The Clinical Team
Dr. Edwin Spencer
Edwin E. Spencer, Jr., M.D. is originally from the coast of North Carolina and completed his undergraduate training at North Carolina State University. He graduated from Duke Medical School and completed his orthopaedic residency at the University of Michigan. During his training, he became very involved in research and completed several research projects and helped author several book chapters. He strongly believes that research is a cornerstone of orthopaedics and as such procured grants from the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and private industry. He subsequently completed a fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He has continued to perform research at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic and helped establish the MOON (Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network). Through that collaboration with MOON, he has been awarded the Charles S Neer award for research (the highest award for shoulder and elbow research) twice in 2011 and 2013.
He was also voted as one of the top 28 shoulder and elbow surgeons in the US multiple times. In addition has been voted as a Castle Connolly Top Doc for the last 12 years and featured in the Cityview Top Docs.
Dr. Spencer specializes in all forms of shoulder surgery from replacement and revision of replacement surgery to arthroscopic stabilization and arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, and all other forms of arthroscopic surgery. He not only performs these surgeries but also teaches courses regarding the surgeries at the Orthopaedic Learning Center and at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as national faculty. Dr. Spencer especially enjoys caring for the athletes’ shoulder and elbow specifically the throwing athlete. He is the team doctor for Bearden High School but and enjoys a collaboration with BC Athletics while also taking care of many other athletes at all levels.
He also is involved in research endeavors through collaborative efforts with orthopedic centers around the country to include MOON. In addition, he has helped design six different shoulder replacements (including the first stemless design in the USA) and continues to be involved in design teams to advance and evolve arthroplasty for his patients. Dr. Spencer has also designed several different surgeries to include an arthroscopic repair of partial thickness rotator cuff tears and an arthroscopic biceps tenodesis.
Dr. Spencer was elected to join the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) in 2006 and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) in 2010. The ASES is a highly selective society and inclusion is based on significant contributions to shoulder and elbow surgery. The ASES started the ASES Foundation in 2021. Dr. Spencer helped host the inaugural event for the ASES Foundation in Nashville in 2021 and hosted the event in Knoxville in 2022 with the help of his wife Tracey. There were 10 such events across the US and Canada. Dr. Spencer’s goal is to deliver state-of-the-art care to folks around East Tennessee by designing the best surgeries along with the best implants.
Dr. Spencer has enjoys being a part of the Knoxville community and has two lovely children with Tracey. Their oldest child Savanna has Cerebral Palsy and enjoyed time at the Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STARR). She is now studying hospitality at Pellissippi State Community College. Their son Tripp played baseball at Bearden and is pursuing an engineering degree at UT.
Dr. Spencer enjoys traveling with his wife in addition to hunting, fishing, and participating in and watching almost any sport available.
Jeff Jarnagin, PA
As a certified Physician Assistant, P.A., Jeff works closely in surgery and clinic with Dr. Spencer to correctly diagnose and treat problematic shoulder and elbows.
Jeff always wanted to pursue a career in medicine where he could help people for a living. He has his Bachelor’s Degree from South University in Savannah, Georgia, and brings 12 years of emergency medicine experience to our team. He takes great pride in giving above standard care with the intent of informing all of his patients on what to expect from their appointment.
Jeff resides in Knoxville with his wife, Rebecca, and their three sons. He enjoys golf, snow and water skiing, fishing, as well as spending time with his family. Contact information can be found on the card in the folder that was provided to you during your visit.
Anita Kuykendall, LPN
As a Licensed Practical Nurse, Anita coordinates all aspects of patient care for Dr. Spencer’s team.
She graduated in 2017 from Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville. She has aspired to be a nurse from the time she was three years old. Anita is passionate about what she does because she loves to help people.
Anita and her husband, Josh, have a fur baby named Opie.
When Anita is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband and family, fishing, traveling, reading, and cooking.
The Surgical Team
