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| Dr. James Andrews | |
|---|---|
| Name | James Andrews |
| Birth date | 1942 |
| Birth place | Meridian, Mississippi |
| Occupation | Orthopedic surgeon |
| Known for | Sports medicine, elbow and shoulder surgery |
Dr. James Andrews is an American orthopedic surgeon renowned for pioneering work in sports medicine, particularly elbow and shoulder surgery, and for treating elite athletes in professional and collegiate sports. He has operated on prominent figures across the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and Olympic Games competitors, and has served as a consultant to multiple Team USA programs. His career bridges clinical practice, surgical innovation, and involvement with institutions, teams, and leagues such as the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, and numerous professional franchises.
Andrews was born in Meridian, Mississippi and raised in the American South, attending local schools before matriculating at Auburn University where he completed undergraduate studies. He earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, followed by fellowships in sports medicine that connected him to surgeons at institutions such as the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and the Hospital for Special Surgery. Training placed him within the professional networks of figures linked to Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and other leading centers.
Specializing in elbow, shoulder, and knee surgery, Andrews developed expertise in reconstructive procedures associated with throwing athletes, collaborating with teams in the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Conference, Pacific-12 Conference, and Atlantic Coast Conference. His practice emphasized treatment of ulnar collateral ligament injuries, rotator cuff tears, labral pathology, and cartilage repair, and he became associated with clinics bearing his name and with hospital systems including Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, Gulf Coast Orthopaedic Specialists, and clinics linked to the Cleveland Clinic Florida. He has trained fellows who later joined faculties at places like Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Duke University School of Medicine, and Emory University School of Medicine.
Andrews operated on high-profile athletes from franchises such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles. Notable patients included pitchers and quarterbacks associated with names connected to Cy Young Award winners, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, NBA Finals competitors, and Stanley Cup participants. He also treated collegiate stars from universities like University of Alabama, University of Florida, University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and University of Southern California, and international competitors from events such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
Andrews contributed to literature in journals tied to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and publications of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, coauthoring studies on surgical techniques, rehabilitation protocols, platelet-rich plasma applications, and minimally invasive approaches. His work intersected with research groups at the National Institutes of Health, collaborations with investigators involved with the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and initiatives with sports science programs at institutions such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of California, Los Angeles. He patented or promoted procedural refinements that were discussed at meetings like the Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting and in symposia hosted by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Andrews received recognition from organizations including the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and state medical societies. He has been invited to speak at conferences organized by groups such as the International Olympic Committee medical commissions, the National Football League Physicians Society, and specialty sections within the American College of Surgeons. His affiliations extended to hospital boards and advisory roles connected to entities like the Cleveland Clinic, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and academic departments at universities including University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Despite widespread acclaim, Andrews's career drew scrutiny over issues discussed in media outlets and sports reporting entities such as the New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, and local newspapers covering teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. Critics have debated the medicalization of athlete care, return-to-play timelines promoted in professional sports contexts, and the concentration of high-profile referrals to a single practitioner—topics also raised in analyses by commentators from outlets including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and investigative reporting in ProPublica-style formats. Debates involved legal, ethical, and organizational stakeholders such as player unions including the National Football League Players Association and Major League Baseball Players Association, league medical committees, and university athletic departments.
Category:American orthopedic surgeons Category:Sports physicians Category:People from Meridian, Mississippi