NOVAMED, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

Exhibit 10.53

NOVAMED, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2005 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NOVAMED, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2005 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT

      In October 2005, NovaMed, Inc. (the " Company "), a Delaware corporation, originally established the Plan (as defined herein). This Plan was amended and restated effective December 12, 2006, to modify the anti-dilution provisions set forth in Section 4.5 herein. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the overall financial objectives of the Company, its stockholders and its Affiliates by motivating those persons selected to participate in the Plan to achieve long-term growth in the stockholder equity in the Company and by retaining the association of those individuals who are instrumental in achieving this growth. The Plan was adopted as of October 27, 2005 (the " Effective Date ").

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

      For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth below:

      " Affiliate " means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company, including, without limitation, any stockholder of an affiliated group of which the Company is a common parent corporation as provided in Section 1504 of the Code.

      " Agreement " or " Award Agreement " means, individually or collectively, any agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan pursuant to which an Award is granted to a Participant.

      " Award " means a Stock Award.

      " Beneficiary " means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards are transferred if and to the extent permitted hereunder. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means person, persons, trust or trust entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

      " Board of Directors " or " Board " means the Board of Directors of the Company.

      " Cause " means, for purposes of whether and when a Participant has incurred a Termination of Employment for Cause, any act or omission which permits the Company or an Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate for "cause" as defined in such agreement or arrangement, or in the event there is no such agreement or arrangement or the agreement or arrangement does not define the term "cause" or a substantially equivalent term, then Cause means, unless otherwise defined in the Award Agreement with respect to the corresponding Award:

            (a) any act or failure to act deemed to constitute cause under the Company’s or an Affiliate’s established practices, policies or guidelines applicable to the Participant;

            (b) breach of a covenant made by the Participant in conjunction with the grant of an Award or the transfer of Shares hereunder;

            (c) the Participant’s gross negligence in the performance of his duties or material failure or willful refusal to perform his duties;

            (d) the determination by the Committee in the exercise of its reasonable judgment that Participant has committed an act that (i) negatively affects the Company’s or Affiliate’s business or reputation or (ii) indicates alcohol or drug abuse by Participant that adversely affects his performance hereunder; or

            (e) the determination by the Committee in the exercise of its reasonable judgment that Participant has committed an act or acts constituting a felony or other act involving dishonesty, disloyalty or fraud against the Company or an Affiliate.

      " Change in Control " and " Change in Control Price " have the meanings set forth in Sections 9.2 and 9.3, respectively.

      " Code " or " Internal Revenue Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, any Treasury Regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder and any subsequent Internal Revenue Code.

      " Commission " means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

      " Committee " means the person or persons appointed to administer the Plan, as further described herein.

      " Common Stock " means the regular voting common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company, whether presently or hereafter issued, and any other stock or security resulting from adjustment thereof as described hereinafter or the equity of any successor to the Company which is designated for the purposes of this Plan.

      " Company " means NovaMed, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and includes any successor or assignee entity or entities into which the Company may be merged, changed or consolidated; any entity for whose securities the securities of the Company shall be exchanged; and any assignee of or successor to substantially all of the assets of the Company.

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      " Covered Employee " means a Participant who is a "covered employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

      " Disability " means a mental or physical illness that entitles the Participant to receive benefits under the long term disability plan of the Company or an Affiliate, or if the Participant is not covered by such a plan or the Participant is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, a mental or physical illness that renders a Participant totally and permanently incapable of performing the Participant’s duties for the Company or an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Disability will not qualify under this Plan if it is the result of (i) a willfully self-inflicted injury or willfully self-induced sickness; or (ii) an injury or disease contracted, suffered, or incurred, while participating in a criminal offense. The determination of Disability will be made by the Committee. The determination of Disability for purposes of this Plan will not be construed to be an admission of disability for any other purpose.

     " Effective Date " means October 27, 2005.

      " Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      " Fair Market Value " means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing sale price per share reported on a consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Common Stock is traded on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.

     " Grant Date " means the date as of which an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan.

     " NASDAQ " means the Nasdaq Stock Market, including the Nasdaq National Market.

      " Participant " means a person who satisfies the eligibility conditions of Article V and to whom an Award has been granted by the Committee under this Plan, and in the event a Representative is appointed for a Participant or another person becomes a Representative, then the term "Participant" shall mean such Representative. The term shall also include a trust for the benefit of the Participant, a partnership the interest of which is held by or for the benefit of the Participant, the Participant’s parents, spouse or descendants, or a custodian under a uniform gifts to minors act or similar statute for the benefit of the Participant’s descendants, to the extent permitted by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Termination of Employment" shall mean the Termination of Employment of the person to whom the Award was originally granted.

      " Performance Award " means a right, granted to a Participant under Article VIII, to receive an Award based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

      " Plan " means the NovaMed, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Restricted Stock Plan, as herein set forth and as may be amended from time to time.

      " Representative " means (a) the person or entity acting as the executor or administrator of a Participant’s estate pursuant to the last will and testament of a Participant or pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Participant had the Participant’s primary residence at the date of the Participant’s death; (b) the person or entity acting as the guardian or temporary guardian of a Participant; (c) the person or entity which is the Beneficiary of the Participant upon or following the Participant’s death; or (d) any person to whom an Award has been transferred with the permission of the Committee or by operation of law; provided that only one of the foregoing shall be the Representative at any point in time as determined under applicable law and recognized by the Committee. Any Representative shall be subject to all terms and conditions applicable to the Participant.

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     " Retirement " means the Participant’s Termination of Employment after attaining either the normal retirement age or the early retirement age as defined in the principal (as determined by the Committee) tax-qualified plan of the Company or an Affiliate, if the Participant is covered by such plan, and if the Participant is not covered by such a plan, then age 65, or age 55 with the accrual of 10 years of service.

      " Rule 16b-3 " means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

      " Securities Act " means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     " Shares " means shares of Common Stock.

     " Stock Award " means an Award denominated in Shares.

      " Termination of Employment " means the occurrence of any act or event, whether pursuant to an employment agreement or otherwise, that actually or effectively causes or results in the person’s ceasing, for whatever reason, to be an officer, independent contractor, board member, consultant, director or employee of the Company or of any Affiliate, or to be an officer, independent contractor, board member, consultant, director or employee of any entity that provides services to the Company or an Affiliate, including, without limitation, death, Disability, dismissal, severance at the election of the Participant, Retirement, or severance as a result of the discontinuance, liquidation, sale or transfer by the Company or its Affiliates of all businesses owned or operated by the Company or its Affiliates. With respect to any person who is not an employee with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, the Agreement will establish what act or event shall constitute a Termination of Employment for purposes of the Plan. A transfer of employment from the Company to an Affiliate, or from an Affiliate to the Company, shall not be a Termination of Employment, unless expressly determined by the Committee. A Termination of Employment shall occur for an employee who is employed by an Affiliate if the Affiliate shall cease to be an Affiliate and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

      " Voluntary Termination of Employment " means a Termination of Employment at the election of the Participant, including, with limitation, resignation by the Participant, but excluding Retirement.

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      In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions given to them in the first place in which they are used.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

      3.1 Committee Structure and Authority . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of two or more members of the Board of Directors, each of whom is a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and an "outside director" for purposes of the deduction of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, unless such committee does not exist or the Board establishes a committee whose purpose is the administration of this Plan. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof (including by telephone conference) and the acts of a majority of the members present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the entire Committee without a meeting, shall be the acts of the Committee for purposes of this Plan. The Committee may authorize any one or more of its stockholders or an officer of the Company to execute and deliver documents on behalf of the Committee. A member of the Committee shall not exercise any discretion respecting himself or herself under the Plan. In the event that the Compensation Committee of the Board no longer is the Committee, the Board shall have the authority to remove, replace or fill any vacancy of any member of the Committee upon notice to the Committee and the affected member. Any member of the Committee may resign upon notice to the Board. The Committee may allocate among one or more of its members, or may delegate to one or more of its agents, such duties and responsibilities as it determines.

      Among other things, the Committee shall have the authority, subject to the terms of the Plan:

           (a) to select those persons to whom Awards may be granted from time to time;

           (b) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted hereunder;

           (c) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

           (d) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, any restriction, limitation, acceleration, forfeiture or waiver regarding any Award and the Shares relating thereto);

           (e) to adjust the terms and conditions, at any time or from time to time, of any Award, subject to the limitations of Section 10.1;

           (f) to determine under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash or Shares;

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           (g) to provide for the forms of Agreement to be utilized in connection with the Plan;

           (h) to determine whether a Participant has a Disability or a Retirement;

           (i) to determine whether and with what effect an individual has incurred a Termination of Employment;

           (j) to determine what securities law requirements are applicable to the Plan, Awards, and the issuance of Shares and to require of a Participant that appropriate action be taken with respect to such requirements;

           (k) to cancel, with the consent of the Participant or as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Agreement, outstanding Awards;

           (l) to interpret and make final determinations with respect to the remaining number of Shares available under this Plan;

           (m) to require as a condition of the issuance or transfer of a certificate for Shares, the withholding from a Participant of the amount of any federal, state or local taxes as may be required by law;

           (n) to determine whether the Company or any other person has a right or obligation to purchase Shares from a Participant and, if so, the terms and conditions on which such Shares are to be purchased;

           (o) to determine the restrictions or limitations on the transfer of Shares;

           (p) to determine whether an Award is to be adjusted, modified or purchased under the Plan or the terms of an Agreement;

           (q) [reserved];

           (r) to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as, in its opinion, may be advisable in the administration of the Plan; and

           (s) to appoint and compensate agents, counsel, auditors or other specialists to aid it in the discharge of its duties.

      The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Agreement) and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee’s policies and procedures may differ with respect to Awards granted at different times or to different Participants.

      Any determination made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in its sole discretion, and in the case of any determination relating to an Award, may be made at the time of the grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or an Agreement, at any time thereafter. All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and Participants. No determination shall be subject to de novo review if challenged in court.

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ARTICLE IV

SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN

      4.1 Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under Section 4.5, the total number of Shares reserved and available for distribution pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be 250,000 Shares, as authorized for is