Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Union City
Religious studies and biology may not be the most traditional combination of majors that would result in an orthopedic surgeon. But Michael Calfee, MD, has found a way to integrate the two into his practice at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Union City and in his mission work in Honduras.
Growing up in Cleveland, Tennessee, Calfee’s father was a farmer who told his sons they would be the first doctors in the family. The idea must have stuck as both Calfee and his older brother heeded his father’s words. Calfee set his sights on becoming a doctor in high school and never wavered.
While studying biology and zoology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Calfee discovered another interest, religious studies. When he was accepted into medical school his junior year of college, he deferred his admission to devote his senior year to completing a second major in religious studies. “It was certainly different from what I was learning in biology,” said Calfee.
During his general surgery rotation in his third year in medical school at UT-Health Sciences Center in Memphis, Calfee found his calling, orthopedics. “I had always known I would do something surgical. When I was doing my surgical rotation at the Med, I found I really fit in with the orthopedic residents better than any other specialty and I enjoyed the work more,” said Calfee. “I think I was born to be an orthopedic because if I had to do anything else, I probably would not have finished medical school. I just cannot see myself doing anything else. Orthopedics is so different. I think most orthopedics may feel that way.”
Calfee remained in Memphis for his orthopedic surgery residency at the Campbell Clinic where he also completed a foot ankle fellowship under the direction of Greer Richardson, MD. “Dr. Richardson had been my Sunday School teacher throughout medical school and my residency,” said Calfee, who is board certified in both sports medicine and orthopedics. “I respected him tremendously and the opportunity to work closely with him was an honor.”
After three years at a clinic in Dalton, Georgia, Calfee moved to Paris, Tenn. to join a practice that also had offices in Union City and Huntingdon. Calfee eventually left the group and took the Union City and Huntingdon portion of the practice and opened Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. “Since I was spending the bulk of my time in Union City with the practice and it was a better fit for my family, we moved there,” said Calfee.
As a sole practitioner, who is also a devoted father of three, Calfee is always looking to add another physician to his busy practice. Two years ago, he added Stephanie Miller, a physician assistant, to his staff and opened his own therapy clinic, Synergy Therapy and Aquatics. “It is in the same building as the clinic and has been a great addition,” said Calfee. “I like having a close relationship with the therapists. I can walk across the hall to check on patients and if the therapist has a question, I am close by. It has also really worked well for our patients and we do quite a bit of aquatic therapy.”
Outside of the office, Calfee focuses on family and doing mission work in Honduras. “After my first trip, I was hooked. I fell in love with the people and God put it on my heart to figure out a way to do what I do down there,” he said. “After that first trip, Operation New Life, which has been doing surgical missions in Honduras for the past 12 years, contacted me about leading a team. I knew that was not my calling but I wanted to be part of the team.”
Calfee has made seven trips to Honduras since 2012, five of which were surgical in nature. “We go in May and November and treat about 150 patients and perform 50-60 cases. About 20-25 of these will be total hips or knees,” said Calfee.
Serving as head of missions for his church has given Calfee the opportunity to make more trips to Honduras and to include his family. “This past June, my wife, Janet, my daughters Grace Ann and Elizabeth and my son, Hudson all got to go. The girls had been before but it was the first time my son could go. We made it our family vacation. It was a neat opportunity that we will definitely continue,” said Calfee. “I am very focused on doing mission type of work and do quite a bit of it through our church. I am also on the Board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.”
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