OrthoMemphis surgeon leads the Tennessee Orthopaedic Society to record membership | Community Spirit

Information provided by OrthoMemphis

(Memphis) OrthoMemphis fellowship trained hand surgeon Dr. Jeff Cole has led the Tennessee Orthopaedic Society to record membership. As president of the society, Cole has increased membership from 280 in 2010 to 400 in 2011, a 43% increase.  This explosion in membership has been driven by the need to improve communication on best practices,  patient care, and practice management among the more than 600 orthopaedic surgeons statewide.

The society feels that it is more important than ever to work as a cohesive group to ensure that access to orthopaedic care and the quality of patient care are not affected by changes in health policy. Lobbyist Nathan Green represents the society in Nashville.  He reviews all legislative bills and meets with members of the state legislature to ensure the best interests of orthopaedic patients are represented. As the baby boomer generation ages, it is critical that access to orthopaedic care for better quality of life and healthier lifestyles are preserved.

Dr. Cole has been a part of the medical community in Tennessee for several years, beginning in Nashville where he attended medical school at Vanderbilt. He completed his residency in Chattanooga and returned home to Memphis to practice in 1996.  With these experiences and contacts across the state, he has been able to connect orthopaedic surgeons and develop a society that better fits their needs. For instance, in order to drive attendance for the upcoming annual society meeting, Dr. Cole moved the meeting to a centralized affordable location to allow surgeons easy access and cost-effective travel.  He also invited nationally renowned surgeon Dr. Ken Yamaguchi of Washington University to present his National Institutes of Health study on rotator cuff pathology.