Choosing a sports medicine surgeon in the Charleston area
The Lowcountry has many capable orthopaedic groups and hospital systems. Whoever you see, these are the questions I'd want answered if it were my shoulder or knee.
1. Is the surgeon board certified and fellowship trained in sports medicine?
Board certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a sports medicine fellowship mean dedicated training in shoulder, knee and athletic injuries. I completed residency at MUSC and a sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at the Taos Orthopaedic Institute, and have been board certified since 2008.
2. Will they try conservative care first?
For most joint and tendon problems, activity changes and physician-directed therapy should come first. Surgery is not automatic, even after an injury, unless the problem truly needs it.
3. How do they decide on PRP, BMAC or other orthobiologics?
Orthobiologics make sense only after reasonable conservative care, for the right tissue and diagnosis. Ask how the preparation is made, what the evidence shows for your problem, and what it costs up front.
4. Do they track their own results?
I enter orthobiologic patients into the DataBiologics registry, which records outcomes, complications and issues over time — so recommendations are informed by real results, not just marketing.
5. Are they clear about exactly what is being injected, and whether it is FDA-approved?
You deserve to know what is in the syringe, where it came from, and its FDA status before you agree or pay. I use only your own cells — from your blood, bone marrow, or fat. I do not offer "stem cell" products as they are often marketed, or placental, Wharton's jelly, amniotic, or exosome products, because they are not FDA-approved for these uses.
6. How much of their practice is your problem?
Roughly half of my practice is shoulder care and about a third is knee — rotator cuff, labrum, shoulder arthritis, cartilage and tendon problems are everyday work.
7. Will they welcome a second opinion?
A good surgeon is comfortable with you seeking another view. If you already have a recommendation from another group, bring your imaging and notes — I'm glad to review them.
Read more about my training, see second opinions, or find your area in areas served.