Inductees

For any successful sports franchise and its athletes, those who work behind the scenes in thankless roles may actually be the true MVPs.

A case in point is Dr. Jon Browne, a Kansas City native who rose to the top in the sports medicine field as an Orthopaedic specialist. Primarily, he oversaw the care of hundreds of National Football League players, earning the respect of general managers, coaches and players alike.

And it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Browne with the Class of 2017.

Browne spent 22 years as the Head Team Physician of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs from 1990 to 2012. During that time, he was elected President of the National Football League Team Physicians Society, serving on numerous executive committees, as well as selected as a team physician for the 1998 Pro Bowl in Honolulu.

“It requires an enormous amount of commitment away from your practice, as well as time away from your family,” Browne said. “You have to be available year round to make all the significant medical decisions.”

Browne grew up in Kansas City, graduated from Rockhurst High School, earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He received his MD degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and completed his Orthopaedic Residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

During that time, he worked with the team physicians for the NFL’s Houston Oilers, and was involved with the day-to-day care and sideline coverage for home and away games.

The Oilers role set him on an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine path, in which Browne developed pathways and techniques in the care and surgical management of challenging sports-related injuries.

Browne went on to complete a Fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Knee Surgery at the University of Oregon-Eugene, during which time he worked with the physicians providing medical care for the 1976 Track & Field Olympic Team.

Browne moved back to Kansas City and, in 1984, opened an Orthopaedic Sub Specialty Sports Medicine practice, which includes four additional Fellowship trained Sub Specialists in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.

Browne has built a solid reputation not only from his own practice, but also from serving as a co-Medical Director for the Big Brothers-Big Sisters High School Football All-Star Game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Marathon (an Olympic qualifying event), as well 30 years as a sideline physician for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School football.

In 1990, Browne was contacted by Carl Peterson, the President and General Manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, and was asked to become the Head Team Physician (assisted by his Partner, Cris Barnthouse, who is now the Head Team Physician).

Peterson and former coach Marty Schottenheimer were instrumental in establishing the highest quality health care for their players.

Browne was provided an opportunity to assemble a team of the best medical specialists, both in Kansas City and out of town. This allowed flexibility to retain health-care providers and facilities without constraints of business arrangements. As a result, training camps in River Falls, Wisconsin, as well as home and away games, ran smoothly.

In 1990, Browne started the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Program through the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the first in the region, and continues to serve as its Program Director.

In addition, Browne has presented lectures, locally, nationally, and internationally, as well as published numerous scientific papers throughout his career. His current interest remains in the surgical treatment of complex knee injuries and cartilage cell transplantation, as well as robotic instrumentation of the knee.

In 2000, he, along with 12 other orthopaedic sub specialists, founded the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute, hospital and clinics.

Fortunately for Browne, he has been blessed with an understanding wife, Angela, as well as sons Ryan and Spencer. Along the way, he coached their youth baseball and basketball teams for 10 years. Yet duty often called with the NFL.

“You have to have a family that understands you aren’t always going to be around,” said Browne.

What made his job smoother was the medical team he surrounded himself with during his Chiefs days.

“Teamwork” was how Browne described his success.  “You’re only as good as your athletic trainers and medical consultants. They are your eyes and ears when you’re not at the stadium. You also need a receptive administrative and coaching staff who will respect your recommended treatment program and expected return to play status. Carl and all of the head team coaches provided the environment that allowed for a successful team effort.”