Beginnings
The current practice traces its origin to 1973, when Dr. David A. Kieffer hung out his shingle to practice orthopedic medicine in Laramie, Wyoming. Dr. Kieffer was joined by Dr. Robert J. Curnow in 1976, at which time Doctors Kieffer and Curnow renamed their practice, “Gem City Bone & Joint.” Known as “Premier Bone & Joint Centers” today, the practice employs ten physicians and an administrative and clinical staff of over 120, at its 33,000 square foot Clinic at 1909 Vista Drive in Laramie, with satellite clinics throughout Wyoming and western Nebraska.
Expansion
With satellite clinics in Cheyenne, Torrington, Wheatland, Douglas, Casper, Riverton, Gillette, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Green River, and Alliance, Premier Bone & Joint Centers offers quality orthopedic care to more than 80 percent of the population of Wyoming, as well as to the populations of neighboring communities in northeast Colorado, western Nebraska, and western South Dakota.
Our philosophy has always been to endeavor to deliver care, including surgical care, to patients across the region, to establish and maintain good working relationships with the physicians and hospitals in the satellite communities, and to utilize local services, such as imaging and physical therapy, to the greatest extent practicable. Over the years, we have provided outpatient surgical care at a number of local hospitals, and at other ambulatory surgical centers. We currently provide outpatient surgical care in the local hospitals in Wheatland and Torrington, and in the Casper Surgery Center.
University Affiliation
Premier Bone & Joint Centers has a long history of supporting the University of Wyoming Athletics. Dr. Kieffer and Dr. Curnow were the team physicians for UW intercollegiate athletics for many years, and virtual fixtures court-side and on the sidelines. With Dr. Curnow’s retirement as senior team physician, Dr. Carson and Dr. Aukerman assumed those duties in August 2008. Dr. Aukerman is now the Head Team Physician for all athletes at the University of Wyoming Athletics.
Other Athletic Affiliations
Premier Bone & Joint Centers also endeavors to provide sports medicine support to local high schools and community colleges, and is in the process of developing additional certified athletic trainer (ATC) capabilities, which would allow it to extend that support to additional, outlying areas around the state.