R. Franklin Adams, M.D.

Descended from four generations of Mississippi physicians, Robert Franklin Adams is the son of noted plastic surgeon, Dr. Milton Adams, and in all four family members have practiced plastic surgery in Memphis. Frank received a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University and his MD from the University of Tennessee Medical School. He did his internship at the University of Pennsylvania and an internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan

During the Vietnam War, Frank served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy medical corps at Camp Pendleton, California, where he became medical director for all naval medical personnel sent to Vietnam.

Returning to Memphis to complete a fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Tennessee, Frank has practiced with the Arthritis Group PC since 1970, During his career he has taught more than 300 internal medicine and orthopaeclic residents in the Methodist Hospital and University of Tennessee teaching programs. He currently serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Adams is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Rheumatology, the Memphis Academy of Internal Medicine, and is a Founding Fellow of the American Rheumatism Society. He is on the staff at Methodist Hospitals of Memphis and HEALTHSOUTH and also serves as a rheumatology consultant for Baptist Memorial Hospital.

His primary medical interests are diagnostic clinical challenges in musculoskeletal diseases and therapeutic injection techniques. Originally drawn to rheurnatology because of its academic challenges, his interests gradually shifted toward patient care and well?being, partly as a result of medical misfortunes within his own family, including the premature death of his first wife and the disabilities of his daughter Phoebe. He subsequently has devoted his career to providing the best possible patient care, particularly for those with chronic diseases. A published author of several academic papers and medical abstracts, he is currently at work on a book about patient care.

As a proud father of a blended family of seven children, Frank still finds time to enjoy boating, photography, golf and family history. In addition to his distinguished career in medicine, Frank has served the community on the boards of Opera Memphis, the Memphis Zoological Society and the Arlington Developmental Center.

An enthusiastic supporter of the local Arthritis Foundation Chapter for many years, he has served on the board and chaired several of its committees. Named Outstanding Volunteer for the National Arthritis Foundation, Frank has served as president of Methodist Hospital's medical staff and received the hospital's Special Appreciation Award. He also has been named among the "Best Physicians in Memphis" by both The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Magazine.