Written by 
For more than seven decades, Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) has been a dedicated partner for University of Tennessee athletes, who have entrusted their care and careers to KOC providers.
Since 1949, KOC has helped thousands of athletes across multiple sports at Rocky Top recover from injuries and perform at the highest levels of competition in college and beyond.
“A partnership with the University of Tennessee means delivering excellence with every encounter,” KOC CEO Pete Pearson said. “UT athletes are seeking the best orthopaedic care to continue their college career and, in plenty of cases, pursue professional sports. For more than 75 years, we have given our all to Tennessee to restore athletes to health and return them to the sport they love.”
KOC produced a video to commemorate the milestone anniversary that can be watched at https://kocortho.com/2024/11/04/koc-celebrates-75-years-serving-ut-athletes-watch-the-video/.
The clinic’s longstanding relationship with the university began with two of its founders, Dr. Thomas Stevens and Dr. Robert Brashear. Their commitment to excellence and athlete care established the foundation for what would become a legacy of service.
“I knew Dr. Brashear,” Philip Fulmer, a former Vols football player, head coach and athletics director at Tennessee, said in the video. “He was a really distinguished gentleman, and Dr. Brashear and KOC did a great job. I got a knee injury my junior year, and they worked with us to get it back so that I didn’t miss one of my last games to ever play in my senior season.”
KOC’s legacy of excellence ensures that every individual receives the best possible care and support for their recovery.
Dr. William Youmans, another key member of KOC’s history with Tennessee, served as the orthopaedic surgeon for UT football and other Vol and Lady Vols athletes for many years. He said, “My job was to look after the welfare of an athlete. I was fortunate to be able to do that.”
For 75 years, KOC has earned the trust of athletes, coaches and families with its patient-centered approach to care. Today, the clinic continues to provide expert care to UT athletes across all sports and remains a vital part of the university.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more 520,000 patient visits annually at 12 East Tennessee locations. As a network of convenient and accessible clinics that provide exceptional orthopaedic care across the region, KOC comprises 10 office locations; two ambulatory surgery centers; and additional services including injury clinics, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical therapy and sports medicine. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 900 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network earned a “Top Workplace” ranking from Knoxville News Sentinel in 2021 and 2022 based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.