Joseph C. Schaffer, MD, FAAOS

About Joseph Schaffer

Joseph C. Schaffer, MD, FAAOS, is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing general orthopaedic care while specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries and other disorders of the shoulder and knee. Dr. Schaffer joined Hughston Clinic Orthopedics after completing subspecialty fellowship training in sports medicine. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and subspecialty certified in Sports Medicine. He is also an Active Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Dr. Schaffer is originally from Virginia Beach, VA. He received dual undergraduate degrees in History and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, where he graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into the distinguished Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Prior to entering the medical field, he worked as a civilian naval architect for the U.S. Department of the Navy. During that time, he discovered his true calling was medicine, where he could provide personalized care for individual patients on a daily basis. He went on to earn his medical degree from The University of Virginia, where he was recognized for his outstanding performance with acceptance into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He then completed both his orthopedic surgery residency and sports medicine fellowship at the esteemed University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY, where he trained in advanced arthroscopic techniques and state-of-the-art sports medicine care.

During his time in Rochester, Dr. Schaffer provided medical care for athletes from St. John Fisher College, Rochester Red Wings Baseball (AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins), Rochester Rhinos Soccer, Nazareth College, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, and the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit. He currently serves as team physician for Valor Collegiate Academies and is the official team doctor for the Nashville Kats, professional arena football team.

Dr. Schaffer has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and his research has been presented at the national and international levels. He serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine. He utilizes advanced state-of-the art technology while providing thorough, compassionate, personalized care for each individual patient. His greatest joy is to return patients of all ages and activity levels to healthy, productive lifestyles. Dr. Schaffer provides full-spectrum care with emphasis on non-operative and arthroscopic treatment of sport-related injuries of the knee and shoulder. He also has special interests in knee-preservation and patellofemoral disorders, complex shoulder reconstruction and arthroplasty, and he offers MAKO robotic assisted partial and total knee replacement.

Outside of work, Dr. Schaffer enjoys playing ice hockey and spending time with his wife and sons.

Additional Notable Information:

• Dr. Schaffer is a Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Certified Physician.
  
• He serves as the official team doctor for the Nashville Kats professional arena football team and team physician for Valor Collegiate Academies. He has extensive experience providing medical care for professional and collegiate athletes, including teams from St. John Fisher College, Rochester Red Wings Baseball (AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins), Rochester Rhinos Soccer, Nazareth College, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, and the U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit.
• Before his medical career, Dr. Schaffer worked as a civilian naval architect for the U.S. Department of the Navy.