Frederick M. Azar, MD, a longtime Memphis orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and a Memphis Medical Society member, has been named the new Harold Boyd Chair of the UT Health Science Center-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering in the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
The chief of staff at Campbell Clinic and a professor and Sports Medicine Fellowship director in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Azar succeeds James H. Beaty, MD, an internationally renowned pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, who has served as the department chair since 2016 and currently serves as Memphis Medical Society President. The leadership change at UTHSC was effective December 1.
“Dr. Beaty has shaped not only our College of Medicine, but the field of orthopaedics nationally and internationally,” said Michael Hocker, MD, executive dean of the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine. “I’ve seen firsthand how he invests in every trainee, every patient, and every team member. The culture, expertise, and reputation he’s built at Campbell Clinic and UT Health Science Center will guide this department for years to come, and we are all better for it.”
“Dr. Azar shows the leadership, vision, and energy that will carry this department forward,” Executive Dean Hocker continued. “I’m proud to see him lead this next chapter, strengthening our partnerships, inspiring the next generation of orthopaedic leaders, and advancing patient care across Tennessee and beyond.”
Dr. Azar lauded Dr. Beaty’s outstanding leadership and pledged to continue the work of his predecessor and others who have led the department.
“As I begin my tenure as chairman of the UT-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, my focus is to honor our legacy, while advancing a clear, mission-driven path forward,” Dr. Azar said. “Guided by the UT System’s mission to serve all Tennesseans through education, discovery, and outreach that strengthens economic, social, and environmental well-being, and the UT Health Science Center mission to transform lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research, clinical care, and public service, our department will continue to serve as a cornerstone of musculoskeletal excellence.”
For more than a century, the partnership between Campbell Clinic and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has shaped orthopaedic care, education, and innovation for the Mid-South and the nation. “This enduring relationship is the foundation of our identity and strengthening it further will be central to our work,” Dr. Azar said.
“We will enhance our educational programs, expand our research footprint, elevate our clinical care, and deepen our outreach efforts to ensure we meet the needs of patients and communities across Tennessee and beyond,” Dr. Azar said. “Our work will align closely with institutional priorities, reflecting our shared commitment to improving health, advancing knowledge, and preparing the next generation of orthopaedic leaders.”
Dr. Azar served as the team physician for the Memphis Grizzlies and was selected as the 2012 NBA Team Physician of the Year. He is a former president of the NBA Physicians Association and currently a consultant to the NBA. He also serves as a team physician for the University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owen College, Christian Brothers University, Christian Brothers High School, and the Memphis Redbirds.
Dr. Azar earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the UT-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering and a fellowship in sports medicine at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. His is a past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and and is currently a senior director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
He has authored and edited numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and other publications. He is co-editor of “Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics” and “Campbell’s Core Orthopaedic Procedures.” He has served as a visiting professor and lecturer nationally and internationally.
