Dr. Babatunde Fariyike's journey from Auburn football to orthopedic surgery

Atlanta, Ga. (January 12, 2026) – For Babatunde Fariyike, MD, of Piedmont Orthopedics & OrthoAtlanta, the path to becoming an orthopedic sports surgeon was anything but ordinary. Today, he treats athletes and active patients at his Alpharetta practice, but his story began on the football fields of Auburn University, where he played Division I football and even celebrated a national championship.

Dr. Fariyike, who grew up in Thomaston, Georgia, credits his father—a nephrologist with nearly four decades of experience—as his earliest influence in medicine. “I always knew I was interested in medicine,” he said. But football didn’t enter the picture until his freshman year of high school, when a coach convinced him to give the sport a try. “I loved it immediately,” he recalled. His size and determination paid off, earning him a scholarship to Auburn, where he played from 2010 to 2014.

His time at Auburn was marked by unforgettable moments, including the Tigers’ 2010 national championship win over Oregon and a return to the national title game in 2014. “It was an amazing experience,” Dr. Fariyike said. Though injuries limited his playing time, one knee injury introduced him to renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews—a meeting that would shape his future. “It opened this whole new world to me,” he said. “It was the perfect marriage of my two passions: sports and medicine.”

After graduating from Auburn, Dr. Fariyike attended the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, then completed a five-year orthopedic residency at NYU Langone in Manhattan. He later returned to Alabama for a sports medicine fellowship at Andrews Sports Medicine, training under some of the nation’s top orthopedic surgeons. “I think it’s the best fellowship in the country,” he said with a smile.

When it came time to return home to Georgia, Dr. Fariyike found the perfect opportunity through a connection with Dr. Michael Behr a respected orthopedic surgeon in North Atlanta. “Dr. Behr and I shared the same vision for patient care and innovation,” Dr. Fariyike said. “Joining his team made sense—it allowed me to bring everything I learned back to my community.”

Now based in Alpharetta, Dr. Fariyike specializes in sports injuries—ACL tears, shoulder dislocations, and elbow injuries common among athletes—while also performing joint replacements using advanced robotic technology. “Robotics like MAKO are changing the game,” he explained. “It takes the guesswork out of surgery and allows for precise planning and execution.”

Living just minutes from downtown Alpharetta, Dr. Fariyike says returning to Georgia was an easy decision. “My parents are here, my wife’s family is from here—it just made sense,” he said.

From championship football to cutting-edge medicine, Dr. Fariyike’s journey reflects a commitment to excellence both on and off the field. And for the athletes he treats, his unique perspective as a former player makes all the difference.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Fariyike at 770.676.1012 or visit his profile at piedmont.org.