Thomas R. Perkins, DO

Early life and athletic background

Dr. Perkins is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes and is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the knee and shoulder.

His father was a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association and Coaches Hall of Fame, and was one of very few honored for 50 years of coaching. His father’s influence helped Dr. Perkins and many of his siblings earn college scholarships in baseball and football. At Oakland University, Dr. Perkins earned All-State, All-Region and 1st Team Academic All-American honors, and he is one of the baseball team’s first recipients of Oakland University’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Dr. Perkins has six children, all decorated club (gymnastics and competitive dance) and varsity athletes. That background gives him a viewpoint few physicians share: board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, elite athlete, coach and parent. He uses it to help patients get back to an active life as quickly and safely as possible.

Education and training

After graduating from Oakland University, Dr. Perkins attended Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship and orthopedic residency through MSU at McLaren Regional Medical Center–Macomb. He then added a year of sub-specialty training at Michigan State University in advanced arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine.

During that year he was a team physician for Spartan Athletics and many local high school teams, the Lansing Lugnuts (a Chicago Cubs minor league affiliate at the time), and the Capital Centre Pride of the North American Junior Hockey League.

Professional achievements and teaching

Dr. Perkins is a fellow of the American Osteopathic Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, former orthopedic residency director at McLaren Regional Medical Center–Macomb, and immediate past president of the Michigan Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He continues to teach students, interns and residents of MSU-COM in the clinic and operating room.

He has published research on advanced arthroscopic shoulder and knee ligament reconstruction and on minimally invasive partial knee replacement.

Community

Dr. Perkins has practiced in Macomb and Oakland counties his entire career. He volunteers his time with more than 20 local high school, travel and club teams, and he has treated and consulted with athletes from MSU, Oakland University, Wayne State, Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

As a family man himself, he knows how important it is for parents and families to understand their own or their child’s procedures, and sometimes their athletic careers. At Rochester Hills Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, he explains the why behind every decision, so you always feel comfortable and reassured.