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
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- IH-POS
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- First Health PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare FFS
- Choice POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- POS OA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Sentara Health
- CIGNA PPO
- UHC Passport
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- HighMark
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Choice Fund PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO Option
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- TRICARE East Select
- TRICARE for Life East
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-HMO
- Navigate
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Choice POS II
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst NASCO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Network OA
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Open HMO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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.