A conversation with Dr. James Andrews

James Andrews (born May 2, 1942) is an American orthopedic surgeon. He is a surgeon for knee, elbow, and shoulder injuries and is a specialist in repairing damaged ligaments. Practicing in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Andrews has become one of the best-known and most popular orthopedic surgeons and has performed on many high-profile athletes. He also is the team doctor for the Tampa Bay Rays, Auburn Tigers, and Washington Commanders.

Andrews received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Louisiana State University, where he was an athlete, winning a Southeastern Conference Championship in pole vaulting. He completed his residency at Tulane Medical School and completed fellowships at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the University of Lyon.

Andrews is known for performing orthopedic surgery on high-profile athletes from a wide array of sports.[4]

Andrews has co-founded or chaired multiple research bodies and medical centers, including the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama, the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI), the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and the Andrews Research and Education Foundation.[5] He created the HealthSouth Sports Medicine Council and was behind the Go For It! Roadshow.[citation needed] He serves on the medical advisory board for Tenex Health, Inc., a medical device company that manufactures and markets the Tenex Health TX System for the treatment of chronic tendon and fascia pain.[6]

Notable patients

Andrews has performed surgery on many high-profile athletes. He first became known among athletes when Roger Clemens' agent advised the pitcher to visit Andrews in 1985.[7] Andrews provided a second opinion to team doctors, performed a successful surgery on a torn labrum, and Clemens made a full recovery. Andrews would gain a reputation as an "athlete-centric" doctor, operating on athletes including Drew Brees, Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, John Smoltz, Triple H,