Orthopedic physicians from University Hospitals have their feet on the field, and in the community, supporting athletes of all ages

By Laura Briedis

Just as James Voos, MD, stands on the sidelines at every Cleveland Browns game ready to assist any injured players, he also helps countless others across Northeast Ohio. Dr. Voos oversees all of the orthopedic services at University Hospitals—including UH Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Center.

“Our goal is to create orthopedic and musculoskeletal hubs in all of our neighborhoods near Cleveland,” says Dr. Voos, who is the chairman of the Orthopedics Departments at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, as well as serving as the head team physician for the Cleveland Browns. “This Mentor location is an orthopedic one-stop shop where you can see your physician, get an MRI or X-ray, go for physical therapy—all in one location and close to home. Our physicians are fellowship trained and experts in the field, so you don’t have to travel far from home to see a specialist.” Expanded services have transformed the UH Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Center into an orthopedic destination in Lake County, bringing together a team of highly skilled surgeons.

UH Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Center covers the full spectrum of orthopedic sub-specialties, from sports medicine to hand and wrist, foot, ankle, shoulder and spine, in addition to hip and knee replacement.

“We have non-operative sports medicine specialists who do ultrasound injections with steroids or stem cell and other minimally invasive procedures, as well as physical therapists who treat orthopedic injuries,” Dr. Voos says. “If surgery is needed, we perform them at our two hospitals and surgery center in Lake County, or downtown at our main campus for more complex injuries.”

As part of the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute network, University Hospitals takes care of more than 70 high school athletic programs across Northeast Ohio—including more than 10 in Lake County. UH physicians serve as team doctors and are present at high school sporting events, as well as Lake Erie College sports.

“We serve patients from peewee to pros,” Dr. Voos says. “We take care of young kids to professional athletes to seniors.”

“It is important for our staff to be engrained in the community,” Dr. Voos says. “Our philosophy is to practice medicine with our feet in the grass. We get outside of the walls of our hospital to serve our community. The doctors working at UH Brunner Sanden Deitrick are on the sidelines of the Mentor football games and volunteering at other high school sporting events around the county.”

As the head team physician of the Cleveland Browns and medical director of the Cleveland Ballet, as well as a volunteer for various youth leagues, Dr. Voos leads by example.

A former football defensive back at Drake University in Iowa, he now stays active skiing, biking and running with his wife and three children. He is blending his love of sports with his love of medicine. And that has proved to be a winning combination, not only for professional athletes and dancers, but for all patients of University Hospitals.

University Hospitals Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Center is located at 8655 Market Street in Mentor. For more information, call 216-844-7200 or visit UHHospitals.org/locations/university-hospitals-brunner-sanden-deitrick-wellness-center/services/orthopedics.

In addition to housing primary care physicians, diagnostic imaging and radiology, occupational health, orthopedics, sports medicine and physical therapy, there is a fitness center located within UH Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Center.

More than just a health club, the membership-based fitness center in Mentor merges traditional fitness with medically based activities, wellness services and weight-loss programs, all aimed at improving health.

Amenities include:

• A pool for recreation and laps, a warm water therapy pool, and a whirlpool.

• Exercise equipment and a separate free-weight area.

• Indoor track.

• Multipurpose gym.

• Steam rooms.

• Customized fitness programs by trained exercise experts.

• Group exercise classes for all fitness levels, including yoga, strength, cardio, aquatics.

• Kids club and babysitting services.

• A rock wall.

For information and membership details, call 440-701-7511