Our Story

The story of Burkhart Direct Family Care is rooted in more than a century of medical service to East Tennessee. In 1907, Carl Henry—known affectionately as “Doc Henry”—began practicing medicine in the Farragut and Concord communities. Like all physicians of his era, he made home visits, delivered babies, and even compounded medicines for his patients. His office was located beneath his home, where he cared for neighbors and families with skill and compassion. That home still stands today as a historical landmark, and his example as a devoted physician inspired his nephew, John Henry Burkhart, to follow in his footsteps.

John H. Burkhart attended medical school at what is now the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, graduating in 1945. At that time, every new physician was required to serve in the Army, and he spent two years caring for patients in both the United States and Japan. After returning home, he established a solo practice in 1951 and later incorporated it as John H. Burkhart, MD, PC in 1974. Over the course of his career, he was recognized with awards from the American Medical Association, the Tennessee Medical Association, and the Knoxville Academy of Medicine for his dedication to patient care.

His legacy lived on through his sons. All three became physicians, with John M. joining the family practice in 1980, William L. in 1985, and Patrick H. serving the community as a dermatologist in Maryville until his retirement in 2021. The Burkhart family’s primary care practice operated from the professional tower of St. Mary’s Hospital, where each of the primary care physicians went on to serve as Chief of Staff during their careers. After 2008, William L.—known by many as Dr. Bill—led the practice on his own until 2020, carrying forward the values of compassion, commitment, and continuity.

The next generation of this proud tradition began in 2019, when Dr. Bill’s son, William B., entered the medical profession. In 2022, he established Burkhart Direct Family Care, PLLC as both a continuation of his family’s long service in primary care and a bold step into the future. By joining the national Direct Primary Care movement, Burkhart Direct Family Care blends the warmth of old-fashioned medicine with the convenience and innovation of modern healthcare. It is a model that honors the past while looking ahead—ensuring that families in Tennessee continue to receive personal, relationship-based care for generations to come.