Dr. Kevin Foley recently had the opportunity to speak about spinal surgery in relation to pain management. 

"One rationale for minimally invasive spine surgery is to diminish the pain of the surgery...Surgery is looked upon as a last resort, however, timely surgical intervention rather than prolonged medication use can be advantageous.

Back pain is the second most common reason patients visit a primary care doctor...Intervening and addressing that problem with appropriate or surgical care eliminates [the] need for chronic pain medication and lessens the risk of creating someone who's chronically dependent on pain meds."

Read the full commentary HERE or in the most recent edition of the Memphis Business Journal

Dr. Autry Parker, Semmes Murphey physician and President of the Memphis Medical Society, speaks to the opioid crisis and how important it is for physicians to advocate for the community.

"Up until recently, Shelby County was the one county in the state of Tennessee that had not been overly affected by the opiate epidemic," Dr. Parker said. "I like to think that's partly because of the standard of care that we [have] expected here...Since there were only two or three other pain specialists here when I arrived, I'd like to think that we had something to do with that."

Dr. Parker is a board certified, fellowship trained anesthesiologist specializing in the interventional treatment of severe spinal and neuromuscular pain. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Parker was an early pioneer in the comprehensive treatment of pain in Shelby County.

Read the full article here!

Semmes Murphey Clinic Opens Neurosurgery & Neurology Care Center at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi

Semmes Murphey Clinic and Baptist Memorial Health Care are bringing world-class neurological care to the Oxford, Miss. region with the recent opening of the Brain & Spine Network within the new Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi Medical Office building. 

 Because of this collaboration between the two respected entities and their shared goal to enhance and increase the convenience of treatment expertise and patient-centered health care for this region of Mississippi, the new Brain & Spine Network will offer the same renowned neurologic services, surgery, rehabilitation and neck and back pain services provided in its Memphis headquarters. 

 “Semmes Murphey and Baptist are committed to bringing patients the best care possible from the top doctors and experts in the field at the optimal location,” said John A. Lewis, Semmes Murphey Clinic chief executive officer. “Because of my personal family connection to Oxford and the Semmes Murphey commitment to the region, I am doubly pleased our services will now be more accessible and responsive to the growing needs of this area.”   

 While the services of all the SMC physicians are available to patients in the North Mississippi office, the core group of physicians at this satellite location also bring unique expertise in their respective fields to the region. 

 Dr. Jay McDonald is an expert in interventional pain management.  While completing his residency and fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. McDonald gained a unique perspective of the needs in Oxford and North Mississippi. He treats all types of pain including back, neck and joint pain, headaches, and pain due to illnesses like cancer.

 A former Navy officer, Dr. LaVerne Lovell is a general neurosurgeon with a focus on spinal surgery.  Dr. Lovell has been serving neurosurgery patients in Memphis and North Mississippi for several decades.

 Dr. Paul Kilmo, general neurosurgeon, focuses on pediatric as well as adult patients with brain tumors.  He also offers specialized care for people with Spina Bifida, spine tumors, vascular malformations, and more.

Dr. Raul Cardenas is a third generation neurosurgeon in his family, who did his residency and training at Semmes Murphey with a focus on minimally invasive spine surgery. 

 Dr. Jon Robertson, has a long history of emergency neurological services, and was the 2013 recipient of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ highest award – the Harvey Cushing Medal.  Dr. Robertson will continue to provide occasional weekend coverage for Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi.

 “The thing that makes the Brain & Spine Network special is the vast amounts of resources available to patients and the wide range of experience and specialties offered by all of the providers,” Dr. McDonald said. “Each specialist works together to help address any, and all, of a patient’s needs.”

 The new 80,000-square-foot medical office building connects to the new Baptist hospital facility that opened on Belk Drive on November 25th. Along with the new Brain & Spine Network, the facility also houses physician offices, other hospital departments, and meeting spaces.  The Brain & Spine Network is accepting appointments (901-522-7700).

 “The new Baptist hospital in Oxford is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive hospitals that I have ever seen,” Dr. McDonald said. “It’s an exciting time for Semmes Murphey as the clinic expands its services and partnerships with Baptist to better serve the Oxford and North Mississippi community.”

 SMC began in 1912 when Dr. Eustace Semmes arrived as the first neurosurgeon in Memphis. Little was known about the field of neurosurgery at the time, and there was a great and growing need. With his first associate, Francis Murphey, he founded the Semmes Murphey Clinic.

 For more than 100 years, Semmes Murphey Clinic has been a leader in the development of technology and procedures, along with the performance of patient-centered care, that improve the quality of treatment and outcomes for patients with neurological and spine disorders. This continuing leadership and expertise has made the Semmes Murphey name instantly recognizable to physicians across the country and the world, many of whom refer their patients to SMC for treatment.

 Today, the doctors of Semmes Murphey Clinic specialize in neurosurgery, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional pain and neuropsychology. All these fields of medicine deal with illnesses, injuries, and surgery related to the nervous system.

The Semmes Murphey Clinic has a passion for advancing the field of neuroscience and is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Michael DeCuypere to our team.

Dr. Michael DeCuypere is a pediatric and adult neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive neurosurgery, brain tumors, aneurysms, vascular malformations, peripheral nerve surgery, disc herniation, adult degenerative spinal stenosis and pediatric scoliosis, among other conditions. His research interests include exploring the complex molecular biology of glioblastoma and medulloblastoma and uncovering novel treatment protocols for immediate clinical application.

“We’re committed to bringing our patients the best care possible from the top doctors and experts in the field, and Dr. DeCuypere’s expertise is an excellent addition to our team,” says John Lewis, Semmes Murphey CEO.

He completed fellowships in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Oncology and Complex Endoscopy with Dr. Charlie Teo in Sydney, Australia and Pediatric Neurosurgery with Dr. Rick Boop at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital / St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee.

Dr. DeCuypere earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Tennessee Technological University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his medical degree and doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center combined MD, PhD program. He completed neurosurgical residency in Memphis with Semmes Murphey Clinic and the University of Tennessee Department of Neurosurgery.

Read more about Dr. DeCuypere and his specialties here.