Physician Spotlight: Dr. Andre Anderson

Lee Health Coconut Point physician helps active community with sports-related injuries, primary care

Dr. Andre Anderson, M.D., is an original. He hails from Miami, putting him among the 36 percent of residents born and raised in the Sunshine State.

So, naturally, the board-certified family care physician is a die-hard fan of the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins sports team. Which leads to an interesting, sports-related fact about Dr. Anderson: he’s also board-certified in sports medicine.

That would make him, in sports terminology, a two-sport athlete.

“I wanted to be a physician from as long as I can remember,” Dr. Anderson says. “I’m a ‘people person,’ so family medicine was right for me because I enjoy getting to know people and building relationships. I’m also a big advocate of healthier and happier lifestyles through athletics, which made my specialty in sports medicine icing on the cake.”

The disciplines of primary care and sports medicine pair well together, says Dr. Anderson, who practices at Lee Health Coconut Point.

“As a family medicine practitioner, I can help patients identify and address health issues before they happen or worsen,” Dr. Anderson says. “Preventive health not only means regular health exams and health screening tests, but also learning ways to fit more exercise into your life. I try to educate my patients about healthy lifestyle changes that they can use in their own lives.”

Dr. Anderson follows the national recommendations for 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a week and then two days a week of resistance training.

“There is strong evidence that it can prolong your life expectancy, decrease cardiovascular disease, and improve your blood sugars,” he notes. “Of course, not everyone is at the same place in their health and fitness levels. That’s why I practice patient-centered care that respects and responds to my patients’ preferences, needs, and values that guide our clinical decisions.”

Dr. Anderson says his specialty in sports medicine complements the preventive health aspects of primary care medicine.

“What’s wonderful about the Southwest Florida community is how active everyone is,” he says. “But aches and pains come with any active lifestyle. You might turn an ankle while running, tweak a knee while playing paddleball, or strain a muscle while swimming.

“In those instances, my goal is to get you back to where you were before your health issue. For serious injuries that may require further consultation from experts, for example, in orthopedics, my expertise can put you in the hands of a specialist.”

The 411 on Dr. Andre Anderson

Dr. Anderson received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies, and completed a family medicine residency at Union Hospital, Terre Haute, Ind.

In 2019, he completed a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at his alma mater, Florida International University.

His areas of expertise include primary care, orthopedic and sports medicine, regenerative medicine, medical weight loss, and exercise medicine.

A longtime resident of Florida’s East Coast, Dr. Anderson moved to Southwest Florida in October. He and his wife welcomed their first child, a daughter, into their family the day after Christmas.

Looking Ahead: PRP Therapy to Treat Sports Aches, Pains and Injuries

Dr. Anderson stays ahead of the curve in the latest treatments to get you back on the health trail when you find yourself hurting from aches, pains, or even injured.

That’s why he’s excited about platelet-rich plasma, or PRP therapy, which is thought to promote healing in soft tissues such as sore tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

“Platelet-rich injection therapy uses your own plasma to help your body heal by targeting areas of pain,” Dr. Anderson says. “By promoting healing and reducing inflammation in your sore ligaments, tendons or muscles, PRP therapy helps you recover faster and get back to doing what you love to do.”

Dr. Anderson says world-class athletes such as golf legend Tiger Woods and tennis star Rafael Nadal have used these injections to help heal injuries and relieve pain associated with tendinitis and osteoarthritis.

“For example, ligaments can take time and be difficult to heal,” Dr. Anderson says. “For some patients who have tried conventional therapies like corticosteroid therapy without finding relief, PRP therapy offers an attractive option.”

Dr. Anderson says he hopes to introduce PRP therapy into his practice later this year, perhaps as early as September.

To make an appointment with Dr. Anderson at Lee Health Coconut Point or to learn if PRP therapy may be right for you, call 239-468-0150 today.