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
- Tennis Elbow
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankle And Foot Injury
- Ankle Instability
- Ankle Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Arthropathy
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cartilage Disorder
- Congenital Malformations Of Limb
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enteropathic Arthropathies
- Enthesopathies
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot And Ankle Osteoarthritis
- Forearm Fracture
- Golfer's Elbow
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hip Flexor Strain
- Hip Osteoarthritis
- Hip Pain
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Derangement Of Knee
- Joint Disorder
- Joint Infection (SEPTIC ARTHRITIS)
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Meniscus Injury
- Knee Pain
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Medial Epicondylitis (GOLFER'S ELBOW)
- Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Deformities
- Orthopedic Aftercare
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondropathies
- Osteonecrosis
- Patella Tracking Disorder
- Plantar Fasciitis
- 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
- Tennis Elbow
- 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
- Decompression Fasciotomy
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Elbow Joint Injection
- Elbow Ligament Repair
- Elbow Orthotics
- Elbow Stabilization
- 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
- Lateral Retinacular Release
- Lower Limb Orthotics
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Nerve Release
- Open Treatment Of Tibial Fracture
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Orthopedic Urgent Care
- Osteochondral Allograft
- Osteochondral Allograft, Knee
- Osteotomy
- Osteotomy With Fixation
- Osteotomy, Proximal Tibia, With Fibular Excision
- Percutaneous Skeletal Fixation
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
- Rehabilitation
- Removal Of Synthetic Substitute From Knee Joint
- Sciatic Nerve Release
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Flexion Test
- Shoulder Joint Injection
- Shoulder Ligament Reconstruction
- Shoulder Orthotics
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Sports Injury Treatment
- Sports Performance Enhancement
- 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
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- IH-Open POS II
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Navigate
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Optimum Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Choice POS II
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- HighMark
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Indemnity
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Sentara Health
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- OA Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Aetna HMO
- IH-POS
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Basic
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- TRICARE for Life East
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Employee Health Plan
- POS OA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CareFirst NASCO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Beech Street PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic 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.