Dr. Sanders is a pillar in the OTA and has influenced generations of Orthopaedic Trauma surgeons. He is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of South Florida (USF), and President of Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI), a group he helped found. Dr. Sanders attended medical school at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, and performed his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, also in New York City, graduating in 1985.
Dr. Sanders received fellowship training in musculoskeletal trauma at Vanderbilt University Medical School, and then went on to obtain the AO/ASIF Jack McDaniels Memorial Trauma Fellowship, which he completed under the direction of Thomas Ruedi, M.D. in Chur, Switzerland. Upon his return, he spent several months with Sigvard Hansen as a foot and ankle fellow at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Dr. Sanders is a Past President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (2004-5) and in his clinical role, is Chief of the Department of Orthopaedics at Tampa General Hospital. He has been involved in resident and fellowship training for over thirty (30) years, culminating in being named Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at USF. He has been a past Chairman of the Committee on Trauma for both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and for the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. Dr. Sanders has authored over 150 articles on orthopaedic trauma, published several textbooks on orthopaedic trauma, and is previous Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
He has served as faculty for over 150 courses, has given over 250 lectures, and served as course Chairman for over 40 courses to train other orthopaedic surgeons, including originating the AO/ASIF Course in Foot and Ankle Trauma with Sigvard Hansen, and the Current Solutions in Orthopaedic Trauma Course, now in its 16th year. He has been an investigator in over 20 funded research studies including a landmark National Institutes of Health investigation on limb salvage, for which he was a recipient of the AAOS prestigious Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughan Award for Outstanding Orthopaedic Research in February of 2003. His special areas of expertise include acute fractures as well as reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity (complex fractures, mal/nonunions, deformity correction, post-traumatic arthritis, total ankle replacements and bone infections).
Click on the JB&JS OrthoCorp video to learn more about Dr. Sanders' career in orthopaedic trauma.
Dr. Brian Mullis completed his fellowship with Dr. Sanders in 2006 and is grateful to all the faculty at Florida Orthopaedic Institute. He has worked at Indiana University since leaving fellowship and is a Professor and Program Director. He is also a veteran having served in the United States Navy Reserve and served as a combat surgeon in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012. He has served in multiple national committees through the OTA, AO, and AOA; recently completing his term as Chair of the OTA Education Committee.
Alon Antebi, MD - “Dr. Sanders has contributed enormously to the field of Orthopedic Traumatology and to the careers of so many outstanding surgeons out there in the world. He personally hand-picked me as a trauma fellow for the 2005 program. I will be forever grateful!”
Michael T Archdeacon, MD, FIOTA - "Dr. Sanders, it is an honor to have served as one of your fellows and to be part of your “family.” You are an inspirational leader who has opened doors for so many in our profession. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for orthopaedic trauma, our patients and each of us as individuals."
Omar Hammad Atassi, MD - “Dr. Sanders biggest contribution is the FAMILY he created, meeting every year at OTA in the form of the Tampa dinner. That night, just like a dinner table at home, everyone within those walls is a celebrity to someone else within those walls. When we leave, we go onto our lives scattered across trauma centers internationally providing the highest level of care to the traumatized patient, quality of care that Dr. Sanders cultivated.”
Brett Allen Barrick, MD - “Strongest program in the country. Strongest leaders. Thanks, Boss.”
Michael Jason Beebe, MD - “Thanks, boss, for all that you have done for us.”
James Alan Blair, MD, FACS - “Can't think of a more deserving person. I appreciate all you've done for us.”
Joseph Borrelli, Jr., MD, MBA, FIOTA - "I want to be like Roy Sanders!! - 1989, Tampa, Florida. Roy has provided me with mentorship, friendship and unyielding support of my career over the last 35+ years - I am forever grateful and honored."
Gene Busel, MD - “It doesn’t matter whether you are a past president of OTA who has known Dr Sanders for 30 years or a brand new graduate of the fellowship, Dr Sanders is only a phone call away. The reason he is so beloved is this very selflessness to be there no matter how big or small the ask.”
Daniel S Chan, MD - “Thank you for your leadership in Orthopedic Trauma. From the field of orthopedics, to The Fellowship, to individual mentorship, we have so much to be thankful for. Your commitment to excellence is an example to us all."
J.T. Christensen, MD - “Thank you for being a mentor to me and for your years of service.”
Christopher D. Flanagan, MD - "Dr. Sanders’ groundbreaking research and academic accomplishments have fundamentally changed Orthopaedic Surgery practice. But beyond his individual achievements, his mentorship, both in the operating room and in the classroom, has impacted generations of orthopaedic surgeons, both directly and through an extensive alumni network. On a personal level, his mentorship has taught me how to provide humanistic care for orthopaedic patients at the highest technical level, a sentiment I know is shared by Orthopaedic Surgeons throughout the world."
Peter V Giannoudis, MD, FACS, FRCS - “Dr. Sanders for years has been contributing and continues to do so in the education and advancements of orthopaedic trauma. This is a great initiative. Thank you Roy for being a teacher and friend!”
Daniel Scott Horwitz, MD - "It is extremely rare to find a master surgeon, educator, and profound leader who has the confidence and humility to embrace younger, less experienced members of his community, and that is exactly what Roy did for me. Being welcomed into his social and professional world was and remains one of the greatest honors of my career."
Anthony Infante Jr, MD - "This is very well deserved! Congratulations!
Dan Kemper, MD - "Dr. Roy Sanders. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the Keystone award. Keystone is the perfect word for his role in his family, the greater Orthopedic Trauma and local communities. Roy and company have helped shape my career immeasurably. Thank you! The Boss."
John P Ketz, MD - “Thanks for being an incredible mentor and friend!”
Brian Kistler, MD - "Dr. Sanders, thank you for all of your mentorship and support over the years. You have been such an influential part of my career and so many others. Congratulations!"
Joshua Langford, MD - “Thank you for all of your guidance over the years!!”
Frank A Liporace, MD - “Thank you for being the most influential person to our field and to me.”
Erik Austin Lund, MD - “Dr. Roy Sanders throughout his career improved the lives of his patients, partners, trainees, co-workers, and the Orthopaedic Trauma community as a whole. His personal and altruistic achievements elevate him to a level of select few in the Orthopaedic Trauma Hall-of-Fame. I am lucky to have met him and trained at his Fellowship.”
Michael D McKee, MD - "Dr. Roy Sanders has been a friend and mentor to me for decades. I am truly thankful for what he has done not just for my own career, but for academic orthopaedic surgery in general. The success of the OTA, due in large part to Roy, sets the standard for other sub-specialty groups."
Brian H Mullis, MD, FIOTA - “Congratulations and thank you for all you have done to help my career.”
Rafael Neiman, MD - “As an honorary member of The Familia, I appreciate Roy's mentorship, leadership, and lifting up of all of those fortunate to be within his extensive orbit.”
Steven Ray Papp, MD - "Dr. Sanders was a great mentor to many trauma fellows over the past 37 years . I was honored to be one of those fellows and his experience in orthopedic trauma certainly helped me develop the skills I needed to succeed. A great mentor!"
Abid A Qureshi, MD - “Dr. Sanders has been a mentor and leader in Orthopaedic Trauma for many years. He has trained the top trauma surgeons in this country. He is kind, generous, ingenious and committed to excellence. Myself and many others will always be grateful for his dedication to teaching his fellows and residents.”
Anthony Rhorer, MD - "Imagine the movements of all those who followed Roy, their decisions and imaginations, combined to form the singular impact a man with a mission and a passion can accomplish. Humanity."
Cassandra Ricketts, MD - “I am forever grateful to Dr. Sanders for his leadership, mentorship, teaching, and loyalty. Cheers to Dr. Sanders & la familia.”
Thomas A (Toney) Russell, MD, FIOTA - "Roy is a dear friend, compassionate physician and coinventor on many projects to improve medicine. He has dedicated his life to Orthopaedic trauma care, education and research. This honor is evidence of how much his peers, patients and the OTA membership love him and value his contributions to advance Orthopaedic trauma care."
H Claude Sagi, MD - “Eternal gratitude for my training, advice, career path and mentorship - and the father figure that I never had. Can't think of many people at all that merit such an accolade for their contribution to the field more than you.”
Drew T Sanders, MD - "Dr. (Roy) Sanders is a pillar of modern orthopaedic trauma and has shaped our understanding and treatment of trauma patients. I, like so many others, am fortunate to have trained under him and benefited from his knowledge and guidance."
Anjan Rajni Shah, MD - “For the Boss! A mentor and friend.”
Marty Simmons, MD - “Thank you Dr. Roy Sanders! Love you brother!!”
Thomas S. Stang, DO - “You have been an amazing mentor and boss but even more so an amazing friend. Thank you Roy.”
Steven D Steinlauf, MD - "Roy, Thank you for so much! You taught me how to care for patients with the most complex problems. You pushed me to be better in everything that I do. You gave me the opportunity to enter the world of innovation and design. You have taught me how to interact successfully with industry and how to prosper in my own practice. Most importantly you have been a great friend who answers my emails or calls at any hour of the day or night! Because of you we have all benefited in so many ways. This has allowed your students to teach so many and to care for thousands of patients. You have truly helped make this world a better place!"
Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FIOTA - “For the godfather.”
J Tracy Watson, MD - " Roy....this is a well deserved honor for you....so proud to call you a friend!! Your the pinnacle (Keystone) of our Orthopaedic Trauma profession, Thanks for the contributions to the OTA you have given over the years.. I would also like to thank you for all your support and the many things you have done for me....Certainly your support and promotion contributed mightily to my career and I am forever grateful."
Alan M Afsari, MD
Jeffrey O Anglen, MD, FACS, FIOTA
Greg Blaisdell, MD
Cory A Collinge, MD
Ryan Fairchild, MD
Stuart M Gold, MD
Kevin D Grant, MD
M Bradford Henley, MD, MBA, FACS
Erik Kubiak, MD
Christopher Matson, MD
Ben Maxson, DO
James V Nepola, MD
William M Ricci, MD
Justin Cain Siebler, MD
Russell D Weisz, MD