By the time Eric Tennant was diagnosed in 2023 with a rare cancer of the bile ducts, the disease had spread to his bones. He weighed 97 pounds and wasn’t expected to survive a year with stage 4 cancer.
Two years later, grueling rounds of chemotherapy have slowed the cancer’s progress, even as it has continued to spread.
Article on page 4
Beyond the Stethoscope: The Fight for Independent Medicine
There’s a certain romance to the idea of independence in medicine – physician, free from corporate red tape, making decisions solely in the best interest of their patients. It’s the kind of story that inspired many of us to pursue this path in the first place. But today, independent medical practice feels like a ship navigating stormy seas.
Article on page 8
See more local news in Grand Rounds on page 8
HealthcareLeader
Kevin Foley, MD, Neurosurgeon
Semmes Murphey Chairman has a lifelong passion for innovation
By JAMES DOWD
Dr. Kevin Foley’s path to becoming a world-renowned neurosurgeon, medical innovator, and chairman of the Semmes Murphey Clinic reads like a blueprint for purposeful living – fueled by curiosity, shaped by resilience, and driven by a lifelong commitment to improving patient care.
Living in rural western Massachusetts until he was five, Foley grew up with modest means but was profoundly influenced by his father, the first in his family to attend college. Foley’s dad earned his education through the Army ROTC program and went on to a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of two-star general and commanding all U.S. armor operations during Desert Storm.
“I was an Army brat, and my sister and I moved across the U.S. and Europe with our family,” Foley said. “I attended a German
PhysicianSpotlight
By JAMES DOWD
Men’s health is not a monolith, but encompasses a diverse range of conditions that evolve over time. Addressing them requires not only clinical knowledge, but also trust, approachability, and patient-centered dialogue. For many patients, urologists often serve as the first point
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3)
kindergarten in the early ‘60s, lived on bases from Fort Bragg to Fort Knox, and ultimately enrolled in Deerfield Academy as a day student. It was there that I discovered a passion for science, which would eventually guide me toward medicine.”
While at Deerfield, Foley’s academic pace was as driven as his ambition. After being accepted to Harvard, Stanford, and Penn State, he chose Penn State for its accelerated pre-med track.
“I was impatient,” he admits. “Penn State allowed me to test out of a lot of courses because I’d had such an incredible education at Deerfield, so I completed college in one year and entered medical school at 19.”
Though he was the youngest in his class, Foley thrived in the rigorous academic environment at the UCLA School of Medicine, developing an early interest in neuroscience.
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3)
Michael Granieri
Kevin Foley
Kevin Foley, continued from page 1
Initially drawn to neurology, he found neurosurgery more compelling for its ability to intervene and directly improve patient outcomes.
With medical school tuition a major consideration, Foley followed in his father’s footsteps and enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), a post-Vietnam initiative modeled after ROTC that covered medical school costs in exchange for military service.
After completing his internship in general surgery at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, he returned to UCLA for a five-year neurosurgery residency. Following that, he began active-duty service, holding leadership roles at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was named Chief of Neurosurgery when he was 34.
During this time, Foley not only built his clinical expertise in spinal trauma, but also began contributing to spinal cord research, flying regularly to Wisconsin to conduct experiments. His talks on spinal repair caught the attention of Dr. James
Michael
With more than 180 patents, Foley is widely recognized as one of the most inventive figures in modern neurosurgery.
T. Robertson, then chairman of neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and the Semmes Murphey Clinic.
In 1992, after being invited to lecture at UTHSC, Foley received an offer to join Semmes Murphey. Though he had offers from institutions including UCLA, NYU, and UT Southwestern, he chose Memphis for its unique blend of private practice, academic medicine, and a culture that embraced innovation.
“It was an interesting opportunity, I liked the facility and I felt like it was a good call,” Foley said. “Three decades later I stand behind that decision.”
One of Foley’s key conditions for joining was retaining the rights to his intellectual
Granieri, continued from page 1
of contact in men’s health, yet men often delay or avoid seeking care altogether. The consequences of this reluctance can range from untreated fertility issues to undiagnosed prostate cancer.
A heightened focus on these issues arrives each June with Men’s Health Month, when increased attention is paid to raise awareness about men’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. And while medical professionals encourage male patients to prioritize their health all year long, Michael Granieri, MD, finds the annual month devoted to men’s health issues a great way to facilitate conversations about unique health challenges that men face.
“When it comes to health, men don’t always get the care they need, often because they don’t seek it out,” said Granieri, a urologist and president of The Conrad Pearson Clinic. “Men are statistically less likely to visit the doctor, less likely to talk about sensitive health concerns, and more likely to ignore symptoms. That’s why Men’s Health Month is so important. and why I’m passionate about what I do.”
Granieri is a fellowship-trained urologist specializing in men’s health, fertility, and sexual medicine. He treats men of all ages, helping them navigate everything from fertility questions to prostate cancer. His goal is simple: to help men live longer, healthier lives, and feel great doing it.
“Since 2018, I’ve been practicing in Memphis, and in late 2024 I was honored to become president of The Conrad Pearson Clinic,” Granieri said. “We’re a team
of nationally recognized urologists dedicated to providing the highest level of men’s health care in the Mid-South and beyond.”
Granieri said many men initially see him when they’re thinking about starting a family or other fertility concerns. Sometimes it is to talk about fertility concerns, at other times it may be about scheduling a vasectomy. Either way, it is often their first real experience with a men’s health specialist.
“A fertility consultation can be a window into overall health. A complete evaluation can identify risks or issues that may affect health down the line,” Granieri said. “This is also when we sometimes start talking about testosterone levels. Low energy/ fatigue, trouble focusing, decreased sex drive, or mood changes can all be signs of low testosterone –even in your 30s. It’s more common than most people realize, and there are new, safer treatment options today than ever before.”
Testosterone therapy has come a long way, Granieri explained. One of the biggest studies to date – the TRAVERSE trial – was published last year and showed that testosterone treatment was not associated with an increased risk of heart problems, which doctors used to worry about.
“The study also showed that testosterone can help with libido, energy, and anemia,” Granieri said. “New oral testosterone formulations have emerged in recent years, offering excellent efficacy without the liver toxicity previously associated with older versions. These options, along with injections, gels and other oral formulations,
property. At the time, the clinic owned all inventions. Foley asked them to reconsider the policy, and they did, which began a prolific chapter in medical innovation.
With more than 180 patents, Foley is widely recognized as one of the most inventive figures in modern neurosurgery. Among his most impactful contributions is a navigation system that revolutionized spinal surgery by allowing surgeons to see in 3D beneath the skin without active X-rays, thereby dramatically improving accuracy and reducing risks.
But Foley is far from finished. He is currently involved in pioneering projects including developing stem cell injections to regenerate spinal discs, and a bone glue is poised to transform fracture and spinal
repair for both humans and animals. At this stage in life, Foley said he could step away from his career and pursue an active retirement, but he is far from finished with the medical field. The motivation, he explained, is helping others.
“One of the delights of medicine is making people better. It’s like a runner’s high,” Foley said. “You can only treat so many people with your own hands, but a successful invention can touch millions.”
At 69, Foley continues to operate, teach, and invent. He shares a rich life with his wife, a dermatologist and fellow Army brat whom he met at 16. They’ve been married for nearly a half-century and have three children and three grandchildren.
Foley loves his life and his purpose, and he’s not stepping away any time soon. And though he realizes the day will come when he will stop practicing, he’ll never stop inventing. When asked where his ideas come from, he’s quick to answer.
“Some arrive during that half-awake, half-asleep time in the morning,” Foley said. “My wife jokes that when my toes start wiggling, I’m dreaming up something new – and she’s usually right.”
provide individualized choices for patients, many of whom seek to preserve fertility while addressing hypogonadism. “
Another significant issue is erectile dysfunction (ED), and a common condition that Granieri treats and one that he is dedicated to destigmatizing.
“ED is a very prominent medical condition and there are a variety of reasons why, so it’s important for men to see a specialist. Their condition may be stressrelated, or more organic from medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes,” Granieri said. “It’s helpful to consider all this when diagnosing and prescribing treatment because patients need a full evaluation to get the right treatment options, which may include oral medications, shock wave therapy, penile injections, or surgical options such as penile implants.”
In addition to fertility issues and ED, Granieri treats men afflicted by benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Treatment depends on the symptoms and underlying conditions, plus advances in treatment therapies continue to evolve.
“A lot of patients have trouble urinating, which could stem from conditions such as bladder obstruction or from prostate issues,” Granieri said. “There is a proliferation of minimally invasive options, which can provide relief and increase the quality of life for many men.”
Another significant health concern for men is elevated PSA, which can signal prostate cancer. Findings published in 2024 by the Lancet Commission indicated that
the number of global diagnoses of prostate cancer would double from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million in 2040.
And as Granieri counsels, when it comes to prostate cancer, early detection is key.
“We follow national guidelines for screening and work with patients to make decisions based on age, risk, and personal health. At Conrad Pearson, we’ve built a Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence where we offer every available treatment, from advanced imaging to robotic surgery,” Granieri said. “One exciting advancement is single-port robotic surgery, which uses one small incision and allows the majority of men to go home the same day and recover with less pain and downtime.”
After prostate cancer treatment, some men experience side effects like urinary leakage or ED, which is why follow-up care is vital after surgery and throughout recovery, Granieri said. Options include pelvic floor therapy, medications, or even surgical options like the male sling or the artificial urinary sphincter.
Through it all, Granieri works with patients to determine the appropriate level of care and therapy.
“At the end of the day, we work with patients on a shared decision-making model to offer the best possible care. Whether it’s a concern about fertility, sexual performance, urination, or cancer, we talk through it,” Granieri said. “Men’s health deserves just as much focus as any other specialty, and every man deserves access to the care that can change his life.”
‘Not Accountable to Anyone’: As Insurers Issue Denials, Some Patients Run Out of Options
By LAUREN SAUSSER, KFF Health News
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — By the time Eric Tennant was diagnosed in 2023 with a rare cancer of the bile ducts, the disease had spread to his bones. He weighed 97 pounds and wasn’t expected to survive a year with stage 4 cancer.
Two years later, grueling rounds of chemotherapy have slowed the cancer’s progress, even as it has continued to spread. But chemotherapy has also ravaged Tennant’s body and his quality of life.
Recently, however, the 58-year-old had reason to hope things would improve. Last fall, his wife, Rebecca, learned of a relatively new, noninvasive procedure called histotripsy, which uses targeted ultrasound waves to destroy tumors in the liver. The treatment could extend his life and buy him more downtime between rounds of chemotherapy.
Early this year, Tennant’s oncologist agreed he was a good candidate since the largest tumor in his body is in his liver. But that’s when his family began fighting another adversary: their health insurer, which decided the treatment was “not medically necessary,” according to insurance paperwork.
Health insurers issue millions of denials every year. And like the Tennants, many patients find themselves stuck in a convoluted appeals process marked by long wait times, frustrating customer service encounters, and decisions by medical professionals they’ve never met who may lack relevant training.
Recent federal and state efforts, as well as changes undertaken by insurance companies themselves, have attempted to improve a 50-year-old system that disproportionately burdens some of the sickest patients at the worst times. And yet many doctors complain that insurance denials are worse than ever as the use of prior authorization has ramped up in recent years, reporting by KFF Health News and NBC News found.
When the Tennant family was told histotripsy would cost $50,000 and insurance wouldn’t cover it, they appealed the denial four times.
“It’s a big mess,” said Rebecca Tennant, who described feeling like a pingpong ball, bouncing between the insurer and various health care companies involved in the appeals process.
“There’s literally nothing we can do to get them to change,” she said in an April interview with KFF Health News. “They’re, like, not accountable to anyone.”
While the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in December incited a fresh wave of public fury about denials, there is almost no hope of meaningful change on the horizon,
said Jay Pickern, an assistant professor of health services administration at Auburn University.
“You would think the murder of a major health insurance CEO on the streets of New York in broad daylight would be a major watershed moment,” Pickern said. Yet, once the news cycle died down, “everything went back to the status quo.”
An Unintended Consequence of Health Reform?
Prior authorization varies by plan but often requires patients or their providers to get permission (also called precertification, preauthorization, or preapproval) before filling prescriptions, scheduling imaging, surgery, or an inpatient hospital stay, among other expenses.
The practice isn’t new. Insurers have used prior authorization for decades to limit fraud, prevent patient harm, and control costs. In some cases, it is used to intentionally generate profits for health insurers, according to a 2024 U.S. Senate report. By denying costly care, companies pay less for health care expenses while still collecting premiums.
“At the end of the day, they’re a business and they exist to make money,” said Pickern, who wrote about the negative impacts of prior authorization on patient care for The American Journal of Managed Care.
For most patients, though, the process works seamlessly. Prior authorization mostly happens behind the scenes, almost always electronically, and nearly all requests are quickly, or even instantly, approved.
But the use of prior authorization has also increased in recent years. That’s partly due to the growth of enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans, which rely heavily on prior authorization compared with original Medicare. Some health policy experts also point to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, which prohibited health insurers from denying coverage to patients with preexisting conditions, prompting companies to find other ways to control costs.
“But we can’t really prove this,” said Kaye Pestaina, director of the Program on Patient and Consumer Protection at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Health insurers haven’t been historically transparent about which services require prior authorization, she said, making it difficult to draw comparisons before and after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Meanwhile, many states are looking to overhaul the prior authorization process.
In March, Virginia passed a law that will require health insurers to publicly post a list of health care services and codes for
Recent federal and state efforts, as well as changes undertaken by insurance companies themselves, have attempted to improve a 50-yearold system that disproportionately burdens some of the sickest patients at the worst times.
which prior authorization is required. A North Carolina bill would require doctors who review patient appeals to have practiced medicine in the same specialty as the patient’s provider. The West Virginia Legislature passed bills in both 2019 and 2023 requiring insurers to respond to nonurgent authorization requests within five days and more urgent requests within two days, among other mandates.
And in 2014, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services temporarily lifted all prior authorization requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries seeking rehabilitative behavioral health services.
Federal rules to modify prior authorization that were introduced by the first Trump administration and finalized by the Biden administration are set to take effect next year, with the aim of streamlining the process, reducing wait times, and improving transparency.
These changes were supported by AHIP, a trade group that represents health insurers.
‘Sick With Little Recourse’
But the new federal rules won’t prevent insurance companies from denying payment for doctor-recommended treatment, and they apply only to some categories of health insurance, including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. Nearly half the U.S. population is covered by employersponsored plans, which remain untouched by the new rules.
For some patients, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
On May 12, Alexander Schrift, 35, died at home in San Antonio, Florida, less than two months after his insurance company refused to cover the cancer drug ribociclib. It’s used to treat breast cancer but has shown promise in treating the same type of brain tumor Schrift was diagnosed with in 2022, according to researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
But Schrift’s insurance company refused to pay. The Right to Try Act, signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, entitles patients with terminal illnesses to try experimental drugs, but it does not obligate insurance companies to pay for them.
In May, Sheldon Ekirch, 30, of Henrico, Virginia, said her parents withdrew money from their retirement savings to pay for treatment denied by her health insurance company.
Ekirch, who was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy in 2023, was recommended by her doctor to try an expensive blood plasma treatment called intravenous immunoglobulin to ease her near-constant pain. In April, a state agency charged with reviewing insurance denials upheld her insurer’s decision. Out-of-pocket, the treatment may cost her parents tens of
thousands of dollars.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d end up here,” Ekirch said, “sick with little recourse.”
Earlier this year, New Jersey congressman Jefferson Van Drew, a Republican, introduced a bill that would eliminate prior authorization altogether. But history suggests that would create new problems.
When South Carolina Medicaid lifted prior authorization for rehabilitative behavioral health services in 2014, the department’s costs for those services skyrocketed from $300,000 to $2 million per week, creating a $54 million budget shortfall after new providers flooded the market. Some providers were eventually referred to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office for Medicaid fraud investigation. The state Medicaid agency eventually reinstated prior authorization for specific services, spokesperson Jeff Leieritz said.
What happened in South Carolina illustrates a common argument made by insurers: Prior authorization prevents fraud, reduces overspending, and guards against potential harm to patients.
On the other hand, many doctors and patients claim that cost-containment strategies, including prior authorization, do more harm than good.
On Feb. 3, 2024, Jeff Hall of Estero, Florida, became paralyzed from the neck down and spent weeks in a coma after he suddenly developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The cause of his illness remains unknown.
Hall, now 51, argued that the Florida Blue health insurance plan he purchased on the federal marketplace hindered his recovery by capping the number of days he was allowed to remain in an acute rehabilitation hospital last year.
Hall said that after he was forced to “step down” to a lower-level nursing facility, his health deteriorated so rapidly within six days that he was sent to the emergency room, placed on a ventilator, and required a second tracheostomy. Hall believes the insurance company’s coverage limits set his recovery back by months — and, ironically, cost the insurer more. His wife, Julie, estimated Jeff’s medical bills have exceeded $5 million, and most of his care has been covered by his insurer.
“Getting better is not always the goal of an insurance company. It’s a business,” Jeff Hall said. “They don’t care.”
In a prepared statement, Florida Blue spokesperson Jose Cano said the company understands “it can be a challenge when a member reaches the limit of their coverage for a specific service or treatment.” He encouraged members affected by coverage limits to contact their health care providers to “explore service and treatment options.”
A ‘Rare and Exceptional’ Reversal
Back in West Virginia, Eric and Rebecca Tennant say they are realistic about Eric’s prognosis.
They never expected histotripsy to
cure his cancer. At best, the procedure could buy him more time and might allow him to take an extended break from chemotherapy. That makes it worth trying, they said.
As a safety instructor with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, Eric Tennant is a state employee and is insured by West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency.
As the Tennants pleaded with the state insurance agency to cover histotripsy, they faced a list of other companies involved in the decision, including UMR, a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary that contracts with West Virginia to manage the public employee plans, and MES Peer Review Services, a Massachusetts company that upheld the insurer’s decision in March, citing that histotripsy is “unproven in this case and is not medically necessary.”
None of their appeals worked. After KFF Health News and NBC News reached out to West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency with questions for this article, the agency changed its mind, explaining the insurer had consulted with medical experts to further evaluate the case.
“This decision reflects a rare and exceptional situation” and does not represent a change in the Public Employees Insurance Agency’s overall coverage policies,” Director Brent Wolfingbarger said in a prepared statement to KFF Health News.
In a separate prepared statement, UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Eric Hausman said the company sympathizes with “anyone navigating through lifethreatening care decisions.”
“Currently, there is no evidence that histotripsy is as effective as alternative treatment options available,” he said in late May, after the earlier insurance denials were reversed, “and its impact on survival or cancer recurrence is unknown.”
MES Peer Review Services did not respond to a request for an interview.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Tennant worries it might be too late. She said her husband was first evaluated for histotripsy in February. But his health has recently taken a turn for the worse. In late May and early June, she said, he spent five days in the hospital after developing heart and lung complications.
Eric Tennant is no longer considered a viable candidate for histotripsy, his wife said, although the Tennants are hopeful that will change if his health improves. Scans scheduled for July will determine whether his cancer has continued to progress. Rebecca Tennant blames her husband’s insurance plan for wasting months of their time.
“Time is precious,” she said. “They know he has stage 4 cancer, and it’s almost like they don’t care if he lives or dies.”
NBC News health and medical unit producer Jason Kane and correspondent Erin McLaughlin contributed to this report.
Will Power
Understanding the typical components of an estate plan
The topic of estate planning can be difficult to think about but is so important to achieving financial wellness. Besides designating how you want your assets distributed, an estate plan provides your health care directives, simplifies the probate process and helps minimize taxes. It also helps protect your loved ones by minimizing conflicts and ensuring their financial security. Typical components of a comprehensive estate plan include the following:
Last will and testament. This document outlines how you want your assets distributed after your death. It allows you to name an executor who will manage your estate, pay debts and distribute your assets. You can also designate guardians for minor children.
Revocable living trust. A trust is a legal entity that can “own” assets. The document looks much like a will. And, like a will, a trust includes instructions for who is to handle final affairs and who is to receive the deceased’s assets. Today, many people use a revocable living trust instead of a will in their estate plan because it avoids court interference at death (probate) and at incapacity. To create a basic living trust, you make a document called a declaration of trust, which is similar to a will. You name yourself as trustee — the person in charge of the trust property. If you and your spouse create a trust together, you will be co-trustees. As long as you are alive and competent, you can change the trust document, add or remove assets or even cancel it.
For a revocable living trust to work properly, you must transfer your assets into it. Titles must be changed from your individual name (or joint name with a spouse or partner) to the name of your trust. Because your living trust legally holds title to the assets it holds, these
Sources:
Kmotion,
assets aren't considered a part of your estate, and therefore do not need to go through the probate process upon death or incapacitation. This makes it very easy for someone (a co-trustee or successor trustee) to step in and manage your financial affairs.
Durable power of attorney. This document designates someone to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. The chosen individual can manage your assets, pay bills and handle other financial matters.
Healthcare power of attorney. Also known as a medical power of attorney, this document appoints someone to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated. This document ensures that your healthcare preferences are respected even when you cannot communicate them.
Living will. A living will, or advance healthcare directive, specifies your wishes regarding medical treatments and end-of-life care. It can include instructions on life support, resuscitation and other critical care decisions.
Beneficiary designations. For assets like life insurance policies, retirement accounts and payable-on-death accounts, beneficiary designations are crucial. These designations override the instructions in your will, ensuring that these assets go directly to the named beneficiaries.
Creating an estate plan involves careful consideration and documentation to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are taken care of after your death. Consulting with an estate planning attorney can help you navigate the complexities and create a comprehensive plan that meets your needs.
Chirag Chauhan, MBA, AIF®, CFP® is the managing partner of Bluff City Advisory Group in Memphis, Tennessee For more info, please visit bluffcityadvisory com.
Chirag Chauhan, AIF®, CFP®
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Beyond the Stethoscope: The Fight for Independent Medicine
By CHARLES LATHRAM, III, FACMPE
Fellow, American College of Medical Practice Executives, Past President, TN MGMA
There’s a certain romance to the idea of independence in medicine –physician, free from corporate red tape, making decisions solely in the best interest of their patients. It’s the kind of story that inspired many of us to pursue this path in the first place. But today, independent medical practice feels like a ship navigating stormy seas. Regulatory turbulence, financial instability, and the relentless waves of social and environmental challenges are battering the sails. And yet, even in the face of these headwinds, there’s something undeniably worth fighting for.
Independent practice isn’t just about autonomy; it’s about preserving the heart and soul of medicine –the sacred trust between doctor and patient, untainted by the demands of shareholders and profit margins. But let’s not sugarcoat it: the road ahead is rough.
The Challenges We Face
First, the numbers paint a stark picture. Nearly 74 per cent of physicians are now employees, and over the last decade, physician ownership has dropped by 13 percentage points. This isn’t because we’ve lost our entrepreneurial spirit – it’s because the system seems designed to crush it. Medicare cuts, rising overhead costs, and the relentless march of corporate consolidation have turned the dream of independence into a financial juggling act.
And then there’s burnout. Ah, burnout – the buzzword that’s become all too familiar in our circles. The administrative burden of prior authorizations, endless documentation, and the emotional toll of practicing medicine in a post-pandemic world have pushed many to the brink. It’s no wonder so many of our colleagues are choosing the perceived stability of employment over the uncertainty of running their own ship.
Why Independence Still Matters
So why should we keep fighting for independent practice? Because it matters. It matters for our patients, who deserve care that isn’t dictated by
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Regional One Health Names Medical Director for Firefighters Burn Center
corporate policies or profit margins. It matters for our communities, which rely on local, independent practices to fill the gaps left by larger systems. And it matters for you, the physicians, who deserve the freedom to practice medicine in a way that aligns with your values and vision.
Independent practice is about more than just survival; it’s about thriving. It’s about proving that we can adapt and innovate without losing sight of what makes medicine a calling rather than just a job.
Charting a Path Forward
At this crossroads, we have a choice to make. We can lament the challenges and let the tide sweep us away, or we can rise to the occasion. We can embrace innovation, explore new partnerships, and find creative ways to navigate this ever-changing landscape.
For example, transitioning to value-based care models, diversifying revenue streams through telemedicine and ancillary services, and leveraging technology to improve efficiency are just some of the ways independent practices can adapt and thrive. These strategies aren’t just about keeping the lights on – they’re about proving that independence and innovation can coexist.
Regional One Health recently named Travis Webb, MD, medical director of its firefighters Burn Center, the only full-service burn center verified by the American Burn Association in a 400mile radius of Memphis. He leads a specialized team that provides comprehensive care for burn patients from all over the MidSouth, seeing them through their entire treatment journey from critical care to rehabilitation to continuing outpatient recovery.
Webb earned his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield and a Master of Health Professions Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed his general surgery residency and surgical critical care fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Webb is board-certified in both general surgery and surgical critical care.
He is the author of numerous book chapters and his research has been published in journals including the Journal of Trauma Acute Care Surgery, Journal of Surgical Education, American Journal of Surgery and Journal of the American College of Surgeons. He is an invited reviewer for American Journal of Surgery, Journal of Surgical Research and Surgery, and he serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education and the Journal of Surgical Education.
Webb is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Association for Academic Surgery, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American Hernia Society, and Society of University Surgeons, and the American Burn Association.
Saint Francis Medical Partners Welcomes New General Surgeon
Saint Francis Medical Partners recently welcomed Keith R. Thomae, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, who joined Drs. Hugh Francis, III, Benjamin Gibson, IV, Alan Hammond, Joshua Katz, Melvin Payne, and Moriah Wright at Memphis Surgery Associates, a part of Saint Francis Medical Partners.
As a general surgeon with more than two decades of experience, Thomae specializes in performing a wide range of surgical
procedures, including thyroidectomy, abdominal, inguinal and ventral hernia, intestinal obstruction, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, among many other conditions. He is also trained in performing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery procedures, such as laparoscopic appendectomy and laparoscopic gall bladder removal.
Thomae joined Saint Francis from National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he served as Medical Director of the NPMC Ambulatory Surgical Center. Before that, he was affiliated with Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, and with BJC and SSM hospitals in Missouri.
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Keith R. Thomae
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Thomae earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh and his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. He completed his residency in General Surgery at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.
Dr. Jason Johnson named Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Executive Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has announced Jason Johnson, MD, as Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Executive Co-Director of the Heart Institute, effective July 1.
Dr. Johnson has served as Associate Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Le Bonheur since 2020 and as Director of Cardiac MRI at Le Bonheur and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During his tenure, he has driven significant programmatic growth, including the development of the region’s only hybrid cardiac MRI and catheterization lab and strategic faculty recruitment.
A graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Johnson completed his residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Duke University Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric cardiology. As Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Executive Co-Director of the Heart Institute, Johnson will lead the cardiology department’s staff and programs, guiding the Heart Institute into a new phase of expanded units and enhanced capabilities to deliver cutting-edge care for pediatric patients.
Johnson is a world renown advanced cardiovascular imaging specialists focusing on echocardiographic and MRI guidance of transcatheter procedures. He has the most experience in the world with echocardiographic guided bedside transcatheter PDA closure in premature infants.
He is an active member of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and the American College of Cardiology and serves as Editor in Chief of Cases of SCMR.
College of Nursing Dean to Lead UT Health Science Center’s Statewide Rural Health Initiative
Wendy Likes, PhD, DNSc APRN-Bc, FAAN, FAANP, dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, will fill a new role as executive director and special advisor on rural health for the university. Dean Likes will continue her role as the College of Nursing’s dean.
The appointment reflects the outstanding work the college has done
in bringing needed primary care services to rural communities in West Tennessee through mobile health outreach.
Building upon the recommendations of a gubernatorial task force that addressed rural health needs in Tennessee, Dean Likes will collaborate with the other UT Health Science Center deans and with Paul Wesolowski, vice chancellor for Strategic Partnerships, and Cindy Russell, PhD,
vice chancellor for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs, to advance care, training, and retention of health sciencestrained clinicians in rural communities.
The College of Nursing leads several rural health outreach and education programs. Dean Likes leads one of the college’s newest rural health projects, the Tennessee Rural Nurse Scholars program. Funded through a $300,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, this 17-month effort will expand work-based opportunities in rural communities by
strengthening the nursing pipeline. The college’s other rural initiatives are funded through $12.58 million from a variety of sources. One major grant provides primary care in rural Lake and Lauderdale counties. Another offers financial support for nursing students committed to rural and underserved areas. In addition, a UT Grand Challenges grant will send three vans into rural areas to provide education, outreach, and training to nearby rural communities and to their health care
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Wendy Likes
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The College of Dentistry, in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health, began a five-year, $53 million project in 2023 to increase access to dentists and dental care across Tennessee, with a focus on the rural areas with the most need. Funded by the state and called the Healthy Smiles Initiative, the ambitious project is a multipronged approach to tackling the current shortage of dentists in Tennessee and improving health across the state by making dental care more readily available. The Tennessee Department of Health has committed a total of $94 million for its overall statewide Healthy Smiles oral health effort.
Two New Providers Join West Cancer Center
West Cancer Center announces two new providers joining the practice.
Dr. Cory Barrows is joining our palliative care team. She started last month and will be seeing patients two days a week at West while continuing to care for patients at Regional One. A 2020 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed her Palliative Care Fellowship at UTHSC in 2024. Barrows is already making an impact — she co-presented with Dr. Clay Jackson at the 2024 Tennessee Pain Conference on “Improving Naloxone Prescription and Overdose Education for Cancer Patients Co-Prescribed Opioids and Benzodiazepines: A Quality Improvement Study.” She was also selected to co-present at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care on a West-based research study focused on patient safety by reducing co-prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines.
We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Wesley Jones will be joining our pathology team this June. Jones comes to us from Jacksonville, Florida
bringing over a decade of experience, including leadership roles as Medical Director of the Blood Bank at Baptist Health System / MD Anderson, and Site Director of Stem Cell Collections at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Jones earned his medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, completed his residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and pursued fellowships in both Surgical Pathology and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago. His clinical expertise and leadership will be a tremendous asset to our network and the patients we serve.
Campbell Clinic Announces Partnership with Bristol, TN-based Appalachian Orthopedics
Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, the largest and oldest multi-specialty orthopaedic practice in West Tennessee, has announced a partnership with Appalachian Orthopedics. The specialty-trained doctors and staff at Appalachian Orthopedics have been the east Tennessee region’s bone, joint and muscle experts, delivering quality patient care for more than 50 years.
Appalachian Orthopedics recently merged with Highlands Neurosurgery to become Appalachian Orthopedics & Highlands Neurosurgery. Highlands Neurosurgery is a state-of-the-art spine surgery practice, delivering clinical neurosurgery services since its founding in 2001.
Together, these Bristol, TN-based practices add seventeen physicians available to the valued patients served throughout Tennessee through the Campbell Clinic family of brands.
As part of this new partnership, Appalachian Orthopedic physicians will have access to Campbell Clinic’s clinical research as well as its care team’s best
practices, standard approaches and clinical processes, all of which are designed to improve patient outcomes.
Appalachian Orthopedics offers a full range of multi-specialty orthopaedic and neurological services and has locations throughout east Tennessee and into Virginia.
Campbell Clinic is already the largest multi-specialty orthopaedic clinic in the West Tennessee, North Mississippi, and East Arkansas region. The partnership with Appalachian Orthopedics brings Campbell Clinic’s provider count to 142 working across 22 total locations, further bolstering the clinic’s position as the industry leader in the region.
UTHSC Education Leader Named Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing
After an extensive nationwide search, Karla Leeper, PhD, MBA, MA, a highly accomplished communicator with decades of leadership experience in higher education and health care, has been named the new vice chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She will join the university July 7.
Leeper has served since 2022 as the vice chancellor for Strategic Communication and Public Affairs at the University of Kansas (KU), where she is on the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet and is the executive leader for marketing, communications, and media relations for the university’s six locations across the state.
Throughout her career, she has held high-level executive positions with significant responsibility in communications and academic health care.
She previously held the position of executive vice president for Operations at Augusta University/Augusta University Health, overseeing the Divisions of Marketing and Communication, Auxiliary Services, Facilities, and Human Resources. She also served as the
executive vice president for Strategic Communication and Chief Marketing Officer for Augusta University/Augusta University Health System, executive vice president for University Relations, and chief of staff to the president and CEO of Augusta University (formerly Georgia Regents University/Georgia Regents Health System). Additionally, she was the vice president of Executive Affairs and chief of staff to the president of Baylor University.
Leeper, who holds a PhD in communication studies from KU and an MBA from Augusta University, also has distinguished academic experience as the Glenn R. Capp Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Baylor University.
Leeper will lead strategic initiatives, including developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications plan to amplify UT Health Science Center’s vision, missions, and impact across Tennessee, fostering collaboration with academic and clinical leaders to strengthen partnerships and enhance the visibility of programs and research initiatives, and engaging with communities statewide.
Leeper has also partnered closely with campus fundraisers to develop communications strategies for successful philanthropic campaigns in several of her previous roles.
She said multiple factors, including Chancellor Buckley’s outstanding leadership, attracted her to the university. She cited, “the team he’s put together, the vision that they have, and the mission of the institution.”
TMA Leadership Changes Announced for 2025-2026, as They Discuss Healthcare Policy
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) installed new and returning leaders at the organization’s 190th Annual Meeting in Franklin,
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Cory Barrows
Wesley Jones
of pain-related conditions, including back and neck pain, arm and leg pain, arthritis, sciatica, shingles, peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, multiple sclerosis, complex regional pain syndrome, and post-stroke pain.
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Tenn. These changes mark the beginning of the governance cycle for the association.
John McCarley, MD, a nephrologist with Nephrology Associates in Chattanooga, Tenn., was appointed the 171st President for 2025-2026.
Trey Lee, MD, a neurologist from Nashville, Tenn., was re-elected Speaker of the House, and Kirk Stone, MD, a Family Practitioner from Union City, Tenn., was re-elected Vice Speaker of the House. Both will serve to plan and lead the 2026 convening of TMA’s House of Delegates.
Dr. Leslie Treece, a pediatrician from Cookeville, Tenn., was installed as Chair of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Michelle Allmon, an internist in Collierville, Tenn., was installed as the Vice-Chair.
This marks the first time in TMA history that the Board is completely led by women. Both return to the Board for an additional year of service, with Dr. Treece having been re-elected in the Spring of 2024 and Dr. Allmon having been elected in the Spring of 2025.
Delegates and officers conducted association business and discussed resolutions to direct TMA’s governance and legislative policy.
The 2025 TMA House of Delegates focused on the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), public health, private equity and insurance payers, both government and commercial. Actions of the House included:
• Ensuring Physician Oversight of Artificial Intelligence in Patient Interactions
Delegates affirmed TMA’s support of the development of policies that ensure oversight by physicians in AI-driven patient interactions. TMA will work with appropriate agencies, healthcare institutions and lawmakers to form guidelines for the safe, ethical and transparent use of AI in healthcare.
• Combating the Accessibility of Addictive Substances and Reducing Barriers to Treatment
Delegates called for the ban of specific addictive substances and the need to reduce barriers to life- saving treatments like naloxone. Additionally, the body charged TMA with supporting increased reporting requirements and penalties for child vaping in schools in an effort to reduce widespread use among Tennessee youth. TMA will work through its delegates at AMA to carry out many of these directives.
• Addressing Private Equity in Healthcare
Delegates charged the TMA Board of Trustees with developing and implementing state policies surrounding private investment in healthcare to promote greater transparency, protect physician autonomy and safeguard patient access.
• Supporting Greater Efficiency of Government and Commercial Payers
Delegates stressed the need to streamline government and commercial payment and processes for health-related services, including reducing the time frame to approve CoverKids applications, strengthening state and federal policies related to telehealth, improving patient education on the risks and benefits of Medicare Advantage plans and increasing transparency in prior authorization.
St. Jude pathologist elected to Royal Society of London
and advocate for physician-led care.
Streamlining compliance training requirements
medical schools to offer more assistance and flexibility in exam scheduling.
Supporting
flexibility in burnout prevention programs
Delegates adopted policy discouraging burnout prevention programs that impose inflexible requirements, mandatory assignments, or punitive measures for physicians and medical trainees. Instead, the new policy supports evidence-based programs that allow for voluntary participation, flexible scheduling, and recognition of the importance of personal time in promoting well-being.
Leukemia researcher Dr. Charles G. Mullighan, senior deputy director of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
Mullighan was selected to join the Royal Society for his trailblazing contributions to genomic research, which have advanced the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of acute leukemia, notably childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). His studies have redefined the disease by identifying novel subtypes, uncovering critical genomic drivers, and advancing precision medicine approaches.
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is an independent scientific academy of the U.K. and the British Commonwealth of nations (Mullighan holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Australia). Its fellows have included many of the world’s most eminent scientists and technologists, representing a range of personalities, from Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin to Dorothy Hodgkin and St. Jude scientists Robert Webster and Madan Babu. Mullighan’s fellow U.S.-based 2025 members include researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Google DeepMind, Johns Hopkins University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University and the National Institutes of Health.
AMA HOD Adopts New Policies on Medical Education
CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) convened at its Annual Meeting to adopt new policies aimed at strengthening medical education and bolstering the future physician workforce. The new policies include efforts to address medical student and physician burnout, support trainees during licensure exams,
Physicians practicing at multiple hospitals often encounter redundant compliance training requirements, as each facility may have its own version of legally required courses. Delegates adopted policy calling for the creation of reciprocity programs that allow physicians to receive credit for compliance training completed at one health care entity toward requirements at other facilities, as long as the training meets established standards. The policy also calls for the AMA to work with relevant parties to explore options for fair compensation or continuing medical education (CME) credits for time spent on these trainings.
Support for trainees during exams
The HOD adopted policy urging greater support for medical trainees who face logistical or financial hurdles when taking licensure exams. The new policy calls on the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners to address challenges related to testing centers, including rescheduling exams and cost. The policy also encourages
Advocating for physician-led health care teams
The HOD adopted policy encouraging residency programs to promote opportunities for residents and trainees to engage in advocacy for physician-led care. Delegates also directed the AMA to expand educational resources, toolkits, and workshops that residency programs can use to teach medical trainees about physician-led care and prepare them to engage effectively with policymakers. The new policy builds on the AMA’s existing work to provide resources to residency programs through the AMA GME Competency Education Program.
