Dr. Burnham is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and knee doctor practicing in Baton Rouge, LA. He specializes in complex knee surgery, ACL and revision ACL surgery, ligament reconstruction and multi-ligament knee injuries, cartilage repair and restoration, knee osteotomy and realignment procedures, hip arthroscopy, hip FAI (impingement), hip labral tear surgery, shoulder surgery, and operative and nonoperative treatment of all sports injuries. He has had experience as a team physician at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, and continues to educate and train new sports medicine residents, fellows, and athletic trainers.
While maintaining an active clinical practice, he also contributes to advancing the field of sports medicine through musculoskeletal research, and has published over 50 peer reviewed research publications and text book chapters on sports medicine treatment. He has won awards for his research and has had the opportunity to present his work at national and international conferences. In addition to his academic interests, he has served in leadership roles at the regional and national level, and has lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. numerous times for patient rights. Dr. Burnham also serves as an orthopedic surgeon in the United States Army Reserve.
Dr. Burnham completed his orthopedic surgery and sports medicine residency at the University of Kentucky where he trained with sports medicine knee experts Drs. Darren Johnson (SEC team physician of the year, UK Football Head Team Physician), Mary Lloyd Ireland (former Olympic and UK Football physician), and Christian Lattermann (now Chief of Sports Medicine and Director of Cartilage Repair at Harvard Medical School), and shoulder expert Dr. Scott Mair (UK Basketball). During his time at UK, he also had the opportunity to learn surgical and clinical skills from visiting professors such as Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Thomas Byrd.
Dr. Burnham then completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) under the leadership of ACL and knee experts Drs. Freddie Fu (most published ACL researcher in the world) and Volker Musahl (Pitt Football, Chief of Sports Medicine). He also trained with team physicians Drs. James Bradley (Pittsburgh Steelers, AOSSM president) and Craig Mauro (Pittsburgh Steelers), Dr. Darmesh Vyas (Pittsburgh Penguins), Dr. Bryson Lesniak (Pitt, Carnegie Mellon), shoulder experts Drs. Albert Lin (Pitt, Dusquene University) and Mark Rodosky, and Dr. Vonda Wright (Pittsburgh Ballet, Pitt Baseball). In addition to his orthopedic and sports medicine training, he rotated with neuropsychologist Dr. Michael Collins (co-developer of the ImPACT concussion testing), Dr. Kentaro Onishi (MSK ultrasound expert), Dr. Aaron Mares (non-operative sports medicine), and sports physical therapists James Irrgang (developer of IKDC knee scoring system) and Andrew Lynch.
Outside of work, Dr. Burnham enjoys traveling, running, and outdoor activities with his wife Amié, their three children, and their two Labrador retrievers. Dr. Burnham is enthusiastic about all things sports and fitness related, and is happy to be back in south Louisiana in “sportsman’s paradise.” His father and brother are both practicing physicians in the area.
Education & Appointments
| Jul 2016 – Jul 2017 | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Sports Medicine Fellowship |
| Jun 2014 – Present | United States Army Reserve Captain, U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps |
| Jul 2011 – Jun 2016 | University of Kentucky Medical Center Lexington, KY Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Residency Directors: Todd A. Milbrandt, MD and Carter Cassidy, MD Residency Chairman: Darren L. Johnson, MD |
| Jul 2007 – May 2011 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, LA Doctor of Medicine (MD) |
| Jul 1999 – May 2004 | Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA Bachelor of Science (BS), Biology; Chancellor’s Top 100 |
Honors & Awards
- Emerging Leader, American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), 2016Ray Neef Memorial (Senior Resident) Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Kentucky (UK), 2015 and 2016
- Ray Neef Memorial (Senior Resident) Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Kentucky (UK), 2015 and 2016
- UK Healthcare Resident of the Month, November 2015
- Lexington Medical Society Essay Contest Runner-Up, 2015
- Resident Leadership Forum, AOA, 2015
- Outstanding Junior Resident Award, UK Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, 2014
- Best Research Presentation Award, Thomas D. Brower Visiting Professor Symposium, UK Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, 2014
- Intern Teaching Award, UK College of Medicine, 2012.
- Outstanding 4th Year Medical Student Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport (LSUHSC-S), May 2011.
- Medical Student Research Grant, LSUHSC-S, 2009-2010.
- SEC Football Academic Honor Roll, 2002.
- Football Letterman, Louisiana State University, 2002.
- Coach’s Award, Varsity Football Team, Louisiana State University, 2001.
- Athletic Director’s Cup Award, Louisiana State University, 1999-2002
- National Merit Scholar, 1999.
Leadership & Committees
| 2016-2017 | Congressional Ambassador, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) |
| 2016 – 2017 | Chair, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Resident Assembly |
| 2015 – 2017 | AAOS Candidate, Resident, and Fellow Committee |
| 2015 – 2016 | Vice Chair, AAOS Resident Assembly |
| 2015 – 2016 | Leader, Global Health Initiative Workgroup, AAOS Resident Assembly |
| 2015 – 2016 | AAOS Annual Meeting Medical Student Program Workgroup |
| 2015 – 2016 | Health Policy Committee, AAOS Resident Assembly |
| 2013 – 2015 | Chair and Orthopedic Surgery Representative, House Staff Council, UK Healthcare |
| 2013 – 2015 | Resident Representative, UK Healthcare Medical Staff Operating Committee |
| 2014 | UK Healthcare Executive Leadership Team, ACGME Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Program |
| 2013 – 2014 | Resident Representative, UK Healthcare GME Committee |
| 2010 – 2011 | Student Representative, Medical School Admissions Committee, LSUHSC-S |
| 2010 – 2011 | American Medical Association (AMA) Liaison, Louisiana State Medical Society, Medical Student Section |
| 2010 – 2011 | Chapter Director, Louisiana State Medical Society, LSUHSC-S |
| 2009 – 2011 | Medical Curriculum Council, LSUHSC-S |
| 2009 – 2010 | President, Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group, LSUHSC-S |
Volunteer Work
| Feb 2016 | Volunteer, Medical Mission Trip to Ambato, Ecuador; Provided orthopaedic surgery services for over 200 local pediatric and adolescent patients |
| Sep 2009 – May 2011 | Coordinator, volunteer activities at Shriners Hospitals for Children (Shreveport, LA) for the Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group |
| Feb 2010 | Co-Coordinator, Fund Raiser for Shriners Hospitals for Children (Shreveport, LA); raised $4000 to purchase wheelchairs and medications |
| Nov 2009 | Coordinator, Jambalaya Sale; raised $1000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association |
| Aug 2005 – Sep 2005 | Volunteer, Red Cross field hospitals in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina |
| May 2001 – Jun 2001 | Volunteer, Medical Mission Trip to South Africa; taught HIV/AIDS awareness to 5000 students at over 40 high schools |
| Mar 2000 | Volunteer, Medical Mission Trip to Nueva Rosita, Mexico |