August 04, 2008

Turlock - An orthopedic surgeon and former football player who hopes to work with local high school football teams has joined Emanuel Medical Center’s medical staff and the practice of Eric McMillan, MD at Central Cal Orthopedic.

Robert Purchase, MD, completed a sports medicine fellowship at St. Mary’s Shoulder and Sports Medicine in San Francisco at the end of July and is now accepting patients. Originally from Pennsylvania, where he was a defensive back in high school and college, Dr. Purchase served as team physician for three football teams during his internship and residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He also received his medical degree from Temple’s School of Medicine.

“I like dealing with athletes,” he says. “They have a certain frame of reference and life perspective that I admire. I hope to be able to continue that by working with some Turlock area teams.” 

 Dr. Purchase plans to practice general orthopedics initially and develop a shoulder specialty practice in the long term.

“What I enjoy about orthopedics is you treat the whole life spectrum,” he says. “You treat young athletes, middle-aged weekend warriors and older patients. Each demographic has its unique challenges.” 

Dr. Purchase embraces new technologies in his specialty and says he is encouraged by the many advances in orthopedics. He is trained in a new technique for treating knee injuries known as the Oxford partial knee replacement. “It is a wonderful option for the appropriate patient,” he says “since it is less invasive and patients tend to have a much quicker recovery.”

“It seems like every day there’s a new implant, a new technology or new molecular discoveries coming down the line,” he says. ”The sky is the limit.” 

Dr. Purchase is married and has two young boys. He and his wife, Leslie, are expecting their third child in November. 

“My wife and I decided to look for a town to raise our kids that was reminiscent of the towns we both grew up in,” Dr. Purchase says. “We selected Turlock because we thought it was a wonderful community and the opportunity for me at Emanuel Medical Center and with Dr. McMillan was a perfect fit.”

His office is located in Turlock in The Tower Health & Wellness Center at 1801 Colorado Avenue, Suite 250. Dr. Purchase can be reached at (209) 216-3500.