From left, John Kuhn, M.D., associate professor of Orthopaedics and chief of Shoulder Surgery for Sports Medicine, Jeff Paxson, trainer for the Nashville Sounds, and Clark Lea, M.D., talk in the dugout during the May 16 Sounds game.
photo by Dana Johnson
'Sounds good' — Sports Medicine to care for Minor League team
Vanderbilt Sports Medicine has recently been named the official sports medicine provider of the Nashville Sounds minor-league baseball team. John E. (Jed) Kuhn, M.D., associate professor of Sports Medicine, will serve as team physician, sharing the position with longtime team physician Clark Lea Sr., M.D., a local general surgeon.
“Both the Sounds and Vanderbilt have wanted this relationship for some time,” Kuhn said, “but we just didn't have the personnel until now. There are a lot of games and it takes a lot of people to help. We're excited we now have the staff to do it.”
Kuhn said he, along with other Sports Medicine physicians and fellows, will provide care at all of the home games, as well as be available any time to the athletes. They will also provide care to the visiting teams.
“The Sounds view Vanderbilt as one of Nashville's truly great assets. We have long enjoyed a great working relationship with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt University,” said Sounds general manager Glenn Yaeger. “We proudly add the highly regarded physicians from Vanderbilt Sports Medicine to our team. We look forward to their guidance for our players, and we are excited to further strengthen our ties to Vanderbilt.”
The Sports Medicine group's orthopaedic expertise will complement Lea's care. Kuhn's area of specialty — shoulder injuries — will be particularly valuable to the Class AAA baseball team, as shoulder problems are common in baseball, especially among pitchers.
“I'm just thrilled to have Vanderbilt Sports Medicine's expertise and energy joining our team,” Lea said. “They provided great care to my son as a Vanderbilt athlete and they provide excellent care all around. Most importantly, they are involved with the Sounds because of their love of the game. I appreciate that they enjoy being a part of baseball as well. It's a great thing for our team.”
Kuhn said Vanderbilt Sports Medicine hopes for a long-term relationship with the club, with anticipation for an expanded partnership with the planned construction of a new stadium.
The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club is currently in its 28th overall season of competition in 2005 and the team's first year as the Class AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Sounds are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League.
“There's something magical about baseball,” Kuhn said. “There are a lot of things about the game that are just perfect — the spacing of the bases, the height of the pitcher's mound — if anything was changed, the whole game would be different. It's fascinating to be a part of, particularly here in Nashville.”