Medical Expertise Tops the Charts in Rutherford County

Dr. Amanda Gammel, D.O.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

Dr. Gammel is a Rutherford County native who worked as a patient care clerk in MMC’s pediatric department while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University. She moved to Blacksburg, VA, in 2010 to attend medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine on the campus of Virginia Tech, and after completing her pediatric residency at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital- University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, she came home in more ways than one.

“I knew I wanted to return once my training was complete. My family lives here and being close to them was important to me,†she says. “Furthermore, I fell in love with the amazing doctors, nurses and staff I met while working at the MMC, and I knew I wanted to start my pediatric practice there.”

MMC is a physician-owned, multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center that offers four operating rooms, three endoscopy suites and more than 20 specialties under one roof. The more than 70 physicians and 600 associates on staff provide patients with state-of-the-art care.

Pediatricians such as Gammel are excited about the new $28 million, 37,500-square-foot, Vanderbilt Children’s Surgery and Clinics in Murfreesboro. The facility includes a procedure room, 22 exam rooms, six urgent care rooms and three outpatient surgery suites.

“With Murfreesboro being ranked as the 10th fastest-growing city in the country, new families are moving here every day, and with that, comes a growing need for health care providers,†she says.

Dr. Stephen Rich, M.D., FACS

TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center

Dr. Rich is a general and bariatric surgeon affiliated with the 109-bed TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, which offers complete medical care for both children and adults, including emergency, surgical, maternity, imaging, cardiology, neurology, orthopedic, physical therapy, sleep medicine and oncology services. The medical staff is composed of nearly 500 physicians across 45 specialties that are committed to providing quality and compassionate care within the comfort of a modern facility.

Like Gammel, after completing medical school in Memphis, Rich returned to his roots in Rutherford County because he knew it would be a great place to practice medicine and raise a family.

“The Murfreesboro area is a safe community and has good schools. It also has as much to offer as bigger cities but still possesses a small-town feel,†he says.

Dr. Christopher Albergo, M.D.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

When endocrinologist Christopher Albergo finished his residency, the Connecticut native and former New York resident knew he wanted to leave the Northeast behind. After considering places like Minnesota, Florida, Texas and Oregon, he decided to make Rutherford County his home.

“When I came to interview here, I had a blast,†Albergo says. “The town itself reminds me of my hometown in Connecticut. The people are friendly, there are a lot of great restaurants, and I felt confident that I could build up a clientele fairly quickly.”

Albergo practices out of MMC and is affiliated with Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, which has 286 private rooms and provides personalized care in areas such as heart and vascular health, intensive and emergency care, radiology, surgery and orthopedics.

“I work at a beautiful facility that is well maintained and has cutting-edge technology that allows me to get results quickly so that I can pass that information on to my patients, and I live in a great community that I love. I am really appreciative to be here.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Rutherford County area, check out the latest issue of Livability: Rutherford County, Tennessee.