José "Jody" O. Ortega, MD, practices non-surgical orthopaedic sports medicine at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. He treats patients at our Birmingham and Hoover clinic locations.
Growing up, Dr. Ortega had a passion for sports. Now, as a physician, Dr. Ortega combines his love of sports and his fascination with the human body to treat athletes. He non-operatively treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal and sports medicine injuries and has particular interest in the conservative, non-invasive treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee including viscosupplementation. He enjoys seeing patients of all ages, including little leaguers, high school and college athletes, weekend warriors and active seniors.
A graduate of Auburn University, Dr. Ortega earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He then attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham for medical school. He completed his internal medicine residency at Baptist Health System in Birmingham, followed by a primary care sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI).
Dr. Ortega is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and also holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in primary care sports medicine. He is a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and American College of Sports Medicine.
Dr. Ortega serves as the Fellowship Director for Primary Care at the American Sports Medicine Institute. He is a team physician for Briarwood Christian School, Homewood, Hueytown, Leeds, Oak Grove, and Oak Mountain High School and the Lakeshore Foundation. He also provides sports medicine assistance to Troy University and Auburn University. He is the Mercedes Marathon medical director and participated on the World Bowl medical team for NFL Europe for several years. Dr. Ortega also proudly served at Birmingham-Southern College as their team medical physician for many years.
Dr. Ortega enjoys spending time with his family, as well as playing golf and basketball, fishing and participating in other physical fitness activities. He and his wife, Trixie, have three sons: Sullivan, Cooper and Andrew.
Comeback Stories
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Learn MoreOne day during basketball practice, I took an awkward step on the court and felt a pain and sensation in my hip. I remember thinking to myself, "that step didn't feel right."
Reagan Riley | Mountain Brook, AL
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During a game versus Helena High School, I was playing in the wide receiver position. As I jumped in the air to catch the football, my knee collided with another girl. As soon as I took a step, I heard a pop. I felt some initial pain, but was able to keep playing. The situation was really scary because our flag football coach also happened to be my soccer coach. We were both worried about what an injury could mean for me as the starting goalie.
Kate Murray | Birmingham, AL
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During an away basketball game vs Sumiton Christian my senior year, I leaped to block a shot and when I landed felt intense pain as my knee twisted. The diagnosis revealed a torn ACL and a partial meniscus tear, which felt like a major setback.
Brady Nelson | Bessemer, AL
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I've had bad hips and knees for most of my adult life due playing sports as a kid and teenager. Growing up, I played baseball and football and because of the years of wear and tear, I started suffering from bi-lateral osteoarthritis in my knees and hips.
In the summer of 2014, the pain and discomfort in my left hip really started bothering me. My breaking point is when our family took a Gulf Coast vacation and I couldn't physically walk on the beach with my wife and kids because of the excruciating hip pain.
James Suchey | Warrior, AL
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My name is Andrew Edmondson and I am a 16-year-old sophomore at Oak Grove High School. I play for both the football and baseball teams, and love both programs dearly.
At a JV baseball game against Hueytown on March 18, 2018, I was up to bat. I hit a ball deep into left field and as I rounded first base I noticed that it was going to be close at second base, so I decided to slide head first into second. As I slid, I rolled all of my body weight on my shoulder and it dislocated. As I sat on second base, I decided to pop it back in.
Andrew Edmondson | Adger, AL
Media Center
- American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) - Fellowship Director for Primary Care
- Mercedes Marathon - Medical Director
- USFL Medical Advisory Committee - Primary Care Sports Medicine
