Freeman Orthopaedic Specialist Named Team Physician

Joplin, MO – “It is great to be connected to a team again,” says Dr. Thomas Sanders, Freeman Orthopaedic Specialist and new team physician for Webb City High School sports. “My role is both prevention and treatment.”

Dr. Sanders will work closely with Craig Jennings, Webb City’s head athletic trainer, to find ways to prevent injuries.

“We work hard to prevent concussions and other head injuries, as well as other sports injuries,” says Dr. Sanders.

Team sports connected Dr. Sanders to his medical specialty – sports medicine. “I enjoy team sports and have worked with many teams before, from high school to professional.” Dr. Sanders played football at Texas A&M University and then stayed in Texas for medical school. During his training at the Mayo Clinic, he was an associate team physician for the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and the Minnesota Twins (MLB). “I enjoy working with athletes and helping them recover from injuries,” says Dr. Sanders. “It’s great to build a relationship with the athletes and the school administration. It becomes a friendship.”

Dr. Sanders officially starts with the team during physicals in the next few weeks and will work with players again when practice and scrimmages begin before the regular season games.

Dr. Sanders specializes in shoulder, hip and knee disorders including hip arthroscopy and cartilage repair surgery. Dr. Sanders completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Sanders is part of Freeman Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine which combines forces with Freeman athletic trainers to provide world-class care to recreational, high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Freeman has a certified athletic trainer on call every weekend. The multidisciplinary team also includes licensed physical therapists, fellowship trained sports medicine specialists, consulting orthopaedic physicians and the Mobile Sports Medicine Center.

To make an orthopaedic appointment with Dr. Thomas Sanders, call 417.347.5400. Visit freemanhealth.com/ortho to learn more about orthopaedic and sports medicine services at Freeman

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About Freeman Health System

Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2019, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2019. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.