House Organ story on spine surgery to be on “Grey’s Anatomy”

Posted by on Sunday, October 2, 2011 in Features, October 2011.

It has all the elements of great story—a patient near death, a huge risk of complications, and a young surgeon willing to risk it all—so it was no surprise when “Grey’s Anatomy” came knocking.

The ABC medical drama found the House Organ article on Judy Kerns, an east Tennessee woman whose head had literally fallen off her neck, and were inspired to include her story in a future episode. Producers contacted Matt McGirt, M.D., assistant professor of Neurological Surgery, who had conceived and carried out a radical plan to rebuild Kerns’ neck, for the details.

Now a “Grey’s Anatomy” episode inspired by this surgery is scheduled to air Thursday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Read “Unique three-stage spine surgery saves woman’s life,” from the April 2011 issue of House Organ.

See a report from Kerns’ one-year follow-up visit by WKRN News 2.