Kyle Hammond, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Emory Sports Medicine Center, has been named the Atlanta Falcons’ Head Team Physician after serving as an associate team physician for the organization over the last three years. Brandon Mines, MD, will continue to serve in the role as the Atlanta Falcons Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist.
An innovator in sports medicine, Hammond also serves as the head orthopaedic surgeon for the Atlanta Hawks, as well as associate team physician for the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech, Emory University and several metro Atlanta high schools.
“Kyle has quickly established himself as an expert in the field of sports medicine while developing a high level of trust with those under his care and supervision. Through his passion of helping others and continued research, he and the Emory team will continue to provide a valuable resource for our organization,” says Atlanta Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff.
“Kyle will be the point person representing a team of over 15 talented Emory surgeons and non-surgical sports physicians who will help continue to support all of the sports medicine needs of the Falcons organization as well as serve as a conduit to the full musculoskeletal team and the entire Emory Healthcare system,” says Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center Director Scott D. Boden, MD.
Hammond has been awarded the highest recognition from Emory for patient satisfaction scores in each of his years in practice and has completed numerous research publications, book chapters and presentations in the field of sports medicine. Specifically, he was part of an award-winning research team that studied the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and helped develop an ACL surgical technique that is safe to perform in the youth athlete with open growth plates.
The Georgia native completed his orthopaedic surgery training at Emory University, where he was awarded the ‘Outstanding Resident’ award. He then moved to the University of Pittsburgh Sports Medicine Center, where he served as a team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, The University of Pittsburgh athletics, Duquesne University athletics and the Pittsburgh ballet. He also completed additional training in the field of hip arthroscopy and hamstring surgery.
Spero Karas, MD, served as the Falcons’ head team physician from 2011-2018 and, at the time of this transition, was the longest tenured team orthopaedic surgeon in the NFC South division. He continues his highly successful sports medicine career at the Emory Sports Medicine Center where he serves as the director of the Emory Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Program and an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery. In addition to this role, he serves as a consulting team physician for the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Georgia Tech, Emory University, Oglethorpe University, and Georgia Perimeter College.
“The Falcons would also like to thank Dr. Spero Karas for his outstanding service over the past eight seasons,” says Dimitroff. “We extend our greatest appreciation for the care, professionalism and dedication he has shown to our players, coaches and the entire organization.”
About Emory Healthcare
Emory Healthcare, with more than 22,600 employees and 11 hospitals, is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia. Emory Healthcare has $3.57 billion in annual net revenue and provides $98 million in charity care. System-wide, it has 2,691 licensed patient beds, nearly 2,800 physicians practicing in more than 70 specialties and serves metro Atlanta with 250 locations. Emory Healthcare is the only health system in Georgia with three Magnet-designated hospitals, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital, Emory University Hospital and Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, for nursing excellence. Emory Healthcare's core purpose: "To serve humanity by improving health through integration of education, discovery and health care."
About Emory Sports Medicine Center
Emory Sports Medicine Center, a division of Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, comprises 15 sports medicine physicians throughout the Metro Atlanta area and is supported by athletic trainers and therapists helping to care for the most professional, elite and collegiate athletes in Georgia, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and Atlanta Dream. In addition to caring for athletes, Emory Sports Medicine Center is a leader in research into prevention, treatment and recovery from athletic injuries.