Physician, Mentor, Leader: Barrett Elevates Sports Medicine in Oklahoma and Around the World

Thirty years ago, Jim Barrett, M.D., arrived at the OU College of Medicine for his first faculty appointment, in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Today, he is chairman of that department, serves as the lead physician for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and has trained sports medicine physicians who are practicing around the world.

Barrett began the sports medicine fellowship program on the Oklahoma City campus soon after his arrival in 1991 and served as director until 2005, when he took over as director of the family medicine residency program. Earlier this year, he was named chair of the department after several years of serving as vice chair then interim chair. In addition to his academic work, Barrett has enjoyed a parallel sports medicine career through providing medical coverage for numerous professional sporting events and teams. He has served as team physician for Olympic and Paralympic teams, several Major League Baseball training camps, the Oklahoma City Blazers hockey team and much more.

His time with the NBA began with the Sacramento Kings during his fellowship at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento. When the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he became involved again and increased his work when the Oklahoma City Thunder became official. Last year, he was named NBA Physician of the Year by the National Basketball Athletic Trainer’s Association.

“Dr. Barrett is a brilliant and dedicated family medicine physician with an extensive background in sports medicine, so it is no surprise that he was honored as the NBA Physician of the Year. He is especially deserving of such recognition because he combines excellent care with a focus on the safety of each and every Thunder player every time they step onto the court,” said John Zubialde, M.D., Executive Dean of the OU College of Medicine. As the lead physician for a team of physicians that also includes an orthopedist and a cardiologist, Barrett attends every Thunder game to provide primary care support. During games, he treats players for musculoskeletal injuries, concussions and lacerations, among other issues, and he is always available to provide medical consultation to the Thunder’s team of physical therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches. “It’s a team of doctors taking care of a team of athletes,” Barrett said. “We also take care of the coaches and staff because they need to be at the top of their game to help with the team.”

Jim Barrett, M.D., who started the primary care sports medicine fellowship at the OU College of Medicine, is now chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. He is also lead physician for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Although NBA players tend to be celebrities, Barrett’s job is to care for them as people. “Even though the players are in the spotlight, they are people with regular needs, and they need to be treated like people. That humanity is so important to them,” he said.

Barrett’s professional sports medicine service has allowed him to travel the world, particularly with Olympians, traveling to Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Mexico, England and many other places. He has learned the intricacies of numerous sports and the types of injuries athletes are prone to experiencing. On a trip to Australia with a women’s field hockey team, a sport he had never watched, he read a book and talked to coaches to understand the game. By the time they arrived, he understood how injuries might occur and could talk to players more fluently about what they should and should not do.

One of his most inspiring types of service has been working with Paralympic Athletes, he said. “They compete at the highest level. Whether they are in wheelchairs or have had amputations or other disabilities, they compete as strongly and equally as able-bodied people,” he said.

“It’s a joy to work with those athletes.” Barrett said he couldn’t do his work without the support of his family, who understand the long hours involved with sports medicine, as well as his “right-hand man” and current sports medicine fellowship director, Brian Coleman, M.D., who fills in at Thunder games. Whether he is working with elite athletes or is helping everyday athletes overcome barriers like asthma or diabetes, Barrett is driven by his own love of sports and connecting people to the activities they enjoy and that improve health. “One of the most important things we do is to listen to people’s stories and hear what their concerns are,” he said. “We may assume what their concerns are, but we don’t always know. Listening to them and helping them find ways to stay active is key.”