Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee breaks ground, continuing legacy of excellence

According to medical professionals, “patient-centered care” will be the foundation of the new Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, which broke ground Monday, on the campus of Williamson Medical Center.

At least a dozen renowned community orthopaedic doctors attended the groundbreaking ceremony and grabbed a shovel to commemorate the premier $40 million, 121,000 square feet state-of-the-art project. Dozens of supporters and elected officials were also in attendance.

The facility is located at 3000 Edward Curd Lane and will include 64 outpatient consultation rooms, onsite imaging services, physical therapy and occupational therapy suites and as well as a café.

In March, the Bone Joint Institute of Tennessee along with orthopaedic surgical partner WMC, announced the hiring of 10 orthopaedic surgeons at the institute. The nationally and internationally recognized physicians joined Dr. Michael McNamara and Dr. Geoffrey Watson as part of the orthopaedic team, all of whom were most recently practicing at Vanderbilt Bone and Joint in Franklin.

Although the formation of the institute is recent, services provided by the orthopaedic doctors date back almost 40 years in the community.

“Today, my fellow surgeons and I along with our medical partner, Williamson Medical Center, are proud to continue on the legacy that Dr. Ferrell began nearly 40 years ago,” John Klekamp, M.D. and president of the institute said at the groundbreaking.

“This building represents to us the future of orthopaedic care not only in Williamson County, and the greater Nashville area, but in the Southeast region.”

The original Franklin Bone and Joint Clinic was founded by the late Dr. Craig Ferrell in 1979 where he was joined less than a year later by Dr. Shannon Curtis. Together, they built Franklin Bone and Joint Clinic into the largest orthopaedic practice in Williamson County. The practice was eventually purchased by Vanderbilt in 2009.

The original founding partners, who helped Ferrell build Franklin Bone and Joint, joined forces to break ground on the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Monday.

“The tremendous legacy and credibility they bring instantly lends integrity, quality and professionalism to our new institute,” WMC CEO Don Webb said previously about the doctors.

The resignations of multiple doctors, formerly practicing at Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Clinic, were reported on Dec. 6 by the Williamson Herald. The Vanderbilt-owned clinic continues to operate separately.

Ferrell’s widow, Lorraine, recently shared sentiments saying, “In many ways, it feels like this practice is coming home.”

“When my husband founded Franklin Bone and Joint Clinic in 1979, patients were not a number and employees were not just someone who worked for you — they were, and are, family,” she said. “That mindset and the culture my husband instilled in the practice is why they have been so successful in the past, and I support the partnership with Williamson Medical Center. I believe this is a step in the right direction because they, too, share those core values.”

WMC Chairman of the Board of Trustees Russell Little said he is proud of the facility coming to the campus, which contributes to the legacy of excellence at the hospital, dating back to 1957.

“The job of the Board of Trustees is to hire the CEO, approve the budget and then get out of the way as this incredible hospital with its wonderful staff do their jobs,” Little said.

The institute will temporarily be located on-site in Williamson Tower, located at 4323 Carothers Parkway in Franklin, while the new facility is constructed.