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