Dr. Cusano is an orthopedic surgeon and Assistant Professor at UConn Health, specializing in sports medicine and complex knee and shoulder and sports elbow injuries. Dr. Cusano graduated from Avon Old Farms High School, where he played hockey and baseball and ran cross-country. He completed his undergraduate training with academic distinction at Boston College and earned his medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a five-year academic orthopedic surgery residency program at the University of Connecticut. He has spent additional time performing basic science research on genomic editing at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Cusano completed his sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. During his fellowship, he worked closely with many thought-leaders and experts in the field of sports medicine. He also served as an assistant team physician for the New York Giants and the NFL Combine. 

Dr. Cusano's clinical interests and expertise encompass a wide range of orthopedic conditions. He has a special interest in caring for athletes of all ages, from adolescence through adulthood and at all levels of participation, from the weekend warrior to the high school, collegiate and professional athlete. His clinical interests include primary and revision ACL reconstruction, multi-ligament knee injuries, osteotomies, cartilage loss, meniscus pathology, shoulder instability, rotator cuff and labral tears, pectoralis and distal biceps tendon ruptures, elbow injuries, and shoulder arthritis. In addition, he has a special interest in complex shoulder and knee reconstruction and replacement procedures. He is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care with the highest level of expertise and compassion.

Dr. Cusano also has a strong interest in research and believes that it is through research that advances in the field of orthopaedic surgery and patient care are made possible. His research interests focus on ligament reconstruction, rotator cuff repair outcomes, large database studies, shoulder replacement, surgical techniques, and biomechanics. Dr. Cusano has had his research presented at over forty national and regional conferences. In addition, he has received multiple research awards and financial grants and has contributed over fifty peer-reviewed publications and book chapters to the field of orthopedics. Dr. Cusano serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine and the HSS Journal: The Musculoskeletal Journal of the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dr. Cusano embraces an environment where collaboration and teamwork are paramount, believing that diverse perspectives and expertise enhance the quality of patient care and medical education.

Education

Degree	Institution	Major
BS	Boston College	Biology
MD	Boston University School of Medicine	Medicine

Post-Graduate Training

Training	Institution	Specialty
Residency	UConn School of Medicine	Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship	Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)	Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery

Awards

Name of Award/Honor	Awarding Organization
Warren R. Kadrmas, MD Award - A Prestigious Honor Given to the Fellow Who Best Demonstrates the Highest Level of Citizenship and Dedication to Sports Medicine	Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
University of Connecticut Orthopedic Residency Cavazos Award (2023): An Honor Awarded Yearly to the Individual Who Most Closely Exemplifies an Outstanding, Well­ Rounded Resident, Mentor, and Role Model	University of Connecticut Orthopaedic Residency
Research Grant, The Utility of the Biceps Palpation-Rotation Test in Diagnosing Partial Biceps Tendon Tears	Greater Hartford Orthopaedic Education and Research
JSES Neviaser Award in Basic Science, Effectiveness of Topical Adjuvants in Reducing Biofilm Formation on Orthopedic Implants: An In Vitro Analysis (2022): Top basic Science Paper Published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES)	American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES)
Clinical Research Award in Sports Medicine (2021)	American Orthopaedic Association
Clinical Research Award, Runner-Up, The Statistical Fragility of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Research Grant, Biomechanical Evaluation Using the Lacertus Fibrosus as a Local Autograft in the Setting of Distal Biceps Rupture	Greater Hartford Orthopaedic Education and Research
Academic Distinction, Cum Laude (2013)	Boston College
Academic Distinction, Order of Old Farms (2009)	Avon Old Farms School

Name & Description	Category	Role	Type	Scope	Start Year	End Year
HSS Journal: The Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery	Professional/Scientific Organization	Reviewer	External	National	2023
American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM)	Professional/Scientific Organization	Reviewer	External	National	2022
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS)	Professional/Scientific Organization	Member	External	National	2014