Meet J. Steven Smith, MD
Dr. J. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedics at Aptiva Health and one of the most highly trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeons in Kentucky. He completed his sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles — the same program that trains team physicians for the LA Dodgers, Lakers, Kings, and Angels — and treats athletes and active patients across Kentucky.
Specialty: Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgery
Title: Director of Orthopedics, Aptiva Health
Fellowship: Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles
Residency: University of Rochester
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Locations: Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown, and Mt. Washington, Kentucky
Accepting New Patients: Yes
About Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith is a Kentucky native and one of the most highly credentialed sports medicine orthopedic surgeons in the state. After earning his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, he completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Rochester and then his sports medicine fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Kerlan-Jobe is among the most prestigious sports orthopedic fellowship programs in the United States. It's the program where Dr. Frank Jobe pioneered Tommy John surgery, where the team physicians for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, Kings, Angels, Galaxy, Sparks, and Ducks have trained for generations, and where the standard for elite sports medicine in the country is set. During his fellowship year, Dr. Smith served as assistant team physician for the LA Dodgers, Lakers, Sparks, Kings, Angels, Galaxy, Anaheim Ducks, and the LA Avengers — eight professional teams across five major leagues — plus the 2008 Ryder Cup, working alongside the surgeons who care for some of the highest-performing athletes in the world.
He brought that training back home to Kentucky, where he's been treating patients in Louisville since 2008. Today he serves as Director of Orthopedics at Aptiva Health and as team physician for Ballard High School, North Oldham High School, and Anderson County High School. His practice spans the full range of sports orthopedic care — ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, meniscus surgery, shoulder stabilization, and cartilage restoration — for athletes of all ages and active patients who want to return to the sports they love.
He has authored peer-reviewed publications in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, and has presented at the Orthopaedic Research Society and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meetings.
Conditions Treated & Specialized Procedures
Conditions treated:
Sports Medicine for Real Athletes
Sports medicine isn't just elite athletics. Most of Dr. Smith's patients are weekend warriors, high school athletes, masters competitors, parents who want to get back to running or pickleball, and Kentucky residents who tore an ACL on a hike or a rotator cuff in their first softball season in twenty years. The principles that guide care for a Major League pitcher are the same principles that get a 45-year-old back to playing tennis with their kids — diagnosis-driven, escalation-stepwise, return-to-sport-specific.
The first visit usually involves a full history of the injury and the patient's sport, a physical exam, and review or ordering of imaging. From there, treatment matches the injury — most sports orthopedic injuries respond to a combination of physical therapy, activity modification, and time, and a smaller percentage need surgical repair. Dr. Smith won't recommend surgery a patient doesn't need, and he won't recommend conservative care for an injury that needs surgery. The goal is the right answer for the patient and the sport they want to return to.
Pickleball, Tennis, and Racquet Sport Injuries
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and it's hitting Kentucky harder than most states. With it has come a rising tide of pickleball injuries — rotator cuff strains, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), Achilles tendon ruptures, calf strains, and ankle sprains — that Dr. Smith now sees in clinic every week. Most pickleball injuries respond to conservative care; a smaller percentage involve a true tear or rupture that needs surgical attention.
Dr. Smith treats pickleball, tennis, racquetball, and squash injuries across the full spectrum, from the first-time player who pulled a calf to the competitive player with a recurrent rotator cuff problem. He also evaluates patients pre-emptively for injury prevention strategies — improving racquet mechanics, conditioning, and warm-up to avoid common injuries before they happen.
Team Physician Experience
Dr. Smith has served as Team Physician or Orthopaedic Consultant for:
Los Angeles Dodgers (Major League Baseball)
Los Angeles Lakers (National Basketball Association)
Los Angeles Sparks (Women's National Basketball Association)
Los Angeles Kings (National Hockey League)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Major League Baseball)
Anaheim Ducks (National Hockey League)
Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer)
Los Angeles Avengers (Arena Football League)
2008 Ryder Cup
University of Rochester Football
Rochester Redwings, Rochester Americans, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Rochester Brigade
Centre College (NCAA Division III)
Fullerton College Football
Webster Schroeder Football (NY State High School)
Ballard High School
North Oldham High School
Anderson County High School
Certifications & Memberships
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (Board Certified)
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS)
Kentucky Medical Association (KMA)
Southern Orthopaedic Association
Licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
Education & Training
Sports Medicine Fellowship - Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic · Los Angeles, CA · 2006–2007
Orthopedic Surgery Residency - University of Rochester · Rochester, NY · 2001–2006
Doctor of Medicine - University of Kentucky College of Medicine · 2001
Bachelor of Science, Biology - Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY · 1997
Selected Publications
Dr. Smith's peer-reviewed work has appeared in leading sports medicine and musculoskeletal journals:
Goldblatt JP, LaFrance RM, Smith JS. Managing Meniscal Injuries: The Treatment. Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. December 2009.
Goldblatt JP, LaFrance RM, Smith JS. Managing Meniscal Injuries: The Diagnosis. Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. August 2009.
Farber AJ, Smith JS, Kvitne RS, Mohr KJ, Shin SS. Electromyographic Analysis of Forearm Muscles in Professional and Amateur Golfers. American Journal of Sports Medicine. February 2009.
Smith JS, Flemister A. Cuboid Dislocation in a Professional Baseball Player. American Journal of Sports Medicine. January 2006.
Goldblatt JP, Smith JS. Improved Meniscal Injury Diagnosis with MRI. The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. March 2005.
Goldblatt JP, Smith JS. Meniscal Injuries: The Treatment Options. The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. April 2005.
Nyland J, Smith S, Beickman K, Armsey T, Caborn DN. Frontal Plane Knee Angles Affects Dynamic Postural Control Strategy During Unilateral Stance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2002; 34(7): 1150–1157.
Posters and presentations
Smith JS, Bissell S, Proulx S, Maloney M, Totterman SMS, Lerner AL. Comparison of Arthroscopy and MR Imaging for Grading of Knee Chondromalacia. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. 2006.
Smith S, Nyland J, Armsey T, Johnson D. Adolescent Females and Males with Valgus Knee Alignment Use Different Postural Control Strategies During Single Leg Stance. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2000 Annual Meeting.
Where Dr. Smith Sees Patients
Louisville, KY - Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute - 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 - Tel: 502-909-0772
Lexington, KY - Aptiva Health - Lexington - 230 Fountain Court, Suite 180, Lexington, KY 40509 - Tel: 859-592-1008
Mt. Washington, KY - Aptiva Health Orthopedics - 737 N Hwy 31e Bypass, Ste 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047 - Tel: 502-909-0772
Elizabethtown, KY - Aptiva Health Orthopedics - 529 Westport Road, Ste 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 - Tel: 270-506-4888
How to Schedule a Consultation
Most patients see Dr. Smith for sports injuries — ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff problems, shoulder dislocations, and the full range of musculoskeletal injuries that come with athletic activity at any level. He also sees patients for second opinions before considering surgery, and consultations on chronic joint problems where return to sport is the goal.
A first visit includes a full history of the injury and the patient's athletic goals, a physical examination, review of any prior imaging, and a written treatment plan. He sees patients with insurance coverage, on workers' compensation, after auto accidents, and on cash-pay terms.
Schedule your appointment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions does Dr. Smith treat?
Dr. Smith treats the full range of sports and musculoskeletal injuries — ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears, shoulder labral tears, shoulder instability, UCL injuries (Tommy John), cartilage injuries, AC joint problems, biceps tendon injuries, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, hip labral tears, and patellofemoral problems — for athletes of all ages and active patients.
Where did Dr. Smith complete his sports medicine fellowship?
Dr. Smith completed his sports medicine fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles — among the most prestigious sports orthopedic fellowships in the United States. Kerlan-Jobe is the program where Tommy John surgery was pioneered and where the team physicians for the LA Dodgers, Lakers, Kings, and Angels have trained for generations.
Does Dr. Smith treat youth and high school athletes?
Yes. Dr. Smith has served as team physician for Ballard High School, North Oldham High School, and Anderson County High School. He treats athletes from middle school age through professional and masters levels.
Does Dr. Smith perform ACL surgery?
Yes. ACL reconstruction is one of the most common procedures Dr. Smith performs. He uses multiple graft options including patellar tendon autograft (BTB), hamstring autograft, quadriceps tendon autograft, and allograft, and selects the right approach based on the patient's age, sport, and goals.
What sports does Dr. Smith treat injuries from?
Every sport. His training and practice covers baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis, pickleball, running, lacrosse, gymnastics, cheerleading, wrestling, swimming, volleyball, and the full range of sports played in Kentucky.
Is Dr. Smith board-certified?
Yes. Dr. Smith is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the Southern Orthopaedic Association.
Does Dr. Smith treat pickleball injuries?
Yes — pickleball injuries are now one of the fastest-growing reasons patients come to see him. The most common pickleball injuries are rotator cuff strains, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), calf strains, Achilles tendon problems, and ankle sprains. Most respond to conservative treatment; a smaller percentage need surgical repair.
Can I see Dr. Smith for a second opinion?
Yes. Many of Dr. Smith's patients come to him for a second opinion before deciding on surgery. Bringing prior imaging (MRI, X-ray, CT) and any prior physician notes makes the consultation most useful.
What insurance does Dr. Smith accept?
Dr. Smith accepts most major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Kentucky Medicaid (Passport Molina, United Healthcare Medicaid, Anthem Medicaid, Aetna Better Health, CareSource), workers' compensation, auto accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay arrangements.
How long does ACL recovery take?
Most patients are cleared to return to running at 4–6 months, return to sport-specific training at 6–9 months, and return to competitive play at 9–12 months — depending on the sport, age, graft choice, and rehabilitation progress. Dr. Smith uses functional return-to-sport testing rather than pure timeline benchmarks before clearing a patient back to full play.
Patient Testimonials
“Dr. Smith has performed 2 shoulder surgeries for me one on my left and one on my right shoulder (which was the second surgery on.my right shoulder. The first was a failed surgery, performed by a different surgeon from a different medical group) and both of the surgeries I received from Dr Smith were excellent. His bedside manner and his forward way of communicating with me in my treatment plan left me with total confidence that I was receiving the best possible care. I would recommend Dr Smith to anyone in need of the services that he and his staff provide.”
“My son and husband both have had surgery from Dr Steve Smith and we highly recommend. Excellent.”
“Dr. Smith is a true miracle worker. He repaired both rotator cuffs (not at the same time) on my shoulders. One was nearly severed and irreparable but he was able to save my shoulder and I avoided a total shoulder replacement. He is an absolutely amazing, talented surgeon. I have been a patient of his since 2011.”
“Dr Smith repaired my shoulder back in 2009. He’s an amazing surgeon. I was very happy to know that he also works on knees as I have bone on bone arthritis in my left knee. His treatment and guidance have been the greatest. He is very highly recommended!”
“I am a 67 year old woman who’s had reverse shoulder replacement by doctor Smith. I have had only pain of a 1 or a 2 on a scale of 10. My recovery has been fast and awesome! Dr. Smith always takes time to listen to me and I think he’s an excellent surgeon! I highly recommend him!”