R. Shane Barton, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, FAAOS, FAOA, FACS, serves as executive medical director of Willis Knighton Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. An orthopaedic surgeon and a leader in medical education, Dr. Barton is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, with additional certification in sports medicine. His clinical expertise ranges from non-operative sports injuries to complex reconstructive procedures of the shoulder, elbow and knee. He has a particular interest in revision surgeries, extensive bone loss procedures and medical issues affecting athletes.  

Dr. Barton is a physician scientist, orthopaedic surgeon and a leader in medical education, serving patients in the Ark-La-Tex since 2005. He maintains an academic appointment as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport where he was previously Chair of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine department. He also served as Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at LSU Health. Through the years, Dr. Barton served as team physician for many regional sports clubs and schools. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Barton is also a commissioned reserve deputy with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and a tactical medical director for CPSO and for the Louisiana State Police SWAT team. He is the holder of several medical device patents. He has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, co-authored a book, written book chapters, and presented nationally and internationally.  

A native of East Texas, Dr. Barton graduated as a Presidential Endowed Scholar from Texas A&M University, working as a computer engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. At NASA, he was awarded multiple research honors for his work in robotic vision and image processing. He then attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, graduating with honors as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Barton went on to Harvard Medical School-Massachusetts General Hospital, where he finished his fellowship training in shoulder and sports medicine in 2005, serving as the assistant team physician for the New England Patriots. While there, he served as a graduate clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.

In addition, Dr. Barton earned a Master of Public Health degree at LSU Health/LSU Shreveport and completed an MBA and Master of Science in Healthcare Management and Leadership at University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical School.  

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Barton finds great joy in his personal life with his wife, Tammy, and his two children, Ethan (Olivia) and Ella Grace.