Dec. 23, 2025
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) has announced Dr. Robert Ivy is retiring at the end of 2025 after 31 years as a hand surgeon. During his tenure, he also served many years as president of KOC.
He has made a lasting impact on the Knoxville community, including patients, physician colleagues and staff.
“Dr. Ivy’s wisdom, compassion and leadership demonstrated what it means to be a KOC surgeon,” said Dr. Jay Crawford, fellow KOC surgeon and current president of Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic. “He has helped shape our medical practice into what it is today.”
Dr. Ivy joined KOC in 1994 as a specialist in the treatment of hand, wrist and elbow disorders after completing prestigious training. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and was awarded the esteemed Justin Potter Medical Scholarship to Vanderbilt School of Medicine. He completed a surgical internship and four-year residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center followed by a fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at the renowned Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ivy has dedicated himself to his patients, spending countless hours in the operating room. He was selected by his peers for “Best Doctors in America” recognition and consistently voted a Cityview magazine “Top Doc” by the community he served.
However, Dr. Ivy expressed that recognition is not what drove his commitment.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed by career, and it has been a genuine privilege to serve my patients and the East Tennessee community throughout the years,” Dr. Ivy said.
“It has been an honor to have Dr. Ivy at KOC for so many years, and we wish him a very happy and relaxing retirement,” Dr. Crawford said.
For patients seeking an orthopaedic hand expert, Dr. Ivy recommends his partners who are fellowship-trained hand surgeons.
The team includes Dr. Douglas Calhoun, Dr. David Cooper, Dr. Andrew Harris, Dr. Elizabeth McBride, Dr. Joshua Moss, Dr. Kristen Ploetze, Dr. Benjamin Rogozinski and Dr. Nicholas Yetter.
Learn more about all of KOC’s experts and services online at KOCortho.com.
KOC has been a leader in orthopaedic care for more than 80 years. The practice includes more than 1,000 team members across 10 office locations, seven urgent care clinics and two surgery centers. The orthopaedic network offers experts in 13 subspecialties from joint replacement to trauma surgery to help patients lead healthier, more active lives.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more than 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 urgent care, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical and occupational therapy and sports medicine outreach. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 1,000 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and a patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network recently earned a 2025 “Top Workplace” ranking from Knoxville News Sentinel based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
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