Dr. James Andrews

Sport: Dave Dixon AwardSports Medicine

Induction Year: 2008

University: LSU

Internationally recognized for his skills as a orthopaedic surgeon along with his scientific and clinic research contributions in knee, shoulder, elbow injury prevention and treatment. Andrews has evolved into one of world’s foremost renown orthopaedic surgeons with a client list that reads like a Who’s Who among American athletes, including Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Troy Aikman, Robert Griffin III, Roger Clemens, Bo Jackson and Peyton Manning. Andrews was widely credited with resurrecting the career of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees after performing shoulder surgery when Brees was injured as a member of the San Diego Chargers. Brees sustained a 360-degree labrum tear and damage to the rotator cuff but came back from the surgery to lead the Saints to their first Super Bowl victory. One specific area of expertise Andrews has become famous for has been in the area of “Tommy John” surgery or the repairing of damaged ligaments. Andrews was the co-founder in the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in 1986 as well as the American Sports Medicine Institute and currently practices in Birmingham, Ala. at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center and also in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Andrews is a member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has served as president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Andrews has served as a clinical professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Alabama-Birmingham Medical School as well as holding the same role at the University of Southern California, Virginia and Kentucky. Andrews also serves as Medical Director for Intercollegiate Sports at Auburn University and is the Senior Orthopaedic Consultant for the University of Alabama and orthopaedic consultant for the athletic teams at Troy University, University of West Alabama, Tuskegee University and Grambling State University. Andrews also serves as a senior consultant to the Washington Redskins and medical director for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Tampa Bay Rays.