To say that sports medicine is in Dr. David N. Palmer’s blood would not be incorrect. Not only did his brother Dean enjoy a lengthy Major League Baseball career with the Rangers, Royals and Tigers, Dr. Palmer pursued his own athletic dreams to Florida State.

As a Seminole, Palmer excelled on the field and off as he earned an Academic All-American status, playing a hybrid role of inside linebacker, running back and fullback. But it was what happened on the sidelines that determined his future, as he got his first exposure to sports medicine through the team doctors. During the off-season he would shadow team physicians and volunteer, paving his way to medical school.

“That’s one reason I enjoy doing sports medicine,” he said, adding with a laugh, “Sometimes I want to say, ‘Get in there; you’re not hurt.'”

For those who are, however, you couldn’t ask for a more competent physician at your side. Specializing in sports injuries for young and old, Dr. Palmer has performed countless successful arthroscopic surgeries and knee replacements. His passion for helping patients is perhaps only matched by his pursuit of medical science’s bleeding edge.

Whether it’s high-tech advancements like NeoCart or GelrinC, Dr. Palmer always has his eyes on the future. In fact, he was among the first to work with the REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant, a breakthrough in rotator cuff repair. “It’s exciting to work with some of the new products in orthopedics before they get on the market,” he said. “And, it’s exciting to get on the cutting edge of some of the technology that has come to fruition in the field of orthopedics.”