Michael T. Freehill, MD, FAOA

Shoulder and elbow surgeon, Shoulder surgeon, Sports medicine doctor, Sports medicine surgeon


Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

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Biography


Dr. Freehill is a board-certified, double fellowship-trained specialist in orthopaedic surgery with a sub-specialty certification in sports medicine. His concentration is in shoulder and elbow. Dr. Freehill is a team physician for the Stanford University athletics program and head physician for the Stanford University baseball team. Dr. Freehill also teaches in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Freehill’s practice focuses on all shoulder conditions. He treats rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, shoulder arthritis, sports shoulder, arthropathy, complex shoulder pathology, and sports related shoulder injury. In addition, he is also passionate about sports- related elbow injuries, with an emphasis on thrower’s elbow.

Professional and amateur athletes, as well as non-athletes, come to Dr. Freehill for expert care. His sports medicine training and specialization in shoulder replacement procedures enable him to treat patients across the lifespan. Depending on factors including the patient’s condition and occupation, he may recommend treatment ranging from non-operative solutions (such as physical therapy) to cutting-edge biologics procedures or complex surgery.

In addition to his positions within the Stanford University athletics program, Dr. Freehill serves as assistant team physician for the Oakland A’s. Previously, he was a team physician for the Detroit Tigers and the Winston-Salem Dash (affiliated with the Chicago White Sox); he assisted with the Baltimore Orioles. He has also served as Director of Sports Medicine for Wake Forest University Athletics.

As executive director of the Stanford Baseball Science CORE, Dr. Freehill draws on his previous experience as a professional baseball player to help athletes of all skill levels. In the lab, he conducts cutting edge research on the biomechanics of overhead throwers in order to support advances in throwing performance. He has conducted a study on pitch counts in adolescent players funded by Major League Baseball. Dr. Freehill was also awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate stromal vascular fractionated mesenchymal cells and their potential for healing rotator cuff tendon tears.

Dr. Freehill has pioneered the use of some of the latest techniques and technology for leading-edge care. Among the advanced technologies he utilizes is a virtual reality (VR) system that enables him to perform a simulated shoulder arthroplasty procedure prior to entering the operating room with a patient. The system also enables him to predict and order customized implants if needed, which is believed to enable a more positive outcome for patients.

Peer-reviewed articles authored by Dr. Freehill explore rotator cuff injuries, shoulder arthroplasty, baseball-related injuries and performance interests, and more. His work has been featured in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Arthroscopy, and elsewhere. He has written numerous book chapters and made over 200 presentations at conferences around the world.
Dr. Freehill’s honors include an Orthopaedic Residency Research Award while at Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Neer Award winner, denoting the highest research award selected annually by the American Shoulder and Elbow Society.

Currently, he serves on the Medical Publishing Board of Trustees for the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Association, and the Major League Baseball Team Physician Association. He is a committee member for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Society, International Congress of Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Professional Summary


Education & Certifications
  • Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (2017)
  • Residency: Johns Hopkins University Hospital Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery (2010) MD
  • Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery (2014)
  • Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery (2012) MA
  • Fellowship: Stanford University Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship (2011) CA
  • Medical Education: Tulane University School of Medicine Registrar (2005) LA

Publications

Practice Locations


Shoulder and Elbow Clinic Redwood City, CA
Redwood City, CA

450 Broadway Street

Redwood City , CA 94063

(650) 723-5643

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Redwood City Redwood City, CA
Redwood City, CA

450 Broadway Street

Redwood City , CA 94063

(650) 723-5643

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Patient Ratings

(62 Ratings)

Overall Rating
4.8/5

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4.9/5
Friendliness
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
4.8/5
Explanations
Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition
4.9/5
Listens
Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries
4.8/5
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your treatment
4.7/5
Recommended to others
Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others
0.0/5
Wait times
Wait time at clinic (from arriving to leaving)

How Our Ratings Work

The Patients Ratings and comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.

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Patient Reviews

(97 reviews)

Dr. Freehill is extremely professional and courteous
Excellent
Dr Freehill is an excellent surgeon and a caring physician.
I really appreciate how Doctor Michael Freehill tries everything to help. And listens to me as the patient. And we work together in order to find the best results for my medical care that he is trying to help me with , and help me solve
Respectful, caring, thorough, inspires trust.
Excellent
Wonderful people skills. Actually asked me about myself before zeroing in on my rotator cuff tear. Very affable and reassuring. I liked him immediately.
Dr Freehill is always positive , informative and I feel confident in his care
Dr Freehill and his assistant were excellent!
Great doctor and surgeon
Excellent experience as usual
Dr Freehill is a great doctor. He diagnosed my previous shoulder problem and with therapy, the shoulder healed completely.
Dr. Freehill and Kevin are the greatest!
Dr. Freehill is knowledable and explores all the alternatives
Excellent care team.
The staff and the good doctors have me feeling confident.
Everybody from the X-ray tech to the nurse for Dr Freehill abd the resident and Dr Freehill provided exemplary care.
Very good
Very pleasant. Good communication
Consistently good service
Dr. Freehill’s credentials, use of best practice process and procedures, confidence and compassion surrounding pain due to a diseased shoulder joint shoulder joint makes him best in class.
Awesome 👌 very nice doctor
smart, professional, and efficient. What's not to like.
Care is good, it was nice to see the doctor for a change too.
The doctor and PA were caring, kind, very thorough, and helped to answer all of my questions.
Great work & good bedside manner. I felt very confident in their abilities
Excellent demeanor and explanation which gave me great confidence.
Solid, knowledgeable and genuinely caring doctor.
Michael Freehill and his staff were excellent.
Very Professional Staff and Doctors.
Thorough, patient and inspires confidence.
Absolutely satisfied. Dr. Freehill was the ultimate professional who demonstrated exceptional expertise and compassion concerning my shoulder condition with a ready willingness to provide the necessary surgical care.
the outcome of my surgery a year ago has been excellent! Dr. Freehill and his team are fabulous.
Exceptional
Dr Freehill - he is a fantastic Dr and his staff and PA are terrific too!
Dr Kevin and Freehill are thr best
Exce ended my hopes
Everyone was efficient, professional and services were completed in a timely manner
Both Doctors were very understanding and professional. thank you
Excellent communication and manner
excellent and prompt service
Excellent personal care with detailed information given.
Dr Freehill was all I hoped he would be……super knowledgeable while still being personable and kind. I couldn’t have asked for more.
My surgery went well and my recovery is also doing fine.
Dr. Younes and Viktoryia were delightful and professional!!
very professional, precise, and on time. Had thoughtful input on various options, i felt very confident leaving the appointment that i was given sound advice and had a positive path forward.
Just felt that he was the right person (friendly and confident)
The nicest & best surgeon!
He is a very thorough and compassionate doctor. He listens to everything you have to say. I know if there is any hope of helping me to not suffer the way I have with my shoulder, my best hope will be Dr. Freehill.. I want to be able not to suffer with my shoulder while trying to do the basic things with my right arm. I do appreciate everything that he is trying to do to help me. Thank you.
Good job by all.
My exam was excellent, the Doctor very knowledgeable, excellent visit!
Dr. Freehill is great. He is consistent and efficient. He always makes me feel comfortable to talk with him and listens.
Skillful and congenial; excellent!
He is a magnificent surgeon
Both doctors have the BEST bedside manner. I couldn’t be in better hands.
The physcians assistant, Kevin, was thoughtful, caring and layperson friendly!
Great doctors and technicians and appointments and scheduling people!
Got my questions answered by Dr Freehill.
I couldn’t say enough about Dr. Freehill. He is professional, caring and attentive to my needs.
Dr. Freehill and his staff have been fantastic. The care I have received from everyone has been amazing. The recovery course and protocols set forth by Dr. Freehill I believe will lead me to a stronger recovery and I am so thankful for it.
Helpful, professional staff during entire visit minimal wait time
friendly, knowledgeable, patient, explains well
I think he’s a great Doctor!
I’m very happy
A fantastic professional surgeon and very easy to talk to. Shows great concern for the patient.
Dr. Freehill and his crew are super! VERY pleased with my visit to him yesterday.
Dr. Freehill is an excellent doctor who cares deeply about his patient. He treats each person as an individual and comes up with a plan for surgery, treatment, follow up visits, calls, etc., whatever based on that person needs only not on some administrative routine. He takes into account each person and their health, & physical state, not on their age.
Dr. Freehill was very nice and gave me a thorough physical exam of my shoulder. He was very encouraging that the surgery he could do for me would get me back on the tennis court. I did not have the CD of my MRI with me but I have now been able to get it uploaded to the Stanford Orthopedics system. I would like him to call me after he has had an opportunity to view the MRI of my shoulder since we did not have a chance to discuss it during my appointment last Monday.
Outstanding care!!!
Highly qualified (and for me, successful) surgeons and staff, each one more kind than the other.
I really appreciate the attention and professionalism the team showed me.
Dr. Freehill is great. Kevin is also great. Their service is exceptional.
Dr. Was very kind, professional, concerned, listened to me and responded appropriately and helpfully.. I only hope and pray an opening for my right shoulder comes up soon!!!
Great job diagnosing by shoulder issue.
Explanation of injury was clear and understandable.
He always very helpful very good
Visit was very short and provider was clearly well behind schedule. However, quality of care of the provider is so high, I'm overall very happy. It's a privilege to have access to physicians at the head of their field.
Dr. Freehill is the best!
The people who help me at your facility are all great.
Outstanding care
As usual, meeting with Dr. Freehill and PA Helenius went extremely well. They are very informative and clear on the protocols and the timing for post operation.
All i will say is excellent team
I’d tell anyone to go there
Dr. Freehill and his assistant Neil are attentive, supportive, highly trained, knowledgeable, and very professional. I recommend Dr. Freehill every opportunity I have.
Liked Dr Freehill very much and his associates.
Doctors there dedicate time for you and really listen and answer all my questions, they provide the necessary information and exercise routines to get me back in shape faster. I am very happy with the team. Thank you!
Good dr
I am and have always been happy with Dr. Freehill!!
Dr. Freehill and his group are excellent!!!
I felt he was not really listening to me and chose the easiest diagnosis
Have been going to Stanford's appointments for years and very happy with them!
Dr. Freehill is exactly what is right abot medicine
Resident A++, Attending excellent wish they had looked @ MRI closer but excellent providers. Resident asked good questions about PT & injection instructions which ensured me all care was precise & excellent. A++
Exceptionally good experience
Very professional and friendly.
Dr Freehill took the time to describe completely the surgery I had. He was excellent
Finally the Dr., came in and we then continued with my visit with him! Was not too happy that we had to wait so long for him!!

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