About Dr. Tummala
Sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Stanford Health Care.
Dr. Sailesh Tummala is an orthopaedic surgeon at Stanford Health Care with fellowship training in orthopaedic sports medicine and shoulder surgery. He is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Tummala specializes in nonoperative care and minimally invasive along with complex reconstructive surgeries of the shoulders, knees and elbows. He treats acute and chronic conditions, sports injuries and traumatic injuries with a focus on putting his patients' needs and goals first.
He has expertise in joint preservation and replacement, tendon and ligament repair and reconstruction, cartilage restoration and fracture care.
Training
| Fellowship | Stanford University, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery |
| Residency | Mayo Clinic (AZ), Orthopedic Surgery |
| Medical school | John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society |
| College | Arizona State University (Barrett, The Honors College) BS in Biology, Summa Cum Laude |
At the podium
Dr. Tummala's research interests include studying biomechanics in sports injuries, developing novel surgical approaches and addressing psychosocial barriers to effective patient care. He has authored over a hundred peer-reviewed publications in journals such as The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy and the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery along with multiple book chapters. He currently sits on the editorial board of Arthroscopy.
His study of resilience in ACL patients received grant funding. He has given more than 100 presentations at regional, national and international conferences.
From the court to the clinic
Dr. Tummala is a former collegiate basketball player whose path into medicine began with the impact his team orthopaedic surgeon had on him. That experience moved him to find ways to serve his community. Over his career, he played on multiple NCAA Tournament teams, including the winningest team in University of Hawaiʻi school history. As a student-athlete, he was also recognized as a national Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar for advocacy, integrity, community service and academic excellence.
During residency, he continued his passion for athletics and advocacy, competing with India Rising in The Basketball Tournament on ESPN. These experiences shape how he practices and his approach to patient care. He knows firsthand how important it is to be active, recover from injury and return to play. He brings that perspective to every patient working back to the activities they love.
Beyond the operating room
Service has been a constant thread through Dr. Tummala's career locally and internationally. He has volunteered on a surgical mission in Honduras and served on multiple trips with the Crossover Basketball and Scholars Academy in India.
Closer to home, he assists with Stanford men's basketball and football, has cared for high school and college athletes as a team physician, coached junior varsity girls' basketball and organized health education programs that introduced students across the Hawaiian islands to careers in medicine.
His research, passion for sports medicine and advocacy efforts have been featured on ABC, CBS, ESPN and other media outlets.
