Construction Underway on UT Medical Center’s Advanced Orthopaedic Institute

Team members from UT Medical Center, OrthoTennessee and UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm hold groundbreaking ceremony

Leaders from The University of Tennessee Medical Center and OrthoTennessee gathered at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm to break ground on UT Medical Center’s Advanced Orthopaedic Institute. The organizations teamed up to construct a freestanding orthopaedic ambulatory surgery center with physicians and team members committed to providing outstanding patient care advancing orthopaedic research. The UT Research Park is across Alcoa Highway from the main campus of UT Medical Center.

“This project represents a partnership to provide patients with the most ideal site of service for outpatient orthopaedic care,” said Jon-David Deeson, CEO of OrthoTennessee. “Its scope of services is orthopaedic focused, and the location is aimed at improving the experience and cost of care for patients while maintaining the longstanding commitment of both our organizations to provide high quality care.”

An ambulatory surgery center provides a high-quality, cost effective alternative with convenient patient access and parking when an overnight hospital stay is not expected. Some of the most common orthopaedic procedures that will be performed at the center include surgery of the hand and foot, arthroscopy and reconstruction of the shoulder, hip and knee, as well as total joint and spine procedures.

“The UT Medical Center Advanced Orthopaedic Institute will serve our patients with high-quality care delivered by experts in orthopaedics in a convenient location,” said Joe Landsman, president and CEO of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “This partnership with OrthoTennessee/University Orthopedic Surgeons combines outstanding orthopaedic clinical and surgical knowledge with a research collaboration to address the growing needs of our community.”

Project leaders expect to have approximately 150 employees, including 14 orthopaedic surgeons, when the center opens. That total number of employees could expand to 180 with growth of the facility. Team members at the 91,000-square-foot center will care for around 225-275 patients a day for surgery, clinic, imaging and therapy.

The first floor of the three-story building will serve as the ambulatory surgery center including five operating rooms and an advanced imaging center. The second and third floors will house clinical areas as well as research and administrative offices. The facility will dedicate 17,000-square-feet of space for orthopaedic and other medical research, which project organizers describe as the ideal fit for the mission of the research park.

“With this groundbreaking, the UT Research Park is expanding in an exciting new direction that will provide opportunities for collaboration with our renowned researchers and students,” said UT President Randy Boyd. “We look forward to how this project will impact the lives who come before the center seeking help and researchers and students who seek to contribute to the latest in medical technology and practices.”

Realty Trust Group (RTG) is the real estate development partner for the project. The facility was designed by BarberMcMurry Architects, and the Christman Company is the general contractor. Financing is by First Horizon. Construction is expected take about 18 months, with an estimated opening date in the Spring of 2022.