July 12, 2012

Groomes named Stallworth interim medical director

Thomas Groomes, M.D., has been named interim medical director of Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital.

Thomas Groomes, M.D.

Thomas Groomes, M.D., has been named interim medical director of Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital.

He has been a member of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty for 18 years and has served as medical director for the Spinal Cord Injury Program and as program director for the Traumatic Brain Injury Program at Stallworth.

“Dr. Groomes has been on the Stallworth medical staff for many years and has been a strong advocate for our patients and our team members,” said Walter Frontera, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Groomes received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1983 and his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, in 1987.

He completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with a sub-specialty in spinal cord injury medicine.

“The development of our new Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation brings an exciting time for rehabilitation medicine at Vanderbilt,” Groomes said. “I view Vanderbilt Stallworth as a key component and certainly appreciate the opportunity to guide the continued development of high quality rehabilitation programs.”

Groomes succeeds David Robertson (Bob) Coxe, M.D., Stallworth medical director since 2001.

“During his tenure, Dr. Coxe devoted countless hours to quality and clinical initiatives at the rehabilitation hospital. We thank him for his commitment and the many achievements to which he contributed,” said Susan Heath, chief executive officer.

Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, opened in 1993, is an 80-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that offers comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services. In addition to caring for general rehabilitation diagnoses, Stallworth has specialized inpatient programs for stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputations, hip fractures and neurological conditions.