Interview with Dr. William C. Gibson, General and Breast Surgeon at Premier Surgical Associates

Dr. William C. Gibson, MD, FACS, is a general surgeon with Premier Surgical Associates at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. He specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and also performs general and laparoscopic surgery for thyroid disease, gallbladder disease, hernia repair, and other conditions. Dr. Gibson is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He joined Premier Surgical in 2010.

We recently sat down with Dr. Gibson to learn more about his approach to breast cancer surgery, what inspired his medical career, and his life outside of the operating room.

What types of conditions do you treat?

I’m rapidly approaching 20 years of experience in private practice now, and it’s been a great evolution. I began my career doing a broad spectrum of general surgery operations, which included gastrointestinal surgery, thyroid, parathyroid, breast cancer, and skin cancer. Over the last seven or eight years, I’ve really narrowed my focus to breast cancer. That’s really all that I do exclusively now, and it’s been a rewarding journey.

What do you enjoy about breast cancer surgery?

I like the interaction with the patients. I like the fact that the outcomes are generally very good, despite the amount of anxiety that often accompanies the diagnosis. And I enjoy some of the technical aspects of doing the surgery itself.

Describe your approach to treating breast cancer.

One of the things I really enjoy about taking care of breast cancer patients is guiding women through this pathway. The low point in this journey is generally right after a woman receives the diagnosis of breast cancer, but before she has seen anyone to explain it and start to create a plan. With that in mind, we try to get people into the office very quickly after they receive that diagnosis, because I find that once I can talk to them, explain the nature of the disease, share our experience with it, and outline a treatment plan and expected outcomes, most people feel a lot better.

What led you to become a doctor?

When I was in college, based on some good influences around me at the time, I entertained the idea of going to medical school. I realized it combined my love for the humanities and relationships with people with a solid foundation in scientific principles, as well as the opportunity for a good career. That has turned out to be a nice combination for me.

Where did you study medicine?

I’m originally from West Tennessee, around Memphis, as is my wife. We grew up there together, and I went to medical school in Memphis at the University of Tennessee. I then moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where I spent six years at the Medical University of South Carolina completing my residency training in surgery.

What is oncoplastic surgery?

In my evolution as a breast cancer surgeon over the last several years, I’ve worked hard to develop a skill set that’s widely used around our country called oncoplastic surgery. It’s a combination of safely removing breast tumors while using plastic surgery techniques to reshape breast tissue and create a good cosmetic result. At this point, I have a lot of experience with this approach, and I think we’ve achieved many good results. Patients have benefited from it, and I’ve enjoyed seeing improvements both in their outcomes and in my own professional development.

What do you do in your free time?

When I’m not performing surgery for breast cancer, I’m very fortunate to have a healthy family life. I’ve been married for 25 years to a wonderful woman, and we are very happy together. We have three young adult children who are now out of the house and beginning to thrive and make their own way in this world. It’s fun to watch them grow and keep up with them. My wife and I spend a lot of time together — we play some golf, do some hiking, cook well, and generally have a good time.

Is there anything else you’d like your patients to know?

It is a privilege to live in East Tennessee and to be a partner at Premier Surgical Associates. I think our company is sophisticated, and by and large, we provide a high level of quality surgical care in Knoxville. I’m honored to be a part of it and to take care of the patients of East Tennessee.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Gibson

Dr. Gibson sees patients at Premier Surgical Associates at Parkwest Medical Center and Premier Surgical Papermill in Knoxville.

📍 Parkwest Medical Center
The Tower at Parkwest
9430 Park West Boulevard, Suite 310
Knoxville, TN 37923
📞 865-690-5263

📍 Premier Surgical Papermill
6408 Papermill Drive, Suite 200
Knoxville, TN 37919

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gibson, request an appointment online or call 865-690-5263.