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management (2017)

Research Focus

Dr. Cruz’s research is centered on pediatric sports injuries, fracture epidemiology, and health care disparities in orthopedic care. He has led and contributed to multi-institutional studies on ACL reconstruction outcomes, tibial spine fractures, and the influence of social determinants on surgical access and outcomes. His work frequently explores how demographic, socioeconomic, and systems-level factors affect pediatric orthopedic treatment patterns.

Clinical Innovations & Leadership

As Deputy Editor for Research for the Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (JPOSNA®), Dr. Cruz plays a pivotal role in shaping scholarly discourse in his field. He is actively involved in national orthopedic societies such as AAOS, AAP, POSNA, and PRiSM, and has held committee and leadership positions in these organizations. His clinical practice integrates minimally invasive surgical techniques, evidence-based protocols, and personalized rehabilitation strategies for young athletes.

Awards & Recognition

• Air Force Commendation Medal – for service as an orthopedic surgeon in the U.S. Air Force
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society – medical school
• Phi Beta Kappa – undergraduate honor society
• Academic All-American – collegiate athletics

Clinical Locations

Dr. Cruz provides care at multiple Boston Children’s Hospital locations:

• Boston: 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan 2nd Floor
• Waltham: 9 Hope Avenue
• Weymouth: 200 Libbey Parkway
• Sports Medicine Division: 319 Longwood Avenue, Boston