About me
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James Dreese, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in sports medicine. He is double-board certified in Orthopedic Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He serves as associate director of Union Memorial Sports Medicine and as research director for the MedStar Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship. He was recently elected to serve as one of two delegates from the state of Maryland on the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Council of Delegates. He has served as editor-in-chief for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and has been appointed to numerous regional and national leadership committees in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He is actively involved in sports medicine research, and has published numerous articles and book chapters. Dr. Dreese is an associate team physician for the Baltimore Ravens. He serves as one of two delegates from the state of Maryland to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. He has been named numerous times to U.S. News and World Report's Top Doctors for Sports Medicine and Castle Connolly's Top Doctor Baltimore Edition. In 2021, Baltimore magazine named him a Top Doctor in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
Dr. Dreese has clinical interest in conservative and surgical management of knee, shoulder, hamstring, and elbow injuries. His practice focuses on managing these injuries in athletes and the general population. His clinical practice uniquely focuses on non-joint replacement solutions for knee and shoulder injuries. He has extensive experience in managing complex ligamentous, meniscus, and cartilage injuries of the knee during the eight years he spent caring for Maryland Shock Trauma patients. He continues to frequently manage patients and athletes with complex knee injuries referred throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. As a result of the findings of his own and others' research, he adheres to strict principles of meniscal preservation rather than removal (meniscectomy) whenever feasible. For patients in whom meniscal preservation is not successful he offers extensive expertise in allograft meniscus transplantation. For more than 10 years Dr. Dreese has been performing a high volume of meniscus root repairs. This gives him unique ability and extensive expertise in the treatment of all types of meniscus injuries. Dr. Dreese has been invited as a guest lecturer at numerous state and regional meetings to speak about his extensive experience treating meniscus injuries. Dr. Dreese has extensive experience in managing ligamentous injuries of the knee, with expertise in determination of conservative vs surgical management. He performs high volumes of both bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring ACL reconstruction, promoting a joint discussion with patients and their families in deciding which option suits the individual patient. He also is experienced in performing anterolateral ligament reconstruction of the knee when risk of re-injury following ACL reconstruction is increased.
Dr. Dreese's particular areas of interest in the shoulder include rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, SLAP tears, AC joint injuries, and biceps tendon injuries. In the knee, he focuses on ligament reconstruction (ACL, PCL, LCL/posterolateral corner), meniscus repair (meniscus root tears, bucket-handle tears, radial tears, etc.), cartilage restoration (fragmented juvenile cartilage transplantation and fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation) for localized arthritis, subchondral insufficiency fracture stabilization, patella instability surgery, patellofemoral pain syndrome, high tibial osteotomy, and nerve injuries around the knee. In particular, he focuses on operations to preserve the meniscus via repair in an effort to limit the risk of developing arthritis and the need for meniscus transplantation or joint replacement surgery. He has extensive experience in treating proximal hamstring injuries, specializing in conservative and surgical treatmen
Clinical areas of focus
- Golf Medicine
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Knee Arthroscopy With Meniscectomy
- Knee Injection
- Knee Injury Treatment
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Meniscus Injury
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
- Shoulder Flexion Test
- Shoulder Strain
- Sports Injuries
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankle Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bursopathy
- Cartilage Disorder
- Elbow Bursitis
- Enteropathic Arthropathies
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot And Ankle Osteoarthritis
- Golfer's Elbow
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hip Pain
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Derangement Of Knee
- Joint Infection (SEPTIC ARTHRITIS)
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Meniscus Injury
- Knee Pain
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Medial Epicondylitis (GOLFER'S ELBOW)
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Patella Tracking Disorder
- Plica Syndrome
- Shin Splint
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder Burns
- Shoulder Fracture
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- Shoulder Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Shoulder Strain
- Shoulder Tendonitis
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Sports Injuries
- Stress Fracture
- Superficial Knee Injury
- Swimmer's Shoulder
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tendinous Disorders
- Thumb Synovitis
- Toe Joint Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
- Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Tibial Tubercleplasty
- Arthroscopic Loose Body Removal
- Arthroscopic Meniscal Transplantation
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Arthroscopy Knee Loose Body Removal
- Arthroscopy With Chondroplasty
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Knee
- Bone Graft
- Bone Repair
- Clavicular Fracture Treatment
- Elbow Ligament Repair
- Epidural Lysis Of Adhesions
- Excision Of Prepatellar Bursa
- Excision, Prepatellar Bursa
- Extensor Tendon Grafting
- Fasciotomy
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Fracture Fixation
- Fracture Reduction
- Golf Medicine
- Hand Tendon Repair
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hip Arthroscopy With Meniscus Repair
- Hip Arthroscopy With Synovectomy
- Hip Osteotomy Revision
- Hip Tenotomy
- Hyaluronic Acid Infusions
- Joint Arthroscopy
- Knee Arthroscopy With Meniscectomy
- Knee Hardware Removal
- Knee Injection
- Knee Injury Treatment
- Knee Joint Diagnostic Drainage
- Knee Joint Drainage
- Knee Ligament Repair
- Knee Realignment
- Knee Replacement
- Knee Revision Surgery
- Lower Limb Orthotics
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Open Treatment Of Tibial Fracture
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Osteochondral Allograft
- Osteochondral Allograft, Knee
- Osteotomy
- Osteotomy With Fixation
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
- Removal Of Synthetic Substitute From Knee Joint
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Flexion Test
- Shoulder Joint Injection
- Shoulder Ligament Reconstruction
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Sports Performance Training
- Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
- Synovectomy Of Tendon Sheath
- Tendon Transplantation
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Student Resources
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Navigate
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Choice POS
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Sentara Health
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- HighMark
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- IH-HMO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- UHC Passport
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Beech Street PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- POS OA
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst NASCO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Employee Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2003)
Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery (2002)
Internship: University Hospital of North Durham (1998)
Medical School: Pennsylvania State College of Medicine (1997)
Awards
- Baltimore magazine Top Doctor, 2021, 2025
- U.S. News and World Report's Top Doctors for Sports Medicine
- Castle Connolly's Top Doctor, Baltimore Edition
- Alumnus Lessons Learned Case Report Award, Hospital for Special Surgery, 2019
- John J Joyce Award, 2nd Place. ISAKOS Congress 2015, Lyon, France. Evaluation of Risk to the Suprascapular Nerve During Arthroscopic SLAP Repair: Is a Posterior Portal Safer? Mark Sando, MD, USA Jason Alan Grieshober, MD, USA Hyunchul Kim, MS, USA R. Frank Henn, MD, USA James Dreese, MD USA.