James Voos, MD, Unanimously Named President of NFL Physicians Society

Innovations in Orthopaedics | Summer 2024

James Voos, MD, Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns, was unanimously elected President of the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS). He succeeds outgoing NFLPS President Timothy McAdams, MD, Head Team Physician for the San Francisco 49ers and an orthopedic surgeon at Stanford Medicine.

James Voos, MD

“It is an honor to represent the NFLPS, and I am grateful for the leadership of Dr. McAdams and the NFLPS board,” Dr. Voos says. “I am committed to continuing the mission of providing the highest quality of care to NFL athletes and supporting the accomplished physician members of this society.”

His goals during his two-year term include streamlining emergency planning throughout the league and expanding the use of wearable technology for injury prevention and recovery. He also plans to collaborate with other major league sports, including the NBA, MLB, Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League.

Dr. Voos has served as Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns since 2014. He is the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at University Hospitals and Executive Director of the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center. Dr. Voos is also the lead orthopedic surgeon for multiple Northeast Ohio colleges and high schools and Medical Director for the Cleveland Ballet.

The NFLPS was founded in 1966 and remains committed to its mission to provide excellence in medical and surgical care to the athletes in the NFL and provide direction and support for team physicians and athletic trainers in charge of their care. In April, the NFL held its first medical summit in conjunction with its annual spring meeting. Throughout the four-day event, player safety and injury prevention were top priorities.

Transformational Biotechnology Research

Dr. Voos is leading the way in harnessing biotechnology to track recovery, prevent further injury and safely return athletes to competition. In 2023, the NFLPS recognized him for his groundbreaking research on muscle oxygenation following ACL reconstruction. His presentation, “Return to Play Assessment After ACL Reconstruction Using Wearable Technology,” was awarded the society’s prestigious Arthur C. Rettig Award for Academic Excellence.

For the novel project, Dr. Voos and his University Hospitals research team gathered data from oxygen sensors that use near-infrared spectroscopy to measure oxygenation and deoxygenation in capillaries and muscle tissue. The current phase of their research involves the study of nitric oxide levels in muscles.

“It is exciting to see this technology expand into our rehabilitation of professional and high school athletes following lower-extremity surgeries,” Dr. Voos says.

UH Offers Unprecedented Innovation in Sports Medicine

• The UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center is accelerating the development of world-class sports medicine technology. Made possible by a transformational $20 million gift from Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, the center serves as a catalyst for collaboration between University Hospitals and academic and industry leaders to improve outcomes for professional and recreational athletes.
• Opened in 2023, the Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute unites board-certified orthopedic surgeons and experts in sports medicine in a state-of-the-art facility to provide comprehensive services, including performance training, nutritional counseling, physical and occupational therapy, and more. The 78,000-square-foot multipurpose sports complex offers on-site surgical suites, an orthopedic injury clinic, and advanced imaging and diagnostic capabilities. Various turfs and playing surfaces, a therapy pool, specialized training equipment and more help athletes train and rehabilitate to achieve their athletic goals.

“Our vision at University Hospitals is to continue to serve as a thought leader in academic sports medicine,” says Dr. Voos. “We are thrilled to partner with the Cleveland Browns and the NFL to advance athletic performance and patient safety at all levels of play.”

For more information, contact Dr. Voos at James.Voos@UHhospitals.org. 

Contributing Expert:  
James Voos, MD 
Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery 
Executive Director
University Hospitals Haslam Sports Innovation Center
Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center  

Charles H. Herndon Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 

Head Team Physician, Cleveland Browns 
Medical Director, Cleveland Ballet