Thomas A. Fortney, MD

About Thomas A. Fortney, MD

Thomas A. Fortney is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He subspecializes in shoulder and sports medicine.

He was inspired to pursue a career in orthopaedics and sports medicine as a result of his former days as a college hockey player where he was frequently exposed to sports injuries and orthopaedic surgeons.

What does Dr. Fortney enjoy most about orthopaedics? Helping patients return to their sports, hobbies, and activities of daily living.

“I work with athletes and patients to recover from injuries and understand how this must be balanced with a busy sports season, work schedule, or personal life.”

What is Dr. Fortney especially interested in?

“I have a special interest and fellowship training in shoulder, elbow, and sports medicine surgery. Through surgeries such as ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, or shoulder replacement, I enjoy making an immediate impact and improving the quality of life for my patients. I work with patients on an individual basis to help them select the best treatment strategy. Whether the treatment is physical therapy, injections, or surgery, together, we can choose the option that best fits their goals.”

Certification

Thomas Fortney, MD is certified by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)

Clinical Interests

Dr. Fortney’s clinical interests include shoulder replacement (including reverse shoulder replacement), rotator cuff surgery, shoulder instability, arthroscopic shoulder surgery, ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, arthroscopic knee surgery, and arthroscopic elbow surgery.

Education & Training

Dr. Fortney completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. During his residency he served as a team doctor for the Dartmouth College football and men’s ice hockey teams.

Following residency, Dr. Fortney completed a fellowship in shoulder, elbow, and sports medicine surgery at Columbia University in New York City. During that time, he served as a team physician for the New York Yankees. Additionally, he participated in the care of several NCAA Division-1 teams including the football and basketball teams of Columbia University and Fordham University.

He served as a staff physician at New York Yankees spring training and the Major League Baseball International Combine in the Dominican Republic. During his fellowship, he spent extensive time training with world-renowned sports medicine and shoulder surgeons Dr. Christopher Ahmad and Dr. William Levine.

Dr. Fortney has a master’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He graduated from Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, WV where he was inducted as a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) national medical honor society.

Prior to medical school Dr. Fortney, played NCAA Division-1 ice hockey at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES)

Research

During his time at Columbia University, Dr. Fortney conducted research on concussions and head injuries in National Hockey League (NHL) players, resulting in several peer-reviewed publications. He has also authored publications on shoulder replacements, shoulder instability, Tommy John surgery, ACL reconstruction, and cartilage restoration.

Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) national medical honor society

Publications

Fortney TA, Tedesco LJ, Kopydlowski NJ, Korzelius JF, Desai S, Popkin CA. National Hockey League Fights Per Game and Viewership Trends: 2000-2020. Frontiers in Sports Medicine.

Plassche GC, Fortney TA, Morrissette C, Korzelius JF, Popkin CA. Fighting in professional ice hockey: it’s time for a change. The Physician and Sports Medicine.

Morrisette C, Anderson FL, Fortney TA, Tedesco LT, Boddapati V, Swindell H, Trofa DP, Popkin CA. The Impact of the Instigator Rule on Fighting in the National Hockey League. Translational Sports Medicine.

Popkin CA, Padaki AS, Fortney TA, Rodgers A, Trofa DP, Lynch TS, Tuominen M, Stuart MJ. Injuries to Ice Hockey Referees and Linesmen: A Survey of International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Officials. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.

Chen AZ, Greaves KM, deMeireles AJ, Fortney TA, Saltzman BM, Trofa DP. Clinical Outcomes of Arthroscopic Bony Bankart Repair for Anterior Instability of the Shoulder: A Systematic Review. The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Fortney TA, Leinweber KA, Lewis CY, Holte AJ, Lucas AP, Bell J-E. Long-term results of shoulder resurfacing hemiarthroplasty: poor functional outcomes in rotator cuff deficient patients. Seminars in Arthroplasty: JSES

Crowley S, Pederson A, Fortney TA, Trofa DP. Rehabilitation Variability following Osteochondral Autograft and Allograft Transplantation for the Knee. Cartilage.

Chen AZ, Greaves KM, Fortney TA, Saltzman BM, Trofa DP, Ahmad CS. Psychological Factors associated with Return to Play following Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.

Crutchfield CR, Zhong J, Lee NJ, Fortney TA, Ahmad CS, Lynch TS. Operative time greater than 1.5 hours, male sex, dependent functional status, presence of dyspnea, and reoperations within 30-days are independent risk factors for readmission after ACLR. Arthrosc, Sports Med, Rehabil.

Chen AZ, Greaves KM, Fortney TA, Ahmad CS, Levine WN, Trofa DP, Lynch TS. The Role of Advanced Academic Degrees in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Faculty. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.

Personal

“I moved to New Hampshire for college and fell in love with its beautiful outdoors! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling with my wife, Molly. We feel lucky to be so close to both the mountains and the ocean in New Hampshire.”

Hobbies and Interests

Dr. Fortney is a lifelong hockey player and continue to play in recreational leagues. He enjoys woodworking and home-improvement projects. He loves the mountains whether it’s skiing in the winter or hiking in the warmer months.