USA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty
Academic Faculty
Dr. Jeffrey L. Brewer
Interim Chair
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Brewer earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas, and completed an internship in general and orthopaedic surgery. He finished his residency in orthopaedic surgery at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, New York, where he was named the department’s Resident of the Year for 2011-2012. He also completed a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr. Jared L. Burkett
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Hand and Upper Extremity
Dr. Burkett received his Bachelor of Science from Auburn University at Montgomery. He graduated from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. Dr. Burkett completed a hand fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. His specialty is hand and upper extremity. Dr. Burkett joined the department in 2014.
Dr. Brad Clay
Assistant Professor
Sports Medicine
Dr. Clay received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville and his sports medicine/arthroscopy fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. His clinical interests are the open and arthroscopic management of athletic injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee and hip. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, traveling, watching sports and remaining active.
Dr. William A. Cutchen
Assistant Residency Program Director
Assistant Professor
Pediatrics
Dr. Cutchen received his medical degree from the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. He trained in general surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at USA Health/Whiddon College of Medicine. Dr. Cutchen went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He joined the faculty in 2023.
Dr. Tyler McDonald
Assistant Residency Program Director
Assistant Professor
Pediatrics
Dr. McDonald received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. He completed his fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. Dr. McDonald specializes in spine treatment. He joined the faculty in 2021.
Dr. Jess Mullens
Residency Program Director
Assistant Professor
Foot and Ankle
Dr. Mullens received his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in Birmingham. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the USA Health in Mobile. He completed a foot and ankle fellowship at The Steadman Clinic at Vail Health Hospital in Colorado. He joined the faculty in 2021.
Dr. Murphy M. Walters
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Walters earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He completed a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at OrthoIndy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Walters treats upper and lower extremity fractures, as well as pelvic and hip fractures. He joined the faculty in 2024.
Dr. Parker White
Assistant Professor
Orthopaedic Trauma
Dr. White received his Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University. He attended the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Oxford. He completed a residency at University of Mississippi Medical Center Hospital and an Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship at Orthopaedics Indianapolis, Inc., in Indianapolis. His specialty is orthopaedic traumatology. His primary interests include trauma, sports medicine, fracture management, and hip and knee replacement. He joined the Orthopaedic Surgery faculty in 2022.
Adjunct Faculty
Adult Reconstruction
Dr. Robert Baird
Residency: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship: OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center
Dr. Matt Barber
Residency: University of South Alabama
Fellowship: Arizona Institute for Bone and Joint Disorders
Dr. Charles Wilson
Residency: University of Florida Health Science Center
Fellowship: Insall Scott Kelly Institute
Foot and Ankle
Dr. Matt McKean
Residency: University of Mississippi Medical Center
Fellowship: Washington University
Hand, Upper Extremity
Dr. Thomas M. Barbour
Residency: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Fellowship: Duke University School of Medicine
Dr. Nick Rachel
Residency: University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic
Fellowship: University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic
Pediatrics
Dr. Adam Handwerger
Residency: University of South Alabama
Fellowship: Scottish Rite Children's Hospital
Spine
Dr. Kevin Donahoe
Residency: University of Mississippi Medical Center
Fellowship: University of Mississippi Medical Center
Dr. Clint Howard
Residency: University of South Alabama
Fellowship: Foundation for Orthopaedic and Athletic-Related Research, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. James West
Residency: University of South Alabama
Fellowship: Scoliosis and Spinal Reconstruction, Twin Cities Spine Center
Sports Medicine/Shoulder
Dr. Jeff Conrad
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
Fellowship: Duke University
Dr. Stephen Cope
Residency: University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic
Fellowship: American Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Clinic