Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma represents the largest healthcare network in the region, formed in December 2025 through the merger of two trusted local institutions: Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center. With 464 licensed beds across two campuses, more than 2,500 employees, and over 250 physicians, this nonprofit health system serves as the healthcare anchor for Lawton, Fort Sill, and the surrounding communities of southwest Oklahoma.
The main campus at 3401 West Gore Boulevard in Lawton houses the flagship facility originally established as Comanche County Memorial Hospital. When its doors opened on September 1, 1951, the hospital had already been named "Modern Hospital of the Year" in a nationwide competition recognizing architectural design, functional planning, and service to community needs. That commitment to excellence continues today through ongoing investments in technology, specialty services, and facility upgrades.
The hospital's founding story reflects the values that still guide its mission. In the aftermath of World War II, community leaders set out to build the most technologically advanced hospital in the country to serve southwest Oklahoma. They secured federal Hill-Burton funding and passed a county bond issue in 1948 with more than 60% voter approval. The hospital's name honors servicemen who died in the war, and the institution has maintained that spirit of service for over 70 years.
Today, the health system continues to embrace its role as a community asset. The merger with Southwestern Medical Center was designed to expand access, enhance specialty services, and create a more resilient healthcare network for the region. Leadership has committed to investments in modern medical equipment, facility upgrades, and expanded service lines to meet growing demand.
You will serve a diverse patient population drawn from Lawton's metropolitan area of approximately 124,000 residents, the Fort Sill military community, and surrounding rural communities throughout southwest Oklahoma. This mix creates clinical variety that keeps practice engaging while ensuring steady patient volume.
Lawton is the sixth-largest city in Oklahoma and the largest in the western portion of the state. Fort Sill, one of the U.S. Army's most significant installations, brings over 53,000 military personnel, civilian employees, and family members to the area. The region also has a substantial Native American population, with 25,000 members of the Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, and other tribal nations concentrated in the surrounding counties.
Memorial Health System offers comprehensive services across virtually every specialty. The orthopedic service line benefits from hospital-wide support services including full anesthesia coverage, hospitalist programs, intensive care units, and an established physical therapy department. The MAKO robotic platform positions you at the forefront of joint replacement technology.
The Drewry Family Emergency Center provides the region's most advanced emergency services, supported by MHS EMS and Survival Flight for 24/7 acute care and transport. Inpatient services include adult and neonatal intensive care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and medical-surgical units. Specialty services span cancer care through the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma, cardiovascular services through the Heart and Vascular Center, and numerous other clinical programs.
Memorial Medical Group (MMG), formed in 2010, brings together nearly 100 physicians and providers across 17 medical specialties in a collaborative employed model. As a member of MMG's orthopedic team, you benefit from streamlined referrals, coordinated care across specialties, and administrative support that handles billing, coding, and practice management.
The employed model eliminates the business burdens of private practice while providing competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and the backing of a financially stable health system. Your colleagues across specialties share a commitment to collaborative, patient-centered care.
Memorial Health System sponsors ACGME-accredited residency programs in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine through Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. Since 2014, the health system has trained physicians committed to serving communities like Lawton. This academic environment means you will work alongside residents and have opportunities for teaching if that interests you.
Memorial Health System ranks among the largest employers in Comanche County, alongside Fort Sill and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. This economic significance reflects the health system's deep integration into the community fabric. The merger and ongoing capital investments signal a commitment to long-term growth and service expansion.
For an orthopedic surgeon, this stability translates to job security, reliable resources, and institutional support for your practice. You join a health system positioned to grow with the region rather than one struggling to maintain services.
This is a health system built by the community it serves, sustained by seven decades of continuous improvement, and positioned for growth through strategic investment. As an orthopedic surgeon here, you become part of that legacy while helping shape its future.
