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I'm Dr. James T. Anderson, and I'm a primary care sports medicine physician at Optum.

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I became a doctor because it was the best way I knew to give back to my community and help people. Being a primary care sports medicine physician is a bit of a niche category because I'm an internist by training, but I also completed a fellowship in sports medicine.

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My work focuses on athletes of all ages—from elementary school through professional levels. If their goal is to run a marathon, our goal is to help them get back so they can run that marathon.

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We coordinate very closely with our physical therapists. I perform evaluations and diagnostics, and then I refer patients and make recommendations for the appropriate physical therapy. I also offer therapeutics for people experiencing pain or discomfort—from weekend warriors to individuals with arthritis.

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We're here to help them be as pain‑free as possible and get back to doing the things they enjoy.

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Helping my patients is the most rewarding thing in the world. I love waking up and going to work every day because I get to see my patients and help them to the best of my ability.

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Working in a multidisciplinary group like Optum has been fantastic because communication is stellar. Anytime I have questions or need to reach a primary care physician or specialist, they respond quickly. Being under one roof with the same EMR system allows us to understand treatment plans and provide the best care possible.

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Outside of work, even though things can get busy, I try to stick to what I preach. I participate in many sports—golf, volleyball, and a new softball team. I also enjoy going to Broadway shows when the city isn't too hectic and attending concerts.

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I'm Dr. James T. Anderson, and I'm a primary care sports medicine physician at Optum.