One of the Nation's Leading Foot & Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons
Norman E. Waldrop, III, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon in Birmingham, Alabama, and one of the nation’s leading specialists in advanced foot and ankle surgery and the treatment of sports-related foot and ankle injuries.
Patients and athletes from throughout the United States seek Dr. Waldrop’s expertise for both routine and complex foot and ankle injuries.
He specializes in sports-related injuries and complex conditions affecting professional, collegiate, high school and recreational athletes, as well as active individuals seeking to return to the activities they love.
His approach is centered on restoring function, preserving motion and helping patients safely and confidently return to work, competition and active lifestyles.
Nationally Recognized Expertise in Advanced Foot & Ankle Surgery
Nationally recognized for his expertise in foot and ankle sports medicine, Dr. Waldrop is highly sought after for the treatment of acute, chronic and complex conditions, including:
- Achilles Tendon Ruptures & Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Syndesmotic & High Ankle Sprains
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Turf Toe Injuries
- Ankle Instability & Recurrent Ankle Sprains
- Foot & Ankle Fractures
- Cartilage Injuries of the Ankle
- Tendon & Ligament Injuries
- Traumatic & Post-Traumatic Foot & Ankle Conditions
- Sports-Related Injuries of the Foot & Ankle
His surgical expertise includes ankle arthroscopy, Achilles tendon repair, ligament reconstruction, syndesmotic repair and stabilization, Lisfranc injury stabilization, turf toe repair and other advanced procedures designed to restore function while protecting long-term mobility.
Whether treating a season-threatening injury in an elite athlete or helping an active adult overcome a painful foot or ankle condition, Dr. Waldrop develops an individualized treatment plan based on each patient’s injury, activity level, performance goals and long-term needs.
Trusted by Elite Athletes From Across the United States
A significant portion of Dr. Waldrop’s practice is dedicated to the care of elite and high-performance athletes.
Professional, collegiate and high school athletes from across the country seek his expertise for primary treatment, second opinions and complex foot and ankle injuries. His experience caring for athletes at the highest levels of competition has established Dr. Waldrop as a nationally recognized leader in foot and ankle sports medicine.
Dr. Waldrop’s expertise has been referenced in national media coverage involving NFL quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Bo Nix and Tua Tagovailoa, further demonstrating the national reach of his foot and ankle expertise.
Dr. Waldrop understands that successful treatment involves more than repairing an injury. It requires protecting the athlete’s future, restoring confidence and creating a safe, strategic path back to competition.
Trusted by Professional & Collegiate Programs
Dr. Waldrop serves as a team physician and orthopaedic consultant for the New Orleans Saints and the University of Alabama.
He also serves as an orthopaedic consultant for:
- Jacksonville State University
- Troy University
- Samford University
- University of West Alabama
- Multiple high school athletic programs throughout Alabama
Through these roles, Dr. Waldrop works closely with athletic trainers, team physicians, physical therapists, strength and conditioning professionals and coaching staffs to provide coordinated care for athletes with foot and ankle injuries.
His involvement with professional, collegiate and community athletic programs reflects his longstanding commitment to sports medicine and his trusted role in helping athletes safely return to competition.
Read More About Dr. WaldropMEDICAL TRAINING
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship:
The Steadman Clinic (Vail, CO)
Trained alongside Dr. Thomas Clanton
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency:
Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, NC)
Trained alongside Dr. Robert Anderson & Dr. Hodges Davis
EDUCATION
Medical Degree:
University of Alabama School of Medicine at UAB (Birmingham, AL)
Undergraduate:
University of Virginia - Bachelor of Arts - Chemistry (Charlottesville, VA)
Leadership in Athletics:
- New Orleans Saints - Team Physician & Orthopaedic Consultant
- Birmingham Barons - Orthopaedic Consultant
- University of Alabama Athletics - Team Physician & Orthopaedic Consultant
- Jacksonville State University Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- Samford University Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- Troy University Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- University of West Alabama Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- Tuskegee University Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- Shelton State Community College Athletics - Orthopaedic Consultant
- Homewood High School Athletics - Team Physician
- Jack C. Hughston Sports Person of the Year (2025 - Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association)
- SEC Orthopaedic Team of the Year (2020 - University of Alabama Athletics)
- J.G. Galbraith Award for Excellence in Gross Anatomy
- Golden Key Honor Society
- Dean's List, each semester (1998-2002)
- Vivian A. Rainer Award for Athletic and Academic Excellence
- Chief Resident, Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center 2011
- Inductee, Member, UMS- Wright Athletic Hall of Fame, 2018
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified
- The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners
RESEARCH GRANTS
- AOFAS — 2012 Outreach and Education Fund Grant, $19,570
- Waldrop N, Zirker C, Wijdieks C, LaPrade RA, Clanton TO. Radiographic Evaluation of Plantar Plate Injury: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
PODIUM PRESENTATIONS
Orthopaedie Trauma Association Annual Meeting, October 2008
Waldrop N, Seannell B, Sing R, Bosse M. The Role of Skeletal Traction in the Temporization of Femur Fractures in Severely Injured Trauma Patients
North Carolina Orthopaedie Association Annual Meeting, October 2008
Waldrop N, Seannell B, Sing R, Bosse M. The Role of Skeletal Traction in the Temporization of Femur Fractures in Severely Injured Trauma Patients.
American Academy of Orthopaedie Surgeons Annual Meeting, February 2009
Waldrop N, Seannell B, Sing R, Bosse M. The Role of Skeletal Traction in the Temporization of Femur Fractures in Severely Injured Trauma Patients
Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedie Resident Research Symposium, June 2009
Waldrop N, Seannell B, Sing R, Bosse M. The Role of Skeletal Traction in the Temporization of Femur Fractures in Severely Injured Trauma Patients
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Annual Meeting, September 2009
Waldrop N, Seannell B, Sing R, Bosse M. The Role of Skeletal Traction in the Temporization of Femur Fractures in Severely Injured Trauma Patients
North Carolina Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, October 2010
Waldrop N, Mann C, Patt J, Kneisl J. Functional Outcomes After Pathologic Radiation Induced Fractures
Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Resident Research Symposium, June 2011
Waldrop N, Youngblood S, Davis WH, Jones C. Mid-Term Results: Distraction Arthroplasty for Ankle Osteoarthritis
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2011
Waldrop N, Youngblood S, Davis WH, Jones C. Tibial Fractures through Halfpins in Circular Thin Wire External Fixation
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, June 2012
Waldrop N, Jansson K, Wijdieks C, Laprade R, Clanton T. Anatomic Suture Anchor versus the Broström Technique for Anterior Talofibular Ligament Repair: A Biomechanical Comparison
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, March 2013 Waldrop N, Zirker C, Wijdieks C, LaPrade RA, Clanton TO. Radiographic Evaluation of Plantar Plate Injury: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, June 2013
Waldrop N, Starkey C, Clanton T. Epidemiology and Outcomes of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the National Basketball Association
Alabama Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting, April 2015
Sabatini J, Aune K, Waldrop N. Incidence of Occult Chondral Lesions in Weber C Ankle Fractures in Athletes and their Effect on Time to Return to Play
Alabama Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting, May 2017
Smith, K, Waldrop N. Surgical Outcomes of Severe Turf Toe Injuries in High-Level Football Players
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2017
Waldrop, N, Mowry, B, Sanders, M, McQuilling J. Application of Amniotic Memberane Improves Repair in a Diabetic Animal Model for Delayed Tendon Healing.
American Academy of Orthopaedie Surgeons Annual Meeting, March 2018
Waldrop, N, Mowry, B, Sanders, M, McQuilling J. Application of Amniotic Memberane Improves Repair in a Diabetic Animal Model for Delayed Tendon Healing
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, March 2010
Waldrop, N, Mann C, Patt J, Kneisl J. Functional Outcomes After Pathologic Radiation Induced Fractures
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, June 2012
Waldrop N, Zirker C, Wijdieks C, LaPrade RA, Clanton TO. Radiographic Evaluation of Plantar Plate Injury: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
American Academy of Orthopaedie Surgeons Annual Meeting, March 2013
Jansson K, Wijdieks C, Laprade R, Clanton T. Anatomic Suture Anchor versus the Broström Technique for Anterior Talofibular Ligament Repair: A Biomechanical Comparison
International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Annual Meeting, May 2013
Waldrop N, Zirker C, Wijdieks C, LaPrade RA, Clanton TO. Radiographic Evaluation ofPlantar Plate Injury: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2013
Waldrop N, Youngblood S, Davis WH, Jones C. Tibial Fractures through Halfpins in Circular Thin Wire External Fixation
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2015
Sabatini J, Aune K, Waldrop N. Incidence of Occult Chondral Lesions in Weber C Ankle Fractures in Athletes and Their Effect on Time to Return to Play
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2017
Smith, K, Waldrop N. Surgical Outcomes of Severe Turf Toe Injuries in High-Level Football Players
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting, July 2017
Cain E, Ryan M, Emblom B, Keith C, Allen J, Waldrop N. Functional Return to Play after Surgical Treatment of Lower-Extremity Injuries using
Global Positioning System Profiles in Elite College Football Players
BOOK CHAPTERS
Clanton, TO, Waldrop III, NE. Chapter 30: Athletic Injuries to the Soft Tissues of the Foot and Ankle. Mann's Surgery of the Foot and Ankle. eds Anderson RB, Coughlin MJ, Saltzman CL. Elsevier, 2014
Clanton, TO, Waldrop III, NE. Athletic Injuries of the Foot and Ankle. Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine. Ed McAllister, D. American Academy of Orthopaedie Surgeons. 2015.
Consultant and Reviewer. Lewis, M. , Wright K. , Barker S., & Deere R. Comprehensive Manual ofTaping, Wrapping, & Protective Devices.
5th edition. Champaign, IL. Sagamore Publishing LLC. 2016
Waldrop NE, Pitts CC: Pathomechanics and Clinical Presentation of Acute Deltoid and/or Spring Ligament Injury, in Haddad SL, ed. Surgical Insights Ligament Injuries of the Foot and Ankle (online course). Rosemont, IL. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2020.
Waldrop III, NE, Smith K. Chapter 30: Principles of Rehabilitation of the Foot and Ankle. Baxter's The Foot and Ankle in Sport, 3rd Edition. Eds Porter D, Schon L. Elsevier. 2021.
Clanton, TO, Mullins J, Backus J, Waldrop III, N, Robinson A. Chapter 15: Ankle Sprains, Ankle Instability, and Syndesmosis Injuries. Baxter's The Foot and Ankle in Sport, 3rd Edition. Eds Porter D, Schon L. Elsevier. 2021.
Waldrop, III, NE, Cain, EL, Bartush K, Oschner, III, MG. Chapter 4: Ankle Injuries in Football. Football Injuries: A Clinical Guide to In-Season Management. Ed Farmer, KW. Springer, 2021.
Clanton, TO, Waldrop III, NE. Athletic Injuries of the Foot and Ankle. Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine. Frederick M Azar. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021
Waldrop, III, NE, Kouk, S. Rehabilitation and Return to Play Considerations. Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine: The Athletes Foot and Ankle: Part 2. Eds. Brian Cole, Martin O'Malley, Robert Anderson. Elsevier. 2021
- Alabama Orthopaedic Society, 2014
- Fellow, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2015
- Active Member, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, 2016
- Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2016
- Active Member, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, 2021
- Managing Partner, Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, 2017-2021



















