In February 2021, Austin FC and St. David’s HealthCare announced Dr. Timothy Vachris, M.D., as the Club’s First Team Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Douglas Elenz, M.D., as First Team Chief Orthopedic Doctor. Dr. Vachris and Dr. Elenz have since worked in close coordination with St. David’s HealthCare to manage the healthcare needs of Austin FC players, coaches and staff. As Austin FC’s official healthcare partner, St. David’s HealthCare provides comprehensive screenings, lab work, imaging and emergency medical care to players and coaching staff, when needed.
In practice for over 15 years, Dr. Vachris has served as Family and Sports Medicine Physician at Texas Sports & Family Medicine since 2009, Team Physician for McCallum High School since 2010, and Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Family Medicine for The University of Texas Medical Branch between 2009-14. He also served as Team Physician for the University of Texas Athletics Program (2009-14).
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with Austin FC. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience,” Dr. Vachris said. “I especially appreciate and enjoy the time I get to work with the players as we strive to keep them healthy, safe, and able to perform at their highest level.”
Dr. Elenz is an orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in sports medicine. He has been practicing orthopedics in Austin for 25 years and helped established his current practice, Austin Sports Medicine, in 1999. He also serves as the Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the Athletics Department at The University of Texas at Austin, a position he has held since 2009. His experience includes prior team physician roles with the Chicago Cubs (MLB) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL). He has also treated many professional All-Stars, Olympic medalists, and World Champion athletes.
During the 2022 season, Dr. Elenz successfully surgically treated Austin FC defender Freddy Kleemann’s ACL injury and midfielder Jhojan Valencia’s torn knee meniscus.
“I have enjoyed caring for the players, staff and families of the entire Austin FC organization,” Dr. Elenz said. “St. David’s has been a very supportive health care partner and the club’s top-notch athletic trainers have allowed me to help keep our athletes safe and healthy as they perform at the highest level.”
Dr. Vachris graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Biology and Spanish in 2000 and earned his medical degree from The University of Texas at Houston in 2005. The Texas-native completed his residency in Family Medicine at Memorial Southwest Family Medicine Residency in Sugarland, Texas. While in residency, Dr. Vachris developed an interest in Sports Medicine, and supported the care of the athletes at the University of St. Thomas.
Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Vachris provided sports medicine coverage as team physician for California’s Claremont McKenna College, Cal State University, San Bernardino, and Los Osos High School.
Dr. Elenz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, where he was a two-time captain and seven-time NCAA All-American for the Longhorn Swim Team. Dr. Elenz completed a Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery Fellowship at Orthopedic Research of Virginia/Tuckahoe Orthopedic Associates in Richmond, Virginia in 1996 and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School. Dr. Elenz completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the McGraw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.