Jeffrey Dugas, MD | UCL Repair & Tommy John Surgeon

Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD

Elbow, Knee, Shoulder, Sports Medicine

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205-939-3699

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Restoring Performance. Advancing Sports Medicine.

Nationally Recognized Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon, Researcher & Educator

Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Nationally recognized for his expertise in UCL repair with internal brace augmentation, Tommy John surgery and throwing-athlete elbow injuries, Dr. Dugas treats shoulder, elbow and knee conditions in athletes and active individuals.

He provides comprehensive sports medicine care for patients of all ages - from youth and high school athletes to collegiate and professional competitors and active adults seeking to maintain healthy, active lifestyles.

Nationally Recognized Shoulder & Knee Expertise

In addition to his leadership in elbow surgery and throwing-athlete care, Dr. Dugas has extensive experience and a national reputation treating complex shoulder and knee injuries. His expertise includes shoulder instability, labral injuries, rotator cuff pathology, knee ligament injuries and articular cartilage damage.

Dr. Dugas provides surgical and non-surgical treatment options based on each patient’s diagnosis, activity level and long-term goals. His experience caring for athletes across every level of competition informs an individualized approach focused on restoring joint function, protecting long-term health and supporting a safe return to sport or an active lifestyle.

Pioneer of UCL Repair with Internal Brace Augmentation

Dr. Dugas helped pioneer modern UCL Repair with Internal Brace augmentation, an advanced surgical option for appropriately selected athletes with repairable ulnar collateral ligament tears.

Unlike traditional UCL reconstruction, which replaces the damaged ligament with a tendon graft, UCL repair preserves the athlete’s native ligament and reinforces it with a high-strength suture-tape internal brace while the tissue heals.

As of 2026, Dr. Dugas has performed more than 1,000 UCL repair procedures on professional, collegiate and amateur overhand-throwing athletes from across the United States, placing him among the nation’s most experienced surgeons performing this advanced procedure.

His leadership in UCL repair is grounded in extensive surgical experience, scientific investigation and long-term outcomes research. Through his work as a surgeon, researcher and fellowship director, Dr. Dugas has helped shape modern treatment strategies for elbow injuries in competitive throwing athletes.

Tommy John Surgery & UCL Reconstruction

Although selected UCL tears can be repaired, other injuries require UCL reconstruction, commonly known as Tommy John surgery.

Reconstruction may be recommended for athletes with chronic or degenerative tears, poor ligament tissue quality, midsubstance injuries, complete tears that cannot be repaired or certain revision cases.

Dr. Dugas has extensive experience evaluating and treating UCL injuries across every level of competition. His evidence-based approach considers the location and pattern of the tear, quality of the remaining tissue, athlete’s age, imaging findings, competitive level and long-term performance goals when determining whether non-surgical treatment, UCL repair or Tommy John reconstruction is appropriate.

Every UCL injury is different. Dr. Dugas works with each athlete, family and rehabilitation team to develop an individualized treatment plan designed to protect long-term elbow health and support a safe return to competition.

UCL Research with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI)

Through Andrews Sports Medicine’s longstanding partnership with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI), Dr. Dugas has contributed to research advancing the evaluation, surgical treatment and rehabilitation of UCL injuries.

In 2025, The American Journal of Sports Medicine published “Clinical Outcomes of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Internal Brace Versus Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Competitive Athletes.”

The study evaluated 411 competitive athletes treated with either UCL repair with internal brace augmentation or UCL reconstruction. Among athletes who attempted to return to their preinjury sport, 97% of the repair group and 98% of the reconstruction group successfully returned. The groups also demonstrated comparable patient-reported elbow function at mid-term follow-up.

The findings support UCL repair with internal brace as a viable, evidence-based option when clinically appropriate while reaffirming the importance of selecting the right procedure for each athlete’s injury.

This research reflects the integrated approach of Andrews Sports Medicine and ASMI—connecting clinical care, biomechanics, rehabilitation and outcomes research to advance treatment for throwing athletes.

Read More About Dr. Dugas

Advancing Sports Medicine Through Research & Physician Education

Having experienced injuries during his own years playing baseball, Dr. Dugas developed a personal interest in protecting the health of youth baseball players and reducing preventable throwing injuries.

His research focuses heavily on throwing athletes and the unique demands placed on the shoulder and elbow during competition. Dr. Dugas has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters addressing UCL injuries, shoulder and elbow conditions in throwing athletes, vascular injuries in throwers, rotator cuff pathology, knee ligament injuries and cartilage defects of the knee.

Dr. Dugas serves as Director of the ASMI Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, one of the nation’s premier orthopaedic sports medicine fellowships. In this role, he helps train the next generation of sports medicine surgeons while continuing to advance clinical research and physician education.

He also serves on the boards of trustees for the American Sports Medicine Institute and the American Baseball Foundation. Through his clinical practice, research and leadership, Dr. Dugas continues to influence orthopaedic sports medicine nationally and internationally.

Trusted by Athletes at Every Level

Dr. Dugas serves as Medical Director for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is also Medical Director for ACE Cheer and USA Cheer, the national governing body for cheerleading, and serves on the National Concussion Task Force focused on concussion prevention in youth sports.

He serves as a team physician for Troy University, Tuskegee University and Miles College, as well as numerous high schools throughout Alabama. Dr. Dugas also provides sports medicine coverage for the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and the Alabama Ballet.

He has been named one of Birmingham’s Best Doctors for ten consecutive years and has been recognized by his peers as one of Alabama’s leading orthopaedic surgeons.

Education & Professional Leadership

A native of Schenectady, New York, Dr. Dugas earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University before receiving his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in 1994.

He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He then completed a sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham under the direction of James R. Andrews, MD, and William G. Clancy Jr., MD.

Following his fellowship, Dr. Dugas joined Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center and later became a partner at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center.

His professional memberships include:

American Orthopaedic Association
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
American Medical Association
Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Jefferson County Medical Society

Areas of Expertise

UCL Repair with Internal Brace Augmentation
Tommy John Surgery & UCL Reconstruction
Throwing-Athlete Shoulder & Elbow Injuries
Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Knee Ligament Injuries
Knee Cartilage Injuries
Sports Injury Prevention
Care of Youth, Collegiate & Professional Athletes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between UCL repair and Tommy John surgery?

UCL repair preserves and repairs the athlete’s existing ligament, often with internal brace augmentation. Tommy John surgery reconstructs the damaged ligament using a tendon graft. The appropriate procedure depends on the tear pattern, tissue quality, chronicity of the injury and athlete’s individual needs.

Who may be a candidate for UCL repair with an internal brace?

UCL repair may be considered for selected athletes with an acute tear in a repairable location and healthy remaining ligament tissue. A complete clinical evaluation and appropriate imaging are required to determine whether repair, reconstruction or non-surgical treatment is the best option.

Does every UCL tear require surgery?

No. Some UCL injuries can be treated with rest, rehabilitation, strengthening and a progressive return-to-throwing program. Surgery may be considered when the ligament cannot provide the stability required for athletic competition or when symptoms continue despite appropriate non-surgical care.

Outside of Medicine

Dr. Dugas and his wife, Tracie, are avid sports fans and enjoy spending time with their adult children, Christopher and Caroline. In his free time, he enjoys golf, baseball, fishing and playing guitar.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) - Board of Directors, Secretary
American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) - Board of Directors
USA Cheer - Medical Director
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) - Associate Medical Director

Jenny Degnan, PA-C, ATC View Bio

Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon

Request an Appointment WithJeffrey R. Dugas, MD

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Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD

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Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD

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