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Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge
Bone & Joint Staff • February 27, 2018
A Top Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist: Why Baton Rouge?

A little nudge can go a long way in life. For Dr. Michael Frierson of the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge, it was actually multiple little nudges that migrated him from the frigid winters of Detroit to the humid summers of Baton Rouge. During his undergraduate years at the University of Michigan, Dr. Frierson had his sights set on a career in pharmacy. He had an interest in chemical properties and how to apply them to make people better. Dr. Frierson would still be calculating proportions and rations in a pharmacy lab today if it wasn't for a little nudge.


A trusted friend told Dr. Frierson that he had the ideal personality and disposition to work with children. This recommendation threw Dr. Frierson for a loop, because comparing a career in pharmacy to an occupation in pediatrics is sort of like comparing chocolate ice cream and onions. A seemingly inconsequential piece of advice at the time, this comment turned out to be the linchpin for Dr. Michael Frierson's trajectory into pediatric orthopedics.


How Did Baton Rouge Become Home for Dr. Michael Frierson 

From this point forward, Dr. Michael Frierson never looked back. He knew whatever he did with his medical education, it would be for kids. The further his mind wandered away from pharmacology, the faster it ran towards pediatrics. By the time he received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, this small nudge had developed his passion for pediatrics from a spark into a burning flame.


The second nudge came several years after he started his career in pediatric orthopedics. He was already in Baton Rouge, working at a hospital, when a healthcare firm in Atlanta made him an offer. Having only envisioned himself in Baton Rouge for 4-5 years anyway, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. Before Dr. Frierson could zip up his suitcase and head east on I-12, the next nudge interrupted his course. It came from a colleague at the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge. A position in the pediatric orthopedic department had opened, and for all intents and purposes, it had Dr. Michael Frierson's name on it. Once again, a small, unforeseen nudge changed Dr. Frierson’s course. While it may have prevented him from experiencing life in the Big Peach, it opened his eyes to the beauty of the Red Stick.


A Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist Focused on Scoliosis in Baton Rouge 

Today, those many nudges along his career have all led Dr. Michael Frierson to become one of Baton Rouge's premier pediatric orthopedic specialists, diagnosing and treating spinal deformities such as scoliosis, along with congenital deformities, adolescent sports injuries, and other general orthopedic conditions. Drawing on his many years of experience, education, and a Fellowship at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Tampa Bay, Florida, Dr. Frierson uses his advanced knowledge in treating children with bone and joint issues to help families across the state.


Of course, Dr. Frierson’s career path has never followed a straight line, and one element that many find surprising is that he also treats adults as a general orthopedist. Unsurprisingly, this subset of Dr. Frierson’s practice came from even more little nudges. As he treated his pediatric patients, their parents would discuss their own, nagging orthopedic issues. The more children he treated, the more parents who nudged him to care for their aches and breaks as well. Today, Dr. Frierson humorously refers to his pediatric patients as his "day job" and their respective parents as his "night job."


As a pediatric orthopedic specialist in high demand, Dr. Michael Frierson stays booked and busy with patients. On rare occasions, when he has an opening in his schedule, you may find him refueling with a cup of mud at Starbucks – his guilty pleasure. Catch him after his first few sips of espresso, and you may be able to sit down and converse with him. It just takes a nudge or two.

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Bone & Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge Physician Practice Transition – Effective April 1, 2025

By Bone and Joint Clinic Staff • January 30, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA, January 30, 2025 – Effective April 1, 2025, four distinguished orthopedic surgeons from The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will transition to Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic (BROC), continuing their commitment to providing high-quality orthopedic care. The physicians joining BROC are: 1. Joseph "Jeb" Broyles, MD – Specializes in joint replacement surgery, knee arthroscopy, and cartilage regeneration. 2. Arthur "Art" Hess, MD – Specializes in trauma, hip, knee, and shoulder reconstruction, and total joint replacement surgery. 3. Mat hew "Matt" Mazoch, M D – Specializes in shoulder and knee surgery. 4. Alan Schroeder, MD – Specializes in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Beginning April 1, 2025, these physicians will operate under BROC's umbrella while continuing to see patients at The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge's current location, 7301 Hennessy Blvd. Eventually, the doctors plan to transition to BROC's campus on Bluebonnet Blvd. The estimated timeline for that move is Summer/Fall 2025. In addition, Dr. Patrick Hall will be transitioning to his own practice, Hall Podiatry, that will continue to provide quality podiatric care to patients. Dr. Hall will continue to practice at 7301 Hennessy Blvd. until May/June 2025. After that date, patients may see him at a new nearby location. Dr. Zachary Rohr and Christopher Belleau will also transition their practice to a new location effective March 31, 2025. We will update our patients once those details are finalized. Dr. Gerard Murtagh of The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will be retiring effective March 2025. Dr. Murtagh has been a vital part of the clinic since 1988 and has significantly contributed to its success. We thank Dr. Murtagh for his many years of service to the patients of Bone & Joint Clinic. Patients are encouraged to continue scheduling appointments at The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge using the current process for the foreseeable future. To ensure a seamless transition, The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will provide detailed information to patients in the coming weeks, including the secure transfer of medical records and continuity of care. The health and well-being of patients remain the top priority, and The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge, BROC, and Hall Podiatry are working together to make this transition as smooth as possible while maintaining uninterrupted care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, patients can contact The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge at 225-766-0050 or by visiting bjcbr.com . Patients can also reach BROC at 225-924-2424 or by visiting brortho.com .
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