Brian Waterman, MD

Board-Certified and Fellowship-Trained Orthopaedic Surgeon in Winston-Salem

Dr. Brian R. Waterman is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, cartilage restoration, and complex shoulder and elbow care. He is currently a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and serves as Chief of Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery and Sports Medicine Fellowship Director at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Dr. Waterman earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his medical doctorate from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. He subsequently completed his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery through the U.S. Army at the combined William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center program in El Paso, Texas. He then completed fellowship training at the renowned Sports Medicine program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout his career, Dr. Waterman has cared for athletes at all levels and previously served as a team physician for the Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago White Sox (MLB), Chicago Fire (MLS), and Chicago Steel (USHL). He currently serves as a team physician for Wake Forest University Athletics, the Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox affiliate), and multiple regional high school athletic programs.

He has received advanced training in complex knee, shoulder, and elbow reconstruction through the Mayo Clinic and was selected for both the prestigious American Orthopaedic Association North American Traveling Fellowship and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Advanced Arthroscopy Traveling Fellowship.

Service and Leadership

A 13-year military veteran, Dr. Waterman served his country with distinction, earning multiple honors including the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He completed a combat deployment with the 28th Combat Support Hospital to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of the 8th Marine Regiment from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and coalition forces.

Dr. Waterman is deeply committed to surgical education, mentorship, and advancing the field of orthopaedic sports medicine. He previously served as Director of Orthopaedic Research and maintains academic faculty appointments with William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

Nationally, Dr. Waterman serves in multiple leadership roles across orthopaedic organizations. He is Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors for the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), where he previously served as Chair of the Education and Fellowship Committees. He is an active member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), a member of the prestigious Herodicus Society, and serves on the Education Committee for the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). He is also the current co-host of the ASES Shoulder & Elbow Podcast, featuring expert discussions and advances in shoulder and elbow surgery.

ASES Shoulder & Elbow Podcast on Spotify

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Research and Publications

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Waterman has contributed extensively to orthopaedic research with a focus on sports medicine, shoulder and elbow surgery, biologics, cartilage restoration, injury prevention, and outcomes optimization. He has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications, book chapters, and invited articles, and has presented nationally and internationally on emerging concepts in orthopaedic surgery.

He has received numerous research honors, including recognition as Researcher of the Year at William Beaumont Army Medical Center on three separate occasions. He continues to serve in editorial and reviewer roles for leading orthopaedic journals and contributes actively through committees and leadership positions with national and international orthopaedic societies.

Professional Associations

• American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES): Active Member; Co-Host, ASES Shoulder & Elbow Podcast
• Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA): Board of Directors; Treasurer; Past Chair, Education Committee
• American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM): Member; Education Committee
• Herodicus Society: Member
• American Orthopaedic Association (AOA): Member
• International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS): Member
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS): Member
• Southern Orthopaedic Association (SOA): Member
• North Carolina Orthopaedic Association (NCOA): Member

Personal life