The role of Samuel D. Carter, M.D., is to help attend to any player injured during a game, or to evaluate players with potential orthopedic injuries between games. In the most serious cases, he will perform surgery on an injured player.

Published: March 3, 2020 | Updated: October 5, 2020

Samuel Carter, M.D., has always rooted for University of Louisville basketball. This season, as the orthopedic surgeon to the women’s team, he’s had a front row seat.

The women’s basketball team has been among the top in the country and will compete in the 2020 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Cardinals also could be among the favorites during the NCAA women’s tournament.

“I think they’re a really good team this year,” said Dr. Carter, who practices with Norton Orthopedic Institute. “This team is always exciting. We’ve got a chance to go pretty deep in the tournament, and hopefully we’ll get to take a trip to the Final Four in New Orleans.”

As team orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Carter’s role is to help attend to any player injured during a game or to evaluate players with potential orthopedic injuries between games. In the most serious cases, he will perform surgery on an injured player.

“As a team surgeon, you always hope that your surgical services are never needed, and we’ve been pretty lucky so far this year,” he said.

Dr. Carter grew up in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, a small town near the Tennessee border. While most of the town rooted for the University of Kentucky blue, according to Dr. Carter, he and his family were Cardinal red.

“I’ve always been a fan,” Dr. Carter said.

No surprise, then, that the Cards fan attended the University of Louisville for both his college and medical degrees. He also did his medical residency in orthopedic surgery at UofL.

Dr. Carter then completed a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopy at Orthopaedic Research of Virginia, in Richmond.

In addition to his sports medicine experience, Dr. Carter also performs hip, knee, and shoulder arthroscopies. His experience extends to ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration, partial knee replacement and patellar realignment.

Dr. Carter enjoys playing recreational basketball, and he and his wife, Sallie, were regulars at UofL women’s games before his orthopedic surgeon duties started this season. Seeing the team play courtside has given him a new appreciation for the players’ skill and athleticism.

“It’s definitely amazing to see them up close — how talented and athletic some of these players are,” Dr. Carter said. “Women’s basketball is just as competitive as the men’s game.”

During the NCAA tournament, the Louisville women likely will play their first two games at home. Dr. Carter will travel with the team to the ACC Women’s Tournament in Greensboro, N.C.

No matter how the tournament ends, according to Dr. Carter, he’s looking forward to continuing as the team’s orthopedic surgeon.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I’d like to continue this as long as I can.”