About Me

Dr. Theodore Blaine is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in orthopedics and shoulder and elbow surgery. Prior to joining HSS, he was the Physician in Chief of the Bone and Joint Institute and the former Interim Chairman of the Yale University Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. Before then, he practiced for eight years with Columbia Orthopedics – NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and four years with University Orthopedics at Brown University.

Dr. Blaine has authored and edited over 100 papers and textbook chapters in orthopaedic surgery, published two textbooks on minimally invasive shoulder and elbow surgery, and is currently Co-Editor in Chief and Founder of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty. He is the recipient for multiple grants and teaching awards for his commitment to academic medicine and orthopedic research.

His professional training includes fellowships in Shoulder and Sports Medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Elbow Surgery at the Mayo Clinic, and Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Rochester. He is an active member of multiple orthopedic societies, including the American Orthopedic Association, the American Shoulder and Elbow Society, the American Society for Sports Medicine, and the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. He has been recognized as one of the 'Best Doctors in America' and Castle Connolly 'Top Doctors' in the New York Metro Area.

Dr. Blaine’s clinical interests and experience include arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder and elbow, orthopaedic trauma, sports medicine and athletic injuries, and orthopedic research. A recognized specialist in minimally invasive surgery of the shoulder and elbow, Dr. Blaine has pioneered several new medical and surgical techniques including injectable medications for shoulder arthritis, minimally invasive shoulder replacement and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. He also lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on the latest technologies in shoulder replacement surgery, including reverse shoulder replacement, resurfacing and stemless bone-sparing designs. He is one of the few physicians in Connecticut who performs complex procedures including muscle transfer operations, superior capsule reconstruction, and revision shoulder and elbow surgery.

A former competitive athlete in swimming, football and lacrosse (Avon Old Farms School '84 and Princeton University '88), Dr. Blaine enjoys treating all athletic injuries in patients of all ages. He has significant expertise in treating shoulder and elbow instability, labral tears, and tendonitis of the shoulder and elbow (impingement syndrome and tennis elbow). He has been team physician at the collegiate and professional level including soccer, football, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball. Most recently, he was team physician for the Yale University Athletic Teams, and he is currently the Head Team Physician for the Darien and Stamford HS Football teams.

Dr. Blaine is board certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons with additional subspecialty accreditation by the American Society of Sports Medicine.