Biography
I will always be grateful to my parents for showing me the worth of hard work from a young age. Both of them grew up on a farm in North Carolina. They wanted more for their children and taught us to work diligently toward our goals. I played basketball all through my school years in North Carolina — at 6 feet 6 inches tall, that was expected. I had the chance to watch local orthopaedic surgeons treat sports injuries. Fortunately none of those injuries were mine, but I was captivated by how the injured could get back to playing. During my school years I was a "Carolina fan," yet as a high school senior I had the chance to attend the Duke–North Carolina basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke won by one point in Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K)'s first year. After seeing the "Cameron Crazies," I was won over and chose Duke for college. Duke also let me major in Biomedical Engineering, which brought together my love of math and medicine. I never imagined I would get the chance to walk on as a basketball player under Coach K. The extra work of playing college basketball while keeping up my premed and engineering studies rose to a new level. I dropped 20 lbs in 6 weeks. Even so, I will never forget what Coach K taught me during that time. He showed me self-discipline, the focused drive to succeed, and the importance of becoming a man who would be respected. After Duke, I kept pursuing my goal of becoming an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. I attended medical school at the University of North Carolina, though I stayed a Duke fan. I actively sought out the orthopaedics and sports medicine rotations. Once I earned my medical degree, I was granted a place in the prestigious orthopaedic residency program at Yale University. At last I could do what I had dreamed of. While at Yale I met my wife, Christine, who was working as an ICU nurse. Her support carried me through the long hours at the hospital. Shoulder surgery was just beginning to enter the arthroscopic era. Many new discoveries were bringing significant advances in the treatment of shoulder pain. I chose shoulder surgery as my specialty. I completed a fellowship in shoulder surgery and sports medicine at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. That program was — and still is — the leading shoulder and sports training program in the country. There I learned the newest techniques for treating shoulder disorders. After finishing, I entered private practice in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. I joined Tidewater Orthopaedics, where I became known as "the shoulder guy." I have been with Tidewater Orthopaedics for nearly 25 years, expanding my experience in managing shoulder pain.
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📍 901 Enterprise Pkwy, Suite 900, Hampton, Virginia 23666
📞 757-827-2480
Dr. Payne's path — from farm-raised roots and Duke basketball to Yale residency and a shoulder fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery — shaped his focus on helping patients return to the activities they love. Nearly 25 years at Tidewater Orthopaedics have deepened his expertise in managing shoulder pain.