James Voos MD, Completes Term As President Of The NFL Physicians Society

Innovations in Orthopaedics | Summer 2026

James Voos, MD, recently completed his two-year term as President of the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS). In addition to his role as Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns, Dr. Voos holds the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at University Hospitals (UH), Executive Director, UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center and serves as the Charles H. Herndon Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He is also the lead orthopaedic surgeon for several local colleges and area high schools and serves as Medical Director for the Cleveland Ballet.

James Voos, MD

When Dr. Voos was unanimously elected NFLPS President in 2024, he brought a decade of experience caring for Cleveland Browns players and a strategic, optimistic vision for the future of professional football medicine.

“It has been an honor to represent not only the Cleveland Browns but also University Hospitals on this national platform. I would like to acknowledge the Haslams for giving me the latitude to spend this additional time at the pro sports level,” says Dr. Voos. “The opportunity to proudly carry this banner and showcase the great work we are doing here in Cleveland to teams across the NFL has added to this wonderful experience.”

Michael Yorio, MD, has now assumed the role of NFLPS President. Dr. Yorio was elected to the 2026 term at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. A board-certified specialist in sports medicine and internal medicine, Dr. Yorio is in his 11th season as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head internal medicine physician. “Dr. Yorio is incredibly thoughtful and innovative,” says Dr. Voos. “He will continue to move the needle throughout his two-year term, and I wish him the best of luck.”

Advancing Safety and Performance for the NFL and Beyond

During his presidency, Dr. Voos worked to streamline emergency planning, further integrate wearable technology, and introduce state-of-the-art medical treatments for professional athletes—advances he hopes will translate into improved athlete safety across all ages and levels of competition.

Now transitioning to the role of Immediate Past President, he reflects on the NFLPS’s accomplishments over the past two years. “We standardized emergency action plans across all NFL teams and venues,” says Dr. Voos. “No matter which stadium hosts a game, a full medical team is assembled, including orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine and emergency response physicians, athletic trainers and unaffiliated neuro consultants, who gather before each game to rehearse for potential player injuries.”

Dr. Voos also spearheaded a collaboration among the presidents of the physicians’ societies of major sports leagues. The event took place in July 2024 at the American Orthopaedic Society of Sport Medicine’s annual meeting in Denver. Attendees representing the NBA, MLB and NHL committed to biannual meetings to advance safety initiatives, boost collaborative research and support sports medicine physicians’ ability to care for athletes. “This was the first time the presidents of all the major league sports’ physician societies came together to share research and resources and work to develop a unified approach to player health and safety,” he says.

Additionally, Dr. Voos worked to broaden outreach, enhancing physician engagement and using social media platforms to enable physicians to interact with one another and with the NFLPS, improving the NFLPS's ability to communicate with the public about the society's work.

Reachings Tomorrow's Athlete's Today

Today’s wearable technology provides real-time data to inform on-field decisions, enabling physicians and trainers to assess changes in status and help determine whether an injury is likely to occur. “What we have developed at the professional level is quickly adopted down the line, from college to high school and even kids playing flag football,” says Dr. Voos. “It is wonderful to have the capabilities to contribute to moving those advancements forward.”

Admitting he might be overly optimistic, Dr. Voos believes no problem is too big. “When we get the right people in the room, we can tackle issues that seemed insurmountable,” he says. “I really appreciated that at the NFL level and am excited to bring my experiences as NFLPS President to our tremendous team here at University Hospitals to continue caring for our athletes and patients.”

For more information, contact the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute at 440-940-4417.

Contributing Expert: James Voos, MD