Thomas J. Graham, M.D.

Education

M.D., University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1988

Residency

Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fellowship

Hands and Upper Extremity Surgery, The Indiana Hand Center, Indianapolis, Indiana Elbow Surgery, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Board Certifications

American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Hand Surgery

Hospital Affiliations/Admitting Privileges

Union Memorial Hospital

Dr. Graham is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand. In addition, he completed the Executive Management program in Health Care Administration from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s collaborative program with The Weatherhead School of Case Western Reserve University.

In 1994, he joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic. His clinical expertise includes surgery of the hand, wrist and elbow with special concentration on complicated reconstruction after trauma, complex elbow disorders and congenital hand surgery. Dr. Graham also maintains a special focus on the care of the elite athlete’s hand and elbow disorders.

Dr. Graham has served as the Hand Surgery Consultant for all of the professional sports teams in Cleveland, as well as the Cleveland Symphony and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; he maintains his position with the Cleveland Indians. His skills are requested by athletes from all major sports and he maintains formal relationships with the many franchises, agencies and leagues as their official Hand Surgery Consultant. From 1981-1984 he was affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee as an exercise physiologist during the Los Angeles Quadrennium.

Dr. Graham has published numerous articles on many aspects of hand and upper extremity surgery, lectured around the world and edited several books. He founded and directed The Cleveland Clinic’s Orthopaedic International Educational Symposium at the Greenbrier Resort. Dr. Graham had an extended administrative role as Chief of the Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital of Cleveland from 1997-2000.

He is among the youngest doctors ever to be chosen for the prestigious publication; Woodward & White’s Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly’s Best Doctors and was repeatedly voted as one of “Cleveland’s Top Doctors” in Cleveland Magazine, then received the same honor from his peers in Baltimore by inclusion in “Top Doctors” in Baltimore Magazine, after less than two years in the city. He was chosen for permanent status in Strathmore’s Who’s Who in 2000.

Dr. Graham has been the subject of several magazine articles in the popular press and has been the recipient of many awards for his clinical and academic contributions including the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Medal, The Riordan-Brand Award in Hand Biomechanics, and the prestigious John J. Fahey, Jr., M.D., North American Traveling Fellowship. Recently, Dr. Graham was featured on ABC’s Nightline for his role in the treatment of 9/11 survivors. In 2002, Dr. Graham was selected for fellowship in the American Orthopaedic Association, the highest honor in the specialty, as one of the youngest members ever elected.

In 2000, he accepted the position as Director of The Curtis National Hand Center and Chief, UMH Division of Hand Surgery in Baltimore, Maryland. With the singular Congressional Designation, this Hand Center is the world’s largest and serves as the focal training center in the specialty. He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Union Memorial Hospital.

Because of Dr. Graham's extensive experience and relationships in professional sports, he began an exciting new endeavor in 2002 as the Director of MedStar SportsHealth; the Sports Operations Division of the mid-Atlantic’s largest healthcare system. Presently, he serves on the medical staff of the Baltimore Ravens (NFL), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and Washington Nationals (MLB); he is also the National's Medical Director. Likewise, he serves as the designated Hand Surgery Consultant for the National Hockey League Players Association and is on the roster of designated specialists for the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the PGA Tour.

Among his latest endeavors, Dr. Graham is collaborating with Arnold Palmer to develop a specialized sports medicine program and destination center for athletes and active persons. As the Director, Graham is shaping the vision for this unique endeavor which promises to become one of the most powerful healthcare resources and research facilities in the country.