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