Macon Magazine

OrthoGeorgia, the center for comprehensive orthopaedic care in the Heart of Georgia, is celebrating its 60th year. e practice has grown from the vision of a single surgeon determined to provide excellent care to an underserved region into a dominant provider of world class musculoskeletal services. e practice was established in 1961 by Waldo Floyd, Jr., M.D., son and grandson of south Georgia country doctors. He knew that there was limited specialty medical care in the state between Atlanta and Florida to the south. Following his education and military service, Dr. Floyd established his practice in Macon, which then was emerging as the center for healthcare in the region with the dependable anesthesia and medical support required for the safe care of surgical patients. e opportunity to provide quality orthopaedic surgery in a region with limited manpower met his goal to expand and enhance musculoskeletal care in Georgia. From the mid-20th century into the new millennium, OrthoGeorgia has met the region's need by developing general and sub-specialty orthopaedic services and selectively recruiting talented surgeons from the top training programs in the country. With offices in Macon, Warner Robins, Dublin, Milledgeville and Griffin, the practice has reached out to surrounding communities thereby enhancing access to its excellence. Whether pioneering surgery for arthritic hips or transferring toes to reconstruct amputated thumbs, the surgeons are internationally known as leaders in their fields. ey have held leadership positions in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Six surgeons have served as president of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society and three have served as president of the Georgia Society for Surgery of the Hand. e surgeons contribute to the education of future generations by teaching medical, college and high school students and treating athletes at Middle Georgia State University, Mercer University, Fort Valley State University and high schools throughout the region. One surgeon is member and past chair of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia and another is a Trustee at Wesleyan College. e practice has established Centers of Excellence in Spine care, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Hand Surgery, Joint Replacement and Sports Medicine. State-of-the-art technology including robotic, microscopic and minimally invasive surgery is utilized daily. OrthoGeorgia is a significant contributor to the Middle Georgia economy. e 427 employees make the practice among the top 20 employers in Macon-Bibb County. As a beacon for orthopaedic care, the clinic attracts many who shop, lodge, eat and visit local attractions. Over the course of the past year, the 26 surgeons, 28 physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and 28 physical and occupational therapists had treatment encounters with more than 241,000 patients from 144 Georgia counties and 41 states. Seven thousand operations were done in OrthoGeorgia's six ambulatory operating rooms on the Northside Drive campus. OrthoGeorgia remains committed to meet the mission developed 60 years ago of providing a comprehensive team approach for compassionate patient care with excellent outcomes. www.orthoga.org C E L E B R A T I N G 6 0 Y E A R S ADVERTORIAL

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