Roger Chams, MD

Dr. Roger Chams is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric sports medicine, knee and shoulder disorders. Dr. Chams was fellowship trained at the prestigious Southern California Orthopedic Institute where he received specialized training in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery of complex knee and shoulder disorders and sports injuries. After his fellowship, he introduced many of these innovative procedures that had not previously been performed to the area.

Dr. Chams is the most experienced sports medicine physician in IBJI and one of the most experienced orthopedic sports medicine surgeons in the country. He is the most experienced arthroscopic surgeon in the Chicago area, performing the largest number of ACL and shoulder reconstruction procedures, with over 40,000 minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries of the knee and shoulder performed over 25 years of practice. This includes over 300 ACL reconstructions, 800 knee arthroscopies, 900 shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff and labral /instability procedures yearly. He is proud to be the leading choice of the area’s medical community: physical therapists, athletic trainers, athletic directors, coaches, and athletes. He has extensive experience with revision surgery, IMEs, workers' compensation injuries, and second opinions. An innovator in arthroscopy, he currently works with industry and engineers as a physician consultant. He is committed to preserving the natural knee joint and is one of the few physicians in the Midwest performing extensive articular cartilage cloning/restoration, meniscal transplantation, ACL repair/BEAR procedures, advanced ACL revision surgery, shoulder articular cartilage/bone augmentation, and rotator cuff orthobiologic augmentation. Today, he brings to IBJI advanced experience in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and is on the cutting edge of articular cartilage cloning and transplantation.

Dr. Chams is constantly refining his surgical procedures, being on the forefront of new, less-invasive procedures including the use of orthobiologics, always striving for the best possible functional outcomes. All surgical procedures are entirely performed by Dr. Chams without the use of residents or fellows. All of the arthroscopic procedures are digitally recorded for the patient and physical therapist to aid in education and rehabilitation. The most advanced surgical and non-surgical options are discussed with patients and their advocates to make informed decisions about their treatment.

Dr. Chams has extensive sports medicine experience which includes treating thousands of athletes--both professional and amateur--including NCAA players. He also has experience in caring for the industrial athlete and workers' compensation injuries. He is the longstanding team physician for Lake Forest College as well as Lake Forest, Libertyville, Carmel, Warren Township, Vernon Hills, Grayslake Central, and Lakes High Schools,  and many other club sports teams. 

Dr. Chams served as a team physician for the US Soccer Federation Men's and Women's National Teams, taking multiple international trips. Dr. Chams served as medical director and head team physician of the Chicago Stars FC (formerly Red Stars) and of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from 2014 -2023 treating some of the world's most elite athletes.

Dr. Chams has presented at national meetings, published multiple journal articles, instructional course videos, and has authored a textbook chapter on Advanced Shoulder Arthroscopy. Dr. Chams serves as faculty fellow member for the Arthroscopic Association of North America (AANA) as well as the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM), American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), where he teaches the latest techniques in advanced minimally invasive knee and shoulder surgery. He is an instructor for the Residents/Fellows Advanced Surgical Arthroscopic Shoulder/Knee course at the Academy Learning Center and continues to routinely teach medical education courses for physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.

Dr. Chams has been honored with numerous awards and titles, including “Top Tier MD”, “Chicago’s Top Doctor”, American Registry “Patient’s Choice” and Becker’s Orthopedic Review “Outstanding Knee Surgeons.” He has been selected to “America’s Top Orthopedists” by the Consumer Research Counsel of America for the last 20 years.

Dr. Chams is proud to have assembled an exceptional team of athletic trainers, physician assistants,  nurse practitioners, an orthopedic surgical assistant and medical assistants that are always available to help educate and assist his patients. He believes in the importance of close communication and teamwork among the surgeon, physical therapist, ATC, coaches, and family to provide the best possible outcomes.

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“Previous to having surgery done by Dr. Chams, I had two others by another surgeon. For years I experienced pain and instability. My previous surgeon was not listening to concerns after my second surgery. Dr. Chams not only listened but fit me into his schedule as soon as possible. He repaired my labrum about a year ago. My labrum was so destroyed from my first two shoulder surgeries that he had to basically recreate it from shreds. For the last year I have been working with Dr. Chams and a physical therapist near my college to strengthen my shoulder. After previous surgeries, I felt instability after just a month or two, but with this one I feel confident to use my shoulder and I feel hopeful for the things I am still working toward. I am so grateful for Dr. Chams and his team. They corrected the work of a previous surgeon and made a ligament from shreds.” – Abigail H.

“He is the most caring, concerned and best in the field of Orthopedic doctors.”

“I trust Dr. Chams. It’s really great to know a Doctor that truly cares about his surgeries and making sure people can get back to the best possible life.”

“Chams is the best. Always makes me feel important.”

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