For some physicians, the path to medicine is disjointed. That wasn’t the case for Saint Thomas orthopaedist William Kurtz, MD.

At 16, the young Texan was invited to work alongside an orthopaedic surgeon in his hometown of Houston, shadowing the family friend during countless joint replacement procedures. “I knew then I wanted to do that with my life,” said the Nashville surgeon.

With one goal in mind, Kurtz pursued his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University, knowing the training would prove beneficial in an orthopaedic residency. He graduated medical school from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas with Alpha Omega Alpha honors distinction.

In 2000 Kurtz made the move to Nashville where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, followed by a subspecialty fellowship in adult reconstructive joint surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Now a Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance surgeon, Kurtz serves on the medical staff at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, Saint Thomas West Hospital and Centennial Medical Center.

Today, Kurtz’s primary expertise is in the field of joint replacement and revision surgery for the hip, knee, and shoulder, and he performs more than 400 joint replacement procedures each year. He said orthopaedics has come a long way in a relatively short time.

Customization is a Game Changer

“The greatest advance in orthopaedics is how healthcare can now be personalized,” Kurtz said. “When I replace a knee, I put in a personalized implant, which has been made specifically for that one patient.”

Kurtz utilizes 3D scanning technology to provide patients with customized knee replacements from ConforMIS, where the surgeon serves on the surgical advisory board. Unlike “off the shelf” counterparts, ConforMIS’s femoral and tibial implants are individually sized and shaped to fit to each patient’s unique anatomy. Five to six weeks later, Kurtz receives an exact replica of the patient’s original knee, which he says means better outcomes and less down time for the patient.

A Perfect Fit

Utilizing his mechanical engineering training, Kurtz partnered with ConforMIS in 2011 to help develop the next generation of joint replacement. Now an influential part of the ConforMIS design team, Kurtz is widely recognized as an early adaptor and leading expert in the field of customized implants.

“We’ve taken charge in terms of doing research on implants and working on the ins and outs of developing the second generation of implants,” Kurtz said. “The product design element of figuring out what works well and what doesn’t has given me a more detailed understanding of replacement nuances.”

Ever on the lookout for new ideas, Kurtz works continually in cadaver labs and experiments with new systems on the market to determine the best features to incorporate. He continues to develop technology privately, as well, and has filed more than 13 patents to date. “It’s been a passion of mine to improve care by improving tools and implants,” Kurtz said. “It truly is a dream job.”

Saint Thomas Joint Replacement Institute

In August 2015, Kurtz and the STHS ortho team celebrated the grand opening of the Saint Thomas Joint Replacement Institute at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital – a 94,000 square foot renovation with a $25 million price tag.

The project features eight dedicated operating rooms that are larger and more appropriate for advanced total joint replacement procedures. The facility also includes dedicated pre-op and recovery units, as well as in-patient nursing units. More than 1,000 shoulder, hip and knee replacements have been performed at STJRI since its opening.

“The Center has been phenomenal,” Kurtz said. “We focus on one topic over and over again, and there’s tremendous value in that.”

A single focus means improved efficiency and the ability to keep clinical staff on the same page. Kurtz said taking a product line and setting it apart also improves quality of care and patient experiences.

“Everyone has a goal of getting patients taken care of in the best way possible,” he said. “It’s really improved patient experiences and streamlined the process. The personnel and staff are a lot of fun as well, and do a great job.”

Kurtz and his wife Emily, a Vanderbilt cardiologist, have three children. He also serves on the board of Nashville’s Faith Family Medical Center, which provides care to the underserved in Middle Tennessee.

WEB:

http://www.sths.com/Pages/Medical-Services/Orthopedics/Joint-Replacement.aspx