Tim McAdams, MD

Clinical Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

Bio

Dr. Tim McAdams is an orthopedic surgeon with over 25 years of experience, specializing in sports medicine. He is currently the head team physician of the San Francisco 49ers since 2014 and 49er team physician since 2007, as well as team orthopedic surgeon for Stanford Men's and Women's soccer. He has also served as team physician for the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Earthquakes, Stanford Football, Stanford Men's basketball, and USA Men's Soccer.
He is on the Board of the NFL Physicians Society, serving as President from 2022-2024. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterey, CA.
When not doing surgery or covering sporting events, Dr. McAdams enjoys spending time with family, playing soccer and golf, surfing, and skiing.

Clinical Focus

Sports Medicine
Sports Injuries
knee surgery
Knee Injuries
shoulder and elbow surgery
Ankle Injuries
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

Academic Appointments

Clinical Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

Administrative Appointments

Head Team Physician, Medical Director, San Francisco 49ers (2014 - Present)
Team Physician, San Francisco Giants (2014 - Present)
Consutant Team Physician, San Francisco Giants (2012 - 2013)
Team Physician, Golden State Warriors (2011 - 2013)
Team Physician, San Francisco 49ers (2007 - Present)
Team Physician, Stanford Men's Basketball (2004 - 2007)
Program Director, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (2002 - 2008)

Honors & Awards

San Francisco Magazine "Top Doctors", San Francisco Magazine (2018, 2019)
Rettig Award for Academic Excellence, National Football League Physician Society (2017)
San Francisco Magazine "Top Doctors", San Francisco Magazine (2017)
Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ), Sports Medicine (2007)
Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ), Hand Surgery (2004)
Teacher of the Year Award, Stanford Orthopaedic Surgery (2002)
Magna Cum Laude, Georgetown University School of Medicine (1995)
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Georgetown University School of Medicine (1994)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

Vice President, National Football League Physician Society (2020 - Present)
Board Member, National Football League Physician Society (2017 - Present)

Professional Education

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery (2025)
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (2025)
Medical Education: Georgetown University School of Medicine (1995) DC
MD, Santa Monica Sports Medicine, Knee, Sports Medicine (2007)
Fellowship: Stanford University Hand Surgery Fellowship (2001) CA
Residency: University of New Mexico Office of GME (2000) NM
Internship: University of New Mexico Office of GME (1996) NM
MD, Georgetown University, Medicine, Magna Cum Laude (1995)

Contact

Alternate Contact Nicole Matson Academic Office Administrator nicole.matson@stanford.edu Tel: 650-721-1836

Clinical (Primary)

This is the primary clinic for this clinical provider. For additional clinical locations and information, please visit the link(s) listed below in the 'Additional Clinical Info' section.

Stanford Sports Medicine Clinic 450 Broadway St Pavilion A 2nd Fl MC 6120 Redwood City CA 94063 Tel: (800) 717-0012 Fax: (650) 721-3429

Additional Clinical Info

Stanford Health Care

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

ACL knee injury: Graft options in the athlete.

Athlete's shoulder: Dynamic open MRI evaluation of "peel-back" SLAP lesions of the shoulder.

Elbow MCL: Biomechanical comparison of two techniques for reconstruction of the elbow MCL with palmaris autograft.

Athlete's knee articular cartilage: Investigation of articular cartilage replacement techniques.

Elbow arthroscopy: Arthroscopy lab set up in Anatomy building (both wrist and elbow). Looking at lateral ligament complex of the elbow and its role in stability.

Rotator cuff: Rabbit study in which massive rotator cuff tears are simulated and grafted with either fascia lata alone, or fascia lata with a deltoid flap procedure. Histological and Biomechanical analysis of specimens at 3 and 6 months post-operatively.

2025-26 Courses

Independent Studies
- Directed Reading in Orthopedic Surgery
  ORTHO 299 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Early Clinical Experience in Orthopedic Surgery
  ORTHO 280 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Graduate Research
  ORTHO 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Medical Scholars Research
  ORTHO 370 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Undergraduate Research
  ORTHO 199 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)

All Publications

Profiles With Related Publications

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Geoffrey Abrams, MD

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Focus
Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Research Interests
Dr. Abrams' research is focused on elucidating the pathobiology behind tendinoapthy and developing new treatment modalities for the disease. Specifically, his team is studying the role of micro-RNA as it relates to chronic inflammation and stem cell differentiation in the development and perpetuation of chronic tendinopathy.

160 Total Publications
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Thomas P. Andriacchi

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus
Research Interests
Professor Andriacchi's research focuses on the biomechanics of human locomotion and applications to medical devices, sports injury, osteoarthritis, the anterior cruciate ligament and low cost prosthetic limbs

306 Total Publications
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Christopher Beaulieu M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Radiology (Musculoskeletal Imaging)
Clinical Focus
Diagnostic Radiology, Radiology, Musculoskeletal Imaging and Interventions
Research Interests
Informatics and image processing techniques that provide infrastructure for diagnosis in musculoskeletal imaging. Decision support for improving accuracy of bone tumor diagnosis. Improved methods for MRI in the musculoskeletal system.

142 Total Publications
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Julius Bishop, MD

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Focus
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, Fracture Fixation, Orthopaedic Trauma

186 Total Publications
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Robert Downey Boutin

Clinical Professor, Radiology
Clinical Focus
Diagnostic Radiology

155 Total Publications
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James Chang, MD

Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery
Clinical Focus
Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pediatric Hand Problems, Peripheral Nerve Injuries, Facial Nerve Injuries, Plastic Surgery, Hand Tumors, Hand Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Hand Scleroderma, Microsurgery, Complex Reconstruction, Free Flap Reconstruction, Lower Extremity Reconstruction, Dupuytrens Disease, Tendon Transfer, Thumb Reconstruction, Facial Paralysis, Hand Fractures, Microvascular Hand Surgery, Hand Deformities
Research Interests
My role in research is to apply novel advances in tissue engineering and microsurgery to the clinical problems of hand trauma, peripheral nerve injuries, and congenital hand problems. I am interested in developing new tissues and techniques that will allow optimal reconstruction of form and function to those patients requiring reconstructive surgery.

216 Total Publications
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Emilie Cheung, MD

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Focus
Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Shoulder replacement, Rotator cuff repair surgery, Arthroscopic surgery of shoulder and elbow, Shoulder / elbow /arm fracture surgery, Elbow replacement, Elbow reconstruction, Shoulder labral repair, Shoulder SLAP repair, Shoulder reconstruction, Hand Surgery
Research Interests
Pyrocarbon humeral head replacement
Clinical outcome after shoulder replacement
Clinical outcome after elbow replacement
Clinical outcomes following complex reconstruction of the shoulder and elbow,
Bone mineral density in the shoulder,
3D kinematics of the shoulder girdle after arthroplasty

73 Total Publications
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Loretta Chou, MD

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emerita
Clinical Focus
Foot/Ankle Trauma, Foot and ankle ligament tears and sprains, Foot and ankle surgical reconstruction, Surgical treatment of foot and ankle deformities, Surgical treatment of arthritis of the ankle joint, Surgical treatment of foot arthritis, Foot and Ankle Surgery
Research Interests
I am a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, subspecializing in Disorders of the Foot and Ankle. My clinic offers diagnosis and treatment of deformities and acute injuries of the foot and ankle.

My research interests include: rupture and tendinitis of the Achilles tendon, osteochondral defects of the talus, Total Ankle Arthroplasty, arthrodesis (fusion) of the foot and ankle, open fractures treated with operations, and anatomy of the foot and ankle.

75 Total Publications
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Constance Chu, MD

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (Sports Medicine)
Clinical Focus
Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy, ACL, Cartilage and Meniscus Repair, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

195 Total Publications
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Gary S. Fanton, MD

Clinical Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Focus
Sports Medicine, Rotator Cuff Repair, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair, Shoulder Instability, Shoulder Arthroscopy, Knee Arthroscopy, Medical Implants and Devices, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

22 Total Publications
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Michael Fredericson, MD

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and, by courtesy, of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research Center)
Clinical Focus
Physical Medicine and Rehab, Sports Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, Regenerative Medicine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Research Interests
My research focuses on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of overuse sports injuries in athletes and lifestyle medicine practices for improved health and longevity.

303 Total Publications
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Michael T. Freehill, MD, FAOA

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Focus
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Shoulder & Elbow Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Shoulder & Elbow Medicine

58 Total Publications