General Surgery

The general surgeons at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic (MMC) provide compassionate and high quality care for a broad spectrum of surgical conditions in Middle Tennessee. All of our surgeons are board certified or board eligible by either the American Board of Surgery or American Osteopathic Board of Surgery.



In 2008, we helped establish the Comprehensive Breast Center at MMC to provide a wide range of services for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Our surgeons perform minimally invasive breast biopsies to allow for earlier diagnosis, preservation of breast tissue, and less recovery time. For the treatment of breast cancer, we perform the full breadth of breast cancer surgeries and can place catheters for partial breast irradiation.

Physicians

Conditions We Treat

For procedures involving the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal wall, we offer minimally invasive procedures when possible. Our surgeons are skilled in laparoscopic procedures and were some of the first surgeons in Middle Tennessee to use the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System when we began to offer these procedures in 2010. The robotic system allows for the surgeon to have an increased level of precision and control. It is primarily used for colectomies, hernia repairs, and anti-reflux surgery. Recovery time and scarring is reduced with either laparoscopic or robotic surgery.


At MMC, our general surgeons seek to individualize the surgical care for our patients and maintain the best and most efficacious techniques.

Services

Our General Surgery department performs a variety of services related to:



  • Robotic & Laparoscopic Gallbladder and Appendix Surgery
  • Robotic & Open Repair for Incisional, Umbilical, Inguinal, Ventral, Epigastric and Hiatal Hernias
  • Hemorrhoids, Fistulas and Fissures
  • Robotic & Laparoscopic Colon Surgeries
  • I&D of Abscesses
  • Pilonidal Cysts
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Thyroid & Parathyroid Biopsies and Surgeries
  • Port A Cath Placement and Removal
  • Biopsy & Removal of Benign and Malignant Skin Lesions
  • Breast Biopsies & Surgery for Benign and Malignant Breast Disease
  • Biopsy & Resection of Lymph Nodes
  • Removal of Lipomas, Cysts and Moles


Our general surgeons also preform minimally invasive biopsies for breast & thyroid abnormalities.

Hernia Relief is Possible

A hernia occurs when part of your internal organ or tissue protrudes through a weak area of your muscular wall typically in the groin and belly areas.

  • Are There Different Types of Hernias?

    Yes, a hernia occurs when part of your internal organ or tissue protrudes through a weak area of your muscular wall typically in the groin and belly areas.

  • What Are Common Signs & Symptoms?

    With different hernia types come different signs and symptoms. Most, however, have a noticeable lump or bulge in the abdomen area that can be pushed in and can disappear when lying down. You may experience pain while lifting and notice that the bulge gets larger over time. With a hiatal hernia, which occurs in the upper part of the stomach, symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as heartburn, are common.

  • Should I Seek Medical Care?

    Unfortunately, hernias can impact your quality of life and do not go away on their own. If you findthat your hernia can no longer be pushed in, seek medical care immediately as this could be a sign that the hernia is strangulated. If left untreated, a strangulated hernia can become life-threatening.

  • How Can MMC Help?

    At MMC, we are committed to providing patients with quality, accessible medical and surgical care. Since our founding over 70 years ago, medical care has seen many improvements like the introduction of robotic hernia repairs. This minimally invasive procedure provides patients with shorter recoverytimes, which is great for individuals with busy schedules.


    We are pleased to have four board-certified general surgeons who have been specially trained in robotic hernia repairs on our team.


    To learn more and to find out if this procedure could be an option for you, give us a call at 615-893-4480.

Hear From Our Surgeons

MMC's General Principles of Hernias

Hernias are more complex than one might think. To help our patients get a better understanding of this condition, we asked Dr. Horwitz to share the five general principles of hernias. Check out this video to hear what he had to say.

Signs & Symptoms of Hernias

Our General Surgery team treats hernia patients on a daily basis. In fact, you could consider them to be hernia experts. We sat down with one of those experts, Dr. Heater Dunlap, to talk about the common signs and symptoms of hernias and to answer the question of when to see a doctor.

What You Need to Know About Hernia Repair

At MMC, we are pleased to have four doctors on our General Surgery team who are specifically trained in robotic hernia repair. Check out this video from Dr. Pasarilla to learn about the benefits of this procedure and give us a call at (615) 867-8040 if you think you could be a candidate. As always, your health is our mission.

“Patients frequently come who were told not to worry about a small hernia that eventually becomes larger and more difficult to repair. As hernias increase in size, they can really distort the anatomy and make a minimally invasive procedure more difficult or impossible to offer a patient.” - Dr. Beaird



Dr. Beaird's patient Brandise has experienced this first hand....hear her story, here.