His credentials are impressive — James Voos, MD, chair, UH Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. And now one of the main voices for the new Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute. But those who also know Dr. Voos as the head team physician for the Cleveland Browns find it hard not to at least initially ask, “So, are the Browns healthy this year? And if they’re not, can you fix them?”
Voos really doesn’t mind the questions. Just don’t expect a specific answer (doctor/patient confidentiality, of course). But the physician is proud of UH’s 10-year relationship with the Browns as well as its recent contract extension. He appreciates that UH research and health care, involving world-class athletes, can be transferred to all orthopedic patients.
“It’s a privilege to take care of the Browns and their families. It requires us to be on our toes and up to date with the highest level of care for the most complex injuries. We are under a microscope with the public when it comes to the Browns, and that benefits everyone — the players, the staff and other patients,” says Voos.
Voos is a former athlete, too. He knows ACL reconstructions or Tommy John Elbow surgery (really, that’s its official name) may be necessities for getting athletes back on the field or court. And he also sympathizes with athletes whose injuries may postpone their activities.
“I played football in college, and I have the experience of being on the field, in the locker room and being part of a team,” says Voos, who also works with the Cleveland Monsters and is medical director for the Cleveland Ballet.
In his downtime, the surgeon enjoys traveling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boating, as well as running, tennis, biking and hiking through the Cleveland Metroparks with his wife, Kristin Voos, a neonatologist with UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
Growing up, Voos’ mother was a nurse, and his father’s career centered on lab work. In high school, Voos had the opportunity to work in a small ambulatory surgery care center. His tasks included mopping floors and changing sheets at first, but he was soon promoted to an unofficial apprentice and even scrubbed for surgeries.
“After high school, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” he says. “Those doctors gave me great opportunities. For me, being here, in a teaching medical center with residents and others, is an important way for me to give back.”
After earning his medical degree from the University of Kansas, Voos’ career included positions with the renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants and WNBA. He joined UH in 2014 and is now chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
A world-class sports facility, the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute is a huge economic driver for the City of Beachwood and the region, creating construction and post-construction jobs, administrative and professional positions and auxiliary jobs in the surrounding areas.
“The Institute allows us to attract the best physicians from some of the best orthopedic programs across the county,” says Voos, who will become president of the NFL Physicians Society in 2024. “It’s only been possible because of a community that looks to the future and which continues to grow. And, of course, we have to thank the donors, many who live in Beachwood and have been UH patients themselves.”
