DocMVP: James Andrews, MD

At St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, AL, Dr. Andrews has performed more than 40,000 surgeries—averaging 30 per week—mostly on knees, shoulders, and elbows,

including 2,500 Tommy John surgeries with a 90% success rate. Pro and college athletes account for 20—25% of his patients. He has had such a profound impact on the game of baseball that author and ESPN columnist Will Carroll has written that Dr. Andrews belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dr. Andrews keeps in constant contact with his patients—who are scattered throughout the country and, in some cases, the world— via his cell phone, receiving, for example, calls from such sports legends as Roger Clemens while working the sidelines as the team doctor at Auburn football games. When jet-setting from one sports venue to another, or from clinic to clinic, he also keeps in close touch with patients via e-mail, receiving CAT-scan and MRI images digitally. When patients do come to see him in person, they usually bring images on a CD—carrying bulky fi lm from the clubhouse in Detroit to the clinic in Birmingham isn’t too convenient—which Dr. Andrews enters into their electronic record.

Football players

• Bo Jackson: shoulder, 1984; hip, 1992

• Doug Williams: knee, 1988

• Bruce Smith: knees, 1990 and 1991

• Troy Aikman: elbow and shoulder, 1991

• Michael Irvin: shoulder, 1994

• Emmitt Smith: shoulder, 1994

• Trent Green: knee, 1999 and 2001

• Chad Pennington: shoulder, 2005 (twice)

• Deuce McAllister: knee, 2005

• Daunte Culpepper: knee, 2005 and 2006

• Takeo Spikes: achilles tendon, 2005

• Donovin Darius: ACL, 2005; shoulder, 2006

• Drew Brees: shoulder, 2006

• Byron Leftwich: ankle, 2006

• Donovan McNabb: knee, 2006

• Matt Hasselbeck: shoulder, 2007

• Joey Porter: knee, 2007

• Kenny Irons: knee, 2007

• Isaiah Kacyvenski: knee, 2007

• D.J. Shockley: knee, 2007

Baseball players

• Roger Clemens: shoulder, 1985

• David Wells: elbow, 1985

• Jimmy Key: elbow, 1988; shoulder, 1994, 1995

• Jose Rijo: elbow, 1995; fi ve more elbow ops, 1996—2003

• Steve Karsay: elbow, 1995; shoulder, 2003

• Kerry Wood: elbow, 1999

• John Smoltz: elbow, 2000 and 2003

• Carl Pavano: elbow, 2001 and 2006

• Jon Lieber: elbow, 2002

• A.J. Burnett: elbow, 2003

• Andy Pettitte: elbow, 2004

• Gary Sheffi eld: shoulder, 2004

• Jim Thome: elbow, 2005

• Mark Prior: shoulder, 2007

• Anibal Sanchez: shoulder, 2007

• Freddie Garcia: shoulder, 2007

• Chris Ray: elbow, 2007

Basketball players

• Charles Barkley: shoulder, 1990

• Michael Jordan: shoulder (therapy, not surgery), 1994

• Penny Hardaway: knee, 1996

• Randy Livingston: knee, 1996

• Scottie Pippen: elbow, 2001

• Allen Iverson: elbow, 2001

• Aaron McKie: shoulder, 2001

• Chris Webber: knee, 2003

• Shaun Livingston: knee, 2007

Golfers

• Jack Nicklaus: knee, 1984

• Jerry Pate: shoulders, 1985, 1986, 2003, 2006

• Mark McCumber: shoulder, 199