Former UNC baseball player Shane Taylor, MD, joins Harris Regional Hospital as sports medicine surgeon

Harris Regional Hospital is pleased to welcome Shane Taylor, MD, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, to its medical staff. Dr. Taylor will begin seeing patients in mid-September at Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, a Department of Harris Regional Hospital, and will also serve as a team physician for Western Carolina University’s Catamount Athletics. 

Dr. Taylor joins an established and experienced team of orthopaedic and sports medicine providers, including Lawrence Supik, MD; Douglas Gates, MD; Ryan Slechta, MD; Paul Ulrich, DO; John Songer, MD; Alexis Parker, PA-C; Jarod Schoberl, PA-C; and Colby Finch, PA-C. 

Dr. Taylor recently completed a sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, where he served as a team physician for Samford University and provided physician coverage for area high school football programs. He previously completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Marshall University, where he served as chief resident, and earned his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. 

Originally from Mullica Hill, New Jersey, Dr. Taylor’s connection to North Carolina began as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a degree in exercise and sport science and played baseball for the Tar Heels. His time in Chapel Hill left a lasting connection to the state. He said the opportunity to return to North Carolina, practice in a small community, and care for both local and collegiate athletes made Harris Regional Hospital a natural fit as he begins his practice. 

“Dr. Taylor brings outstanding sports medicine training, firsthand experience as a collegiate athlete, and a clear understanding of what it means to help patients safely return to the activities that are important to them,” said Ashley Hindman, chief executive officer of Harris Regional Hospital. “We are excited to welcome him to our medical staff and to have him contribute not only to the care of our patients, but also to our longstanding partnership with Western Carolina University and Catamount Athletics.” 

Dr. Taylor said his own experience in sports helped shape his decision to pursue orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine. 

“I played sports throughout my life, including baseball at UNC, and I saw firsthand how meaningful it can be for someone who has been injured to work their way back to the sport or activity they love,” Dr. Taylor said. “As I continued my medical training, I never found anything more rewarding than helping patients work toward that goal. That ultimately led me to orthopaedics and sports medicine.” 

Dr. Taylor’s clinical and research interests center on sports-related injuries of the shoulder, elbow, and knee, with particular focus on ACL reconstruction, UCL repair and reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic techniques, and helping patients safely return to activity following orthopaedic treatment. 

Dr. Taylor’s addition to the team comes as Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital continue their longstanding relationship with Western Carolina University Athletics. The hospitals recently renewed the partnership through a new four-year agreement, continuing as the official healthcare providers for Catamount Athletics. Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine plays a key role in that partnership through team physician coverage and collaboration with WCU athletic trainers and athletics staff. 

The role of team physician is a natural extension of Dr. Taylor’s previous sports medicine experience. In addition to serving as a team physician during fellowship, he provided high school football coverage throughout his orthopaedic residency and has volunteered with programs that help children with special needs participate in sports. 

Outside of medicine, Dr. Taylor enjoys going to the gym, playing golf, and going to the movies. 

Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine provides full-spectrum care for bone, joint, ligament, tendon, and other musculoskeletal conditions, including general orthopaedics, sports medicine, joint replacement, and treatment of traumatic injuries.