Campbell Clinic, a world-renowned leader in orthopaedic care and innovation, recently announced that, effective January 1, 2026, John R. Crockarell, Jr., MD, MBA, has been elected Chief of Staff, succeeding Frederick M. Azar, MD, who has served with distinction in the role. Azar was recently appointed to serve as the University of Tennessee – Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering Harold Boyd Chair and will continue to see patients and contribute to Campbell Clinic’s mission as a physician and partner following the transition.
Crockarell brings nearly 30 years of clinical and academic experience to the role, having joined the Campbell Clinic team in July 1997. A specialist in total joint replacement, Crockarell is a Professor in the UT-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and a respected leader in adult orthopaedic reconstruction, including hip and knee replacement and revision surgery. He completed his medical degree at the University of Tennessee-Memphis, residency at UT-Campbell Clinic, and a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Mayo Clinic.
Azar’s 16 years as Chief of Staff have been marked by visionary leadership, clinical excellence, and a commitment to education and professional development. During his tenure, Campbell Clinic has grown to nearly 1,200 employees with more than 30 locations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia. A distinguished orthopaedic surgeon and past President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Azar has elevated Campbell Clinic’s impact regionally, nationally and across the globe.