About Us

Nashville Sports Medicine Foundation (NSMF) was founded in 2005 with a vision to further research and education in the field of hip arthroscopy as well as other areas of orthopaedics.

Our educational efforts effectively support programs that focus on clinical applications for physicians and allied health professionals, encouraging advancement in diagnostic and treatment modalities for orthopaedic problems throughout the world. Through didactic learning experiences, publications, and collaborative research, the Foundation has contributed to the educational efforts of national and international organizations on six continents. (Global Impact)

On the research front, the NSMF vision has evolved in a very unique and effective direction. Principal research data is pulled from a cohort of over 3000 consecutive hip arthroscopy cases. This database has provided the firm foundation for publication of two textbooks, 43 book chapters and 36 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals in addition to over 500 presentations at scientific meetings. Current research projects include two studies on synovial disease in the hip (pigmented villonodular synovitis and synovial chondromatosis), a study of the efficacy of treatment of femoroacetabular impingement; and research regarding the snapping iliopsoas tendon. Additionally, publication of the 10-year follow-up results of our prospective study of arthroscopic surgery of the hip is pending. For a list of lectures and publications, click here.

Even as we reflect on the dramatic diagnostic and treatment advances that have been made over the last few years, we look eagerly to exciting horizons ahead and to improvements in restoration techniques and arthroscopic management of debilitating hip problems that previously went undiagnosed and untreated.



Dr. J. W. Thomas Byrd M.D.
(Principal Investigator)

has been practicing his passion, orthopaedic surgery, for the last three decades. The principles of sports medicine emphasize a comprehensive team approach in the conservative treatment of injuries with the goal of helping the patient return to a healthy state, and focuses on the prevention of new or recurrent injuries. When surgery is necessary, Dr. Byrd's specialty in arthroscopic techniques emphasizes less invasive surgery for a potentially easier and quicker recovery. These principles, initially developed for the competitive athlete, apply to all injuries whether they occur in the recreational environment, work place, or at home.

A native Nashvillian, Dr. Byrd is the third generation of physicians in his family to serve this community. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, graduating magna cum laude. He obtained his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and performed his orthopaedic training at the University of Louisville. Dr. Byrd participated in fellowship training programs in two specialty areas of orthopaedics. The first, sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery under Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama, has remained the focus of Dr. Byrd's career. Additionally, Dr. Byrd gained fellowship training in joint replacement and reconstructive surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Byrd is team physician for the Tennessee Titans and has served as physician for the U.S. Olympic Team. He is a consulting orthopaedic surgeon for numerous professional sports franchises from the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB, as well as the ATP professional tennis tour. He is also team physician for Trevecca Nazarene University, Martin Methodist College, numerous area high schools, and attending physician to the Nashville Ballet.

Dr. Byrd is the founder of Nashville Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center which allows him to continue his dream of providing highest quality, state of the art, specialty orthopaedic care. He has held numerous local, national, and international appointments. He has authored several textbooks on hip arthroscopy and contributed numerous textbook chapters on this and other select orthopaedic topics in addition to publishing over 50 scientific articles. His referral base of patients is international and he is visited by orthopaedic surgeons from all parts of the world to learn his techniques. As a scientist, Dr. Byrd has been active in clinical research. He developed several surgical techniques that are commonly employed throughout the orthopaedic world and invented numerous instruments that have revolutionized aspects of orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Byrd has served as a visiting surgeon and lectures frequently at national and international meetings.

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Kay S. Jones, MSN, RN
(Clinical Research Director)

Mrs. Jones obtained her Master's Degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and joined Dr. Byrd in 1993 as an Advanced Practice Nurse. As an orthopaedic specialist, Kay has worn many hats, serving as an active practitioner, educator, consultant, researcher, leader, change agent and case manager. In her role as Clinical Research Director for Nashville Sports Medicine Foundation, she has the monumental task of overseeing the ever-expanding database of hip arthroscopy patients.

Because Nashville Sports Medicine serves as a national and international referral base for patients seeking treatment for injuries and disease of the hip, Kay's role as communicator is vitally important. Her warm and open style has enabled her to develop a personal rapport with each patient that begins with the initial contact and continues through surgery and beyond. Her efforts were recently evidenced when Dr. Byrd reported 10-year results of hip arthroscopy at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' 2007 annual meeting with a remarkable 100% followup on all patients.

Mrs. Jones is the author of two book chapters on clinical nursing care of hip arthroscopy patients and has co-authored numerous articles on the topic of hip arthroscopy. In addition to the hip arthroscopy database, she coordinates all research projects for Nashville Sports Medicine Foundation. Kay resides in Nashville with her husband and daughter.

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