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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
810 Bestgate Rd
Ste 310
Annapolis, MD, 21401
9501 Old Annapolis Rd
Ste 220
Ellicott City, MD, 21042
2118 Greenspring Dr
Ste 210
Timonium, MD, 21093
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
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Navigate
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- IH-POS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Network OA
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Choice POS
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open HMO
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Police and Fire Clinic
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Sentara Health
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Medicare FFS
- HighMark
- Medicare Direct
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Beech Street PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- IH-Open POS II
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-EPO Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optimum Choice
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Student Resources
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP 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.