Jeff Cole, MD, treats orthopedic trauma in Memphis, and his training followed that focus in sequence. He earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed residency at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in affiliation with Erlanger Baroness Hospital, and completed fellowship training in trauma at Washington University / Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
For a referring physician, that sequence is the relevant part of the biography, not the honorific. A surgeon whose fellowship training concentrated on trauma is prepared to manage the acute fracture patterns, polytrauma presentations, and post-traumatic reconstruction that often fall outside general orthopedic coverage, and to coordinate that care with the referring practice through the acute and follow-up phases. Dr. Cole is board-eligible, having completed the residency training required for board certification.
For a fuller account of his training and practice background, see Dr. Cole's physician profile. For the specific findings, timing, and imaging guidance that should prompt a trauma referral, see the when-to-refer guide.
This page is provided for clinical reference and does not constitute medical advice for a specific patient.
Training and credentials
When should I refer a trauma patient to Dr. Cole?
As soon as the injury falls outside straightforward outpatient management.
Dr. Cole's practice is built around orthopaedic trauma, and referral is appropriate for open fractures, intra-articular fractures, polytrauma, and injuries that are failing or unlikely to succeed with non-operative care. For measurable, injury-specific timing, the when-to-refer guide lists urgency tiers by pattern: see our referral criteria by injury type.
What imaging should I send with the referral?
Whatever is already on hand; a repeat study is rarely useful before the first visit.
Plain films from the treating facility, along with any CT obtained for surgical planning, are the standard package. Advanced imaging that has not yet been reviewed can wait until Dr. Cole's own evaluation rather than being repeated in advance.
Will I receive an update on my patient's care after referral?
Yes. A summary of findings and the treatment plan is sent back to the referring office after each visit, and for urgent trauma decisions that update is sent promptly rather than held for a routine batch.
What is Dr. Cole's training background?
Dr. Cole is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed residency at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, through Erlanger Baroness Hospital.
He completed fellowship training in orthopaedic trauma at Washington University / Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and that training anchors his trauma-focused practice in Memphis. Full background is available on Dr. Cole's physician profile.
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