Host Jeremy C. Park talks with cityCURRENT partner, John Lewis, CEO of Semmes Murphey Clinic, who highlights the independent, physician-owned brain and spine care practice founded in Memphis in 1912. The clinic is a global leader in neurosurgery and neurology, advancing the fields of spinal, cranial and endovascular treatments through cutting-edge research, groundbreaking surgical techniques, and a steadfast commitment to improving lives. During the interview, John shares some of the clinic's history, noting how Dr. Semmes was the first neurosurgeon in Memphis, and he trained directly under Dr. Harvey Cushing, who’s considered the “father” of neurosurgery. He talks about the growth over the years and how today Semmes Murphey Clinic is a multi-faceted practice with more than 40 physicians, 3 neuropsychologists, and a full complement of physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and related medical staff who collectively treat everything from headaches to complex spinal deformity.
John discusses how being independent of any hospital facility or other practice means their doctors see patients all across the Mid-South and shares some of the many different ways his team helps patients between a brain tumor surgery in a pediatric hospital, stroke intervention at an adult hospital, spine trauma surgery in an emergency room, elective spine surgery in their surgery center, a memory care assessment office visit, conservative care physical therapy in their clinic or an MRI in their imaging suite. John then talks about his team and the specialized training and education required in the field. He talks about some of the innovations, like minimally-invasive spine surgery, which is now considered standard practice, and how that was developed at Semmes Murphey Clinic in the 1990s. He also highlights some of their partnerships and how the clinic is further involved in the community, like as a founding partner in the Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) and with their Residency Program at UT Health Sciences Center.
John then talks about the importance of being proactive with our health because problems with the spine often show up looking like something else, and he shares his own story and testimonial as a patient. He wraps up highlighting the Brain and Spine Network, a Center of Excellence program that Semmes Murphey Clinic and Baptist Memorial Health Care, another cityCURRENT partner, have structured for employers as an employer-based offering. Companies that join the Brain and Spine network can offer their employees direct access to high quality, non-invasive care for acute back and neck problems. John wraps up talking about the many benefits of helping employees with issues like back pain and headaches and how taking a proactive approach leads to fewer missed workdays and higher levels of performance, productivity, and happiness.
Visit https://www.semmes-murphey.com/citycu... to learn more about the Center of Excellence program or visit www.semmes-murphey.com to learn more about Semmes Murphey Clinic.