60 Years of Orthopedic Care in Michigan
Synergy Health Partners has a longer history than its name suggests. Before Synergy, there was Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics — a practice with more than six decades of roots in the Metro Detroit community.
Understanding where we came from is part of understanding who we are today.
How It Started
In 1963, Dr. Herbert Mendelson co-founded Mendelson Orthopedics alongside Dr. Richard Hall in Livonia, Michigan. The two physicians shared a straightforward philosophy: taking care of patients was the most important thing they could do. Everything else was secondary.
Dr. Mendelson had come up the hard way — working his way through college and medical school, training in hospitals across Detroit, and earning his board certification through years of hands-on orthopedic practice. He brought that same work ethic and personal commitment to every patient interaction.
What started as a two-physician partnership quickly became a trusted name in Southeast Michigan orthopedic care.
Growth and Evolution
Over the following decades, the practice grew steadily — adding partners, expanding locations, and broadening its clinical focus beyond extremity-based orthopedics to include spine and pain management.
By 2003, Dr. Mendelson’s three sons — David, Jeffrey, and Stephen — had joined the practice. Together with Dr. Martin Kornblum, they took on ownership and day-to-day leadership of what had become Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics (MKO).
In 2015, MKO opened a state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot clinical facility in Livonia, a flagship location that brought expanded orthopedic and ancillary services under one roof. The practice also maintained a clinical presence in Sterling Heights, extending its reach across Southeast Michigan.
Building the Synergy Platform
The formation of Synergy Health Partners marked the next chapter — a strategic evolution from a well-established orthopedic practice to a fully integrated musculoskeletal care platform.
Under the Synergy umbrella, Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics joined a broader network of specialists across orthopedics, spine, podiatry, physical and occupational therapy, and pain management. The goal was straightforward: give Michigan patients access to comprehensive MSK care that is coordinated, connected, and easier to navigate.
Today, Synergy Health Partners operates across multiple locations in Southeast Michigan — including Livonia, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Troy, and Port Huron — with more than 20 physicians and a growing team of clinical and support staff.
Then and Now
| 1963: Where We Started | Today: Synergy Health Partners | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 physicians | 20+ physicians across specialties | |
| 1 location (Livonia) | 5 locations across Southeast Michigan | |
| General orthopedics | Orthopedics, spine, podiatry, PT/OT, pain management | |
| Private practice model | Integrated MSK platform |
The work Dr. Mendelson started over 60 years ago is still being carried forward — by the same family, a growing team of specialists, and a shared commitment to better care.