World-renowned orthopedic surgeon Larry Lemak is branching out his business, Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, into Shelby County with a new clinic at the Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

Matthew Lemak, son of Larry and CEO of Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, said the move to open a new clinic in Shelby County has been in the works for years.

“The facility and the forefront thinking there is amazing,” Matthew Lemak said. “It is better than what we’ve seen anywhere else.”

Shelby Baptist President David Wilson said the hospital had been in talks with the Lemaks for several years, and getting the deal done will only help move forward Shelby Baptist’s already expanding sports medicine program.

“We’ve been courting them for some time,” Wilson said. “To me, this is a home run.”

Dr. Michael Patterson is the first surgeon to come on board with Lemak, having previously trained with the group.

Patterson, who played football for Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, has already begun working with current Shelby Baptist orthopedists and sports medicine physicians Matt Davis and Heath Hale at the Baptist Health Center off Shelby County 52 in Pelham.

“Dr. Patterson understands what it takes to take care of a team,” Matthew Lemak said. “These doctors are not only compassionate, but they are passionate.”

The contract on the new clinic at Shelby Baptist has not been finalized, but it should be located either adjacent or across from the hospital.

The new clinic will offer the same services offered at the Brookwood Lemak location, including diagnostics, surgery and physical therapy.

“This is going to compliment our existing orthopedic surgeons,” Wilson said. “We are very excited about growing our sports medicine program.”

Wilson and Matthew also said the addition of Lemak Sports Medicine should also create a need for more physical therapists and trainers for patients and the local school teams.

“Shelby County has always been good to us and Shelby Baptist opened their arms wide to us,” Matthew Lemak said. “We’re really excited about what opportunities lie there.”