Earl Vickers was accustomed to taking Molly, his shepherd-boxersomething-else mix, for strolls on the beach or around his neighborhood in Seaside, California. A few years ago, though, he started to experience problems staying upright.
“If another dog came toward us, every single time I’d end up on the ground,” recalled Vickers, 69, a retired electrical engineer.
“It seemed like I was falling every other month. It was kind of crazy.”
Most of those tumbles did no serious damage, though one time he fell backward and hit his head on a wall behind him. “I don’t think I had a concussion, but it’s not something I want to do every day,” Vickers said, ruefully.
Article on page 6
See more local news in Grand Rounds on page 8
HealthcareLeader
UTHSC’s New College of Medicine Dean Champions Curriculum Modernization
By JAMES DOWD
In the halls of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine, a new era of leadership is taking shape; one rooted in service, strategic growth, and a deep understanding of academic medicine’s most urgent challenges. At the center of this transformation is Michael B. Hocker, MD, MHS, who stepped into the role of Executive Dean in July 2025, bringing with him a reputation for operational excellence, physician leadership, and a deeply personal commitment to medical education.
For those familiar with his career, Hocker’s arrival in Memphis is not simply a move, it’s a mission.
Hocker’s journey to the helm of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Medicine is anything
but conventional, and that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring.
Born into a hardworking, blue-collar family, with parents who juggled multiple jobs and grandparents who never finished high school, Hocker’s early life was built on the principles of grit, humility, and perseverance.
As a high schooler in Colorado, Hocker dreamed not of medicine, but of becoming a NASCAR racer or an Olympic wrestler. As a standout wrestler competing in high school and later in college, Hocker had aspirations for elite competition, until a knee injury at the Greco-Roman national championships in Las Vegas abruptly changed his path.
“That injury introduced me to a phenomenal orthopedic surgeon, and it was my first real exposure to medicine other than my pediatrician,” Hocker said.
HealthcareLeader
By BECKY GILLETTE
When
Lakeside CEO for 15 years.
“Lakeside is fortunate to have a long history of successful leadership,” Morris said. “Building on the
Michael B. Hocker
David Morris
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Left to right: Matthew Kangas, MD, Moacir Schnapp, MD, Glenn Gehrke, MD, Andrew Dudas, MD
UTHSC’s New College of Medicine Dean,
“The way he treated me and the bedside manner he had made an impression on me, and I realized that helping people could be a great career path.”
Hocker’s medical interest deepened when, as a teenager, he earned his emergency medical technician (EMT) certification through a community college program. He earned money by working on an ambulance, and he put himself through Fort Lewis College, a small liberal arts school in Durango, Colorado.
As a first-generation college student without a built-in support network, Hocker relied on strong friendships and dedicated mentors to help him find his footing.
“I realized if I wanted to get into medical school, I needed a great academic record so that I could qualify for assistance to defray costs, because my family couldn’t pay for it,” Hocker said. I had to stop wrestling because it took up too much time, and even though I was a good high school wrestler, I was only a mediocre college wrestler. From then on, I focused on my classes and earning the best grades possible.”
After applying to several medical schools, Hocker chose the University of Colorado. To pay for his education, he turned to the U.S. Navy, which offered both funding and the promise of aviation
or submarine medicine.
“I looked at all the military branches, but the Navy said I could fly, so I signed up,” Hocker said. I signed on for three years, which paid for my medical school and provided fantastic training.”
That decision launched a whirlwind of surgical internships, flight school in Pensacola, Florida, and deployment with fleet squadrons. These experiences honed Hocker’s adaptability and taught him how to demonstrate leadership under pressure.
“I was fortunate to be a co-pilot on squadrons, and I became fond of aviation medicine, which set me up for what I’m doing now,” Hocker said. “Working in the military, in often austere environments, showed me how to improvise and overcome. I’ve carried those lessons with me ever since.”
After military service, Hocker completed emergency medicine training in Massachusetts, then moved to private practice in South Carolina. Though he learned the business side of medicine, he missed the energy of academic environments. When a friend encouraged him to consider Duke University, he pursued that option.
“Duke invited me to join its program, and I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse,” Hocker said. “I worked to build lots of trust and relationships,
and I learned how to lead a group in an academic setting.”
Within short order, Hocker climbed the ranks, progressing from junior faculty to overseeing the department. During
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his 14 years at Duke, he helped establish Duke’s emergency medicine division as a world-class program.
Michael Hocker speaking to the UTHSC advisory board.
UTHSC’s New College of Medicine Dean,
Leadership opportunities followed, including serving as senior associate dean and designated institutional official for Graduate Medical Education at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, where he helped develop leadership programs and oversaw multicampus operations.
“When you’re in a leadership role, people count on you to deliver,” Hocker said. “My upbringing and military experience helped shape that mindset and prepared me for the roles that followed.”
Eventually, a new opportunity emerged in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where Hocker served as dean and chief academic officer for the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine, and as the senior vice president for the UT Health RGV clinical practice. The region was underserved and faced complex health challenges, but he saw the work as meaningful.
“It was one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career, and we had a chance to make a real difference,” Hocker said. “Our motto was any patient, anytime, anywhere.”
Then came a call from Tennessee.
Though initially uninterested, a visit to Memphis changed Hocker’s mind.
“I saw a great institution, passionate people, and a statewide mission that aligned with what I care about,” Hocker said. “Here was a place that was training the next generation of physician leaders to serve communities in need. I knew that this was where I had to be.”
Now, as Dean of the UTHSC College of Medicine, Hocker is tackling some of the most pressing issues in Tennessee healthcare head-on, including physician shortages, outdated facilities, and the need for innovation in education and training. On top of that, the state is projected to face a shortfall of 6,000 or more physicians by 2035, particularly in rural areas.
“It’s not just about Memphis, Nashville, or Knoxville,” Hocker said. “The small communities will feel it the most. That’s where we need to invest and lead.”
Hocker’s strategy is multi-pronged: growing the medical school’s class size from 175 to potentially 250; expanding the PA program from 60 to 100 students annually; and creating innovative pipeline programs that identify and support Tennessee high school students as early as junior year. His “golden ticket” concept is early admission for top in-state students with strong academic records, and he aims to keep talent in-state and make medical education more accessible.
Hocker is also a champion of curriculum modernization.
“Today’s students don’t learn the way we did,” he said. “They won’t sit through a hundred lectures. We have to teach more like we train – case-based, team-based, and interdisciplinary, and that includes breaking down silos between physicians, nurses, pharmacists,
and other healthcare professionals.”
But building cutting-edge curriculum also requires appropriate infrastructure. Hocker wants to update facilities to provide better learning environments that match the quality of UTHSC students and the school’s mission.”
Hocker cited the new College of Medicine building as a keystone project for the future, which will help accommodate growth and improve the training environment. But more than buildings, Hocker said the soul of UT’s medical enterprise lies in its people, and he’s
focused on marketing that value more effectively.
“I’ve been amazed by the quality of physicians and providers across this state,” Hocker said. “Our alumni, our faculty, and our students are phenomenal, and our residency programs are top tier,” Hocker said. “We haven’t told that story well enough, that’s changing.”
A firm believer in service beyond the clinic, Hocker travels the state to promote UT’s role as a cornerstone of the community. As soon as he arrived in Memphis, he began stressing that
message.
“We’re not separate from the community, we’re part of it,” Hocker said. “Whether it’s healthcare, research, or public service, we have to be at the table, working together.”
As UT Health Science Center moves forward under Hocker’s leadership, one thing is clear: he’s not interested in doing things the way they’ve always been done.
“We’re facing challenges, no doubt, but I see them as opportunities,” Hocker said. “This is our moment to lead, and we will.”
New CEO Leads Lakeside,
successes of the previous CEO is a privilege.”
Morris, who has a master’s degree in social work, is a seasoned healthcare executive with 35 years’ experience guiding mental health organizations from the top, serving in nine behavioral health systems across six states.
The 345-bed Lakeside Behavioral Health System, located on a 37-acre campus, is well known for helping people see a future beyond substance use and mental health disorders.
Morris states that one of the challenges for a hospital with a long history in the community is battling complacency and routine. He is driving changes that will define Lakeside’s future. “One of my first efforts was to make sure I had the right people in different management positions. I also am always looking for ways to improve the hospital. I like to get direct feedback from social workers, therapists, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists. Some people in the South don’t like giving you direct feedback. I like to hear what is not working or what can be improved upon. I want people to give feedback on what could be better.”
Morris’ management style is best described as directing through teaching and using every work event as an opportunity for employees to
continued from page 1
grow professionally and personally. “I encourage people to challenge themselves and challenge processes in order to be more impactful and purposeful in our work,” he said. “I like teaching others that change is not always negative or to be feared but, rather, an opportunity to break out of repetition and stagnation.”
The mental health field continues to be challenging. Morris said that, unfortunately, there are many gaps in service. Most patients now are only allowed seven days to be at a mental health hospital because of cutbacks from government and private payers.
In addition to serving the mental health needs of the community, Lakeside is gradually moving toward the treatment of the whole person through the integration of medical care along with mental health care. “This initiative is called Medical Behavioral Integration (MBI),” Morris said. “An increasing amount of research is showing that addressing both the medical and mental health aspects of the patient creates cost savings and better clinical outcomes.
“Forty years ago, we tended to think of different medical problems as being treated separately from everything else. Now we are learning we must treat the whole person medically and psychiatrically. Our medical director, Dr. Mahmoud Ali,
The senior population is a great example of understanding the integrated approach to both medical and behavioral health. Seniors will often have both physical and mental health issues occurring simultaneously. Stress, anxiety and depression can influence heart disease and other medical conditions….
– David Morris, CEO, Lakeside Behavioral Health System
is an Internal Medicine specialist. The government and commercial payers also want us to be addressing the whole person both medically and with behavioral health.”
Comorbidities can impact mental health care. Obviously, there are more medical complications in seniors who are at an age where more medical issues tend to surface.
“A lot of our referrals come from nursing homes,” Morris said. “The senior population is a great
example of understanding the integrated approach to both medical and behavioral health. Seniors will often have both physical and mental health issues occurring simultaneously. Stress, anxiety and depression can influence heart disease and other medical conditions.
“We are spending a lot of time on training and education to address both the medical and psychiatric.
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New CEO Leads Lakeside,
Sometimes, it is a hard thing to balance. You can start a medication and then have to give another medicine for the side effects of that first medication. The challenge can be figuring out what is working. With elders, it gets more complicated from the medical side,” he said.
His biggest short-term goal at Lakeside is to apply all that he has learned in running behavioral health hospitals for 31 years. Long term, his intention is to leave Lakeside at a high level of performance for the next CEO.
Another major long-term focus is listening to the needs of the community and responding with the necessary changes at the highest level of clinical delivery.
“What it really means is we offer many levels of service from children to seniors and between those age groups,” he said. “We offer mental health care, addiction treatment and trauma treatment. Lakeside is a shortterm hospital for acute stabilization for psychiatric needs. Patients stay an average of seven days. Some may need more, but that is what programs will pay for. Lakeside sees about 8,000 admissions a year.
“It is designed to address highrisk crisis events such as people who are suicidal or homicidal--potentially dangerous to themselves or other. Many patients can be treated on an
continued from page 5
outpatient basis.”
Morris grew up in both southern and northern Louisiana. His career started as a clinical social worker in the early 80’s, helping children, adolescents and families. As he continued to advance in leadership roles, he found that he could make more impact in guiding mental health organizations from the top.
His experience includes successful startup operations for two behavioral hospitals in the Colorado market. In addition, he led five hospital turnaround operations as CEO across six other states. He was previously with UHS as a Group CEO, providing multi-facility oversight of behavioral health hospitals in West Texas and the north Dallas area. Morris earned a BA in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, a MSW from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Colorado State University.
Morris believes self-improvement and family are the keys to a successful future. He and his wife have embraced the Memphis restaurant scene and enjoy watching football at all levels. He also recently started running as a new hobby, including participating in his first 5K race. His approach to both leadership and life reflects the same philosophy — that growth comes from dedication, balance, and the courage to take the next step.
Why Are More Older People Dying After Falls?
By PAULA SPAN KFF Health News
For a while, walking the dog felt hazardous.
Earl Vickers was accustomed to taking Molly, his shepherd-boxersomething-else mix, for strolls on the beach or around his neighborhood in Seaside, California. A few years ago, though, he started to experience problems staying upright.
“If another dog came toward us, every single time I’d end up on the ground,” recalled Vickers, 69, a retired electrical engineer. “It seemed like I was falling every other month. It was kind of crazy.”
Most of those tumbles did no serious damage, though one time he fell backward and hit his head on a wall behind him. “I don’t think I had a concussion, but it’s not something I want to do every day,” Vickers said, ruefully. Another time, trying to break a fall, he broke two bones in his left hand.
So in 2022, he told the oncologist who had been treating him for prostate cancer that he wanted to stop the
cancer drug he had been taking, off and on, for four years: enzalutamide (sold as Xtandi).
Among the drug’s listed side effects are higher rates of falls and fractures among patients who took it, compared with those given a placebo. His doctor agreed that he could discontinue the drug, and “I haven’t had a single fall since,” Vickers said.
Public health experts have warned of the perils of falls for older people for decades. In 2023, the most recent year of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 41,000 Americans over 65 died from falls, an opinion article in JAMA Health Forum pointed out last month.
More startling than that figure, though, was another statistic: Fallrelated mortality among older adults has been climbing sharply.
The author, Thomas Farley, an epidemiologist, reported that death rates from fall injuries among Americans over 65 had more than tripled over the past 30 years. Among
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Why Are More Older People,
those over 85, the cohort at highest risk, death rates from falls jumped to 339 per 100,000 in 2023, from 92 per 100,000 in 1990.
The culprit, in his view, is Americans’ reliance on prescription drugs.
“Older adults are heavily medicated, increasingly so, and with drugs that are inappropriate for older people,” Farley said in an interview. “This didn’t occur in Japan or in Europe.”
Yet that same 30-year period saw a flurry of research and activity to try to reduce geriatric falls and their potentially devastating consequences, from hip fractures and brain bleeds to restricted mobility, persistent pain, and institutionalization.
The American Geriatrics Society adopted updated fall prevention guidelines in 2011. The CDC unveiled a program called STEADI in 2012. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended exercise or physical therapy for older adults at risk of falling in 2012, 2018, and again last year
“There’ve been studies and interventions and investments, and they haven’t been particularly successful,” said Donovan Maust, a geriatric psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Michigan. “It’s a bad problem that seems to be getting worse.”
But are prescription drugs driving that increase? Geriatricians and others who research falls and prescribing practices question that conclusion.
Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.
But “there’s no reason to think any of them have gotten three times worse in the past 30 years,” he said, pointing to studies showing declines in other high-income countries
The difference, he believes, is Americans’ increasing use of medications — like benzodiazepines, opioids, antidepressants, and gabapentin — that act on the central nervous system.
“The drugs that increase falls’ mortality are those that make you drowsy or dizzy,” he said.
Problematic drugs are numerous enough to have acquired an acronym: FRIDs, or “fall-risk-increasing
continued from page 6
drugs,” a category that also includes various cardiac medications and early antihistamines like Benadryl.
Such medications play a major role, agreed Thomas Gill, a geriatrician and epidemiologist at Yale University and a longtime falls researcher. But, he said, “there are alternative explanations” for the increase in death rates.
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Death certificates often attributed fatalities among older people to ailments like heart failure instead of falls, making fall mortality appear lower in the 1980s and 1990s.
Making Sense Of Medicare Parts A, B, C, And D
Medicare is available to virtually all U.S. citizens and legal residents 65 years of age and over who have previously worked and paid U.S. taxes or who are/were married to someone who did. There are four key parts to Medicare — Parts A, B, C, and D. To maximize coverage and benefits, it is critical to understand the features of each.
Medicare Parts A and B are referred to as Original Medicare
Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
This insurance helps cover hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care, hospice care, and home health care. As long as you or your spouse have made contributions to Social Security for at least 10 years, you will not pay a premium for Part A. However, if you haven’t paid contributions, you will pay a monthly premium. Other features include: Choose any qualified provider in the U.S. who is seeing new patients.
• There are coverage limits, and you may incur out-of-pocket costs (for instance, if you are hospitalized for more than 90 days at a time).
Doctor services provided during a hospital stay are not covered under Part A.
You must pay a deductible before Part A pays for your costs. In 2024, the deductible is $1,632 for each benefit period.
• You may also incur coinsurance costs. For 2024, the coinsurance is $408 per day of each benefit period for days 61-90 and $816 for days 91 and beyond.
Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance
This insurance covers doctor visits and other medical services, such as outpatient care at hospitals, durable medical
With its four distinct parts, Medicare can be an alphabet soup of complexity. We provide an overview of the various components and how they impact your healthcare costs. This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide
equipment, laboratory tests, and some nursing care. Key features of Part B coverage include:
• Choose any qualified provider in the U.S. who is seeing new patients. There are coverage limits on a few services, such as occupational therapy.
Part B may not cover vision, dental, or hearing services. It may not cover assistance with bathing or getting dressed, either.
• Most people pay a premium for Part B coverage. If you receive Social Security, this will be deducted from your benefits. In 2024, the standard premium is $174.70.
• You must pay a deductible and coinsurance. For 2024, the deductible is $240, and coinsurance is typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services, outpatient therapy, and certain medical equipment.
Medicare Part C:
Medicare Advantage (private)
These plans are offered by private insurance companies and pay for certain hospital costs, doctor visits and other services. Part D coverage may also be included in these plans.
• Some plans allow you to choose a primary care doctor, while others allow you to go to any Medicare provider.
Some plans cover services that original Medicare does not, such as dental and vision care, meal delivery, and extras such as wheelchair ramps and shower grips for homes. Coverage limits vary by plan.
Part C coverage generally covers Original Medicare except for hospice care, which is covered under Part A.
• Holders of Part C plans must continue to pay their Part B premium. Part C plans may have their own premiums. Deductibles, copays and co-insurance vary by plan, while all place limits on your out-of-pocket expenses.
Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs Plan D applies to prescription drug coverage and is sold by private insurance companies. Coverage varies according to plan, with pricing options that can be complex.
• Many plans have coverage gaps, during which they may not cover all drug costs. Check the terms of any plan that you are reviewing. In 2024, if your total drug costs reach $5,030, you will be responsible for 25% of the remaining prescription drugs you buy during the year. In 2024, once you have paid $8,000 out-of-pocket for medicines, you qualify for catastrophic coverage and will have no additional copayments for outpatient drugs for the rest of the year.
• Check medicare.gov to see if the plan you’re considering has the medicines you take on its covered list.
• Some Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage. Check to be sure.
• Plans may restrict which pharmacies you can use.
Coverage limits vary, with each offering various levels of copays. Plans also vary as to coverage and exclusions.
• Monthly premiums vary, as do deductibles and copays.
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®
GrandRounds
West Cancer Center Welcomes Two New Breast Oncology Surgeons to the Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center
Caroline Lippe, DO, is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist who completed her Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Bryn Mawr Hospital in 2025 before joining the Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center/West Cancer Center. She previously completed a General Surgery Residency at UPMC Community Osteopathic and earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), where she was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Honors Society and received the Silver TOUCH community service award in both 2015 and 2016.
Lippe also holds a BS in Biology from Ursinus College, where she graduated magna cum laude and was recognized with multiple honors including Phi Beta Kappa, Whitians
Honor Society, and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. Her research contributions span multiple peerreviewed publications and national presentations, including work on benign breast disease, lymphedema screening, and financial de-escalation in breast cancer care.
Dr. Jason S. Frischer Named Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Le Bonheur Children’s and UTHSC
Alyssa K. Pittman, MD, is a dedicated breast surgical oncologist who completed her fellowship and joined the faculty at the Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center/ West Cancer Center in Germantown. She earned her MD from the Medical College of Georgia, graduating with honors as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha society, and holds a BS in Biology, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia.
Pittman completed her General Surgery Residency at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, where she served as Chief Administrative Resident and held multiple leadership roles including Education Chair, House Staff Senator, and Admissions Committee Interviewer.
Why Are More Older People
He cited changes in reporting the causes of death, for instance. “Years ago, falls were considered a natural consequence of aging and no big deal,” he said.
Death certificates often attributed fatalities among older people to ailments like heart failure instead of falls, making fall mortality appear lower in the 1980s and 1990s.
Today’s over-85 cohort may also be frailer and sicker than the oldestold were 30 years ago, Gill added, because contemporary medicine can keep people alive longer.
Their accumulating impairments, more than the drugs they take, could make them more likely to die after a fall.
Another skeptic, Neil Alexander, a geriatrician and falls expert at the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, argued that most doctors have come to understand the dangers of FRIDs and prescribe them less often.
“Message delivered,” he said. Given the alarms sounded about opioids, about benzodiazepines and related drugs, and especially about opioids and benzos together, “a lot of primary care doctors have heard the gospel,” he said. “They know not to give older people Valium.”
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and UTHSC are proud to announce the appointment of Jason S. Frischer, MD, as Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Pediatric Surgery.
Frischer joins Le Bonheur from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where he served as Associate Director of the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery. A nationally recognized leader, clinician, and educator, Frischer brings extensive experience in complex pediatric surgical care and multidisciplinary program development.
several major programs at Cincinnati Children’s. His leadership included more than a decade at the helm of the Colorectal Center, 15 years directing the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program, and 12 years overseeing the Pediatric Surgery Subspecialty Fellowships. He also served as a Professor of Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
An internationally renowned expert in complex colorectal conditions—including Hirschsprung disease, anorectal malformations, cloaca, severe constipation, fecal incontinence, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)— Frischer directed
, continued from page 7
Moreover, prescriptions for some fall-related drugs have already declined or hit plateaus, even as death rates because of falls have risen. Medicare data shows lower prescription opioid use beginning a decade ago, for example. Benzodiazepine prescriptions for older patients have slowed, Maust said.
On the other hand, the use of antidepressants and of gabapentin has increased.
Whether or not medication use outweighs all other factors, “nobody disputes that these agents are overused and inappropriately used” and contribute to the troubling increase in fall death rates among seniors, Gill said.
Thus, the ongoing campaign for “deprescribing” — stopping the medications whose potential harms outweigh their benefits, or reducing their dosage.
“We know a lot of these drugs can increase falls by 50 to 75 percent” in older patients, said Michael Steinman, a geriatrician at the University of California-San Francisco and co-director of the US Deprescribing Research Network , established in 2019.
“It’s easy to start meds, but it often takes a lot of time and effort to
have patients stop taking them,” he said. Harried doctors may pay less attention to drug regimens than to health issues that seem more pressing, and patients can be reluctant to give up pills that seem to help with pain, insomnia, reflux, and other common age-related complaints.
The Beers Criteria, a directory of drugs often deemed inadvisable for older adults, recently published recommendations for alternative medications and nonpharmacological treatments for frequent problems. Cognitive behavioral therapy for sleeplessness. Exercise, physical therapy, and psychological interventions for pain.
“It’s a real tragedy when people have this life-altering event,” Steinman, co-chair of the Beers panel on alternatives, said of falls. He urged older patients to raise the issue of FRIDs themselves, if their doctors haven’t.
“Ask, ‘Do any of my medications increase the risk of falls? Is there an alternative treatment?’” he suggested. “Being an informed patient or caregiver can put this on the agenda. Otherwise, it might not come up.”
The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with The New York Times
His influence extends globally through surgical missions and teaching initiatives in Abu Dhabi, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Tanzania, and Uganda. As a board member of Mending Kids, Frischer received the organization’s MEND
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Caroline Lippe
Alyssa Pittman
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Award in March 2024.
Frischer earned his Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed his general surgery residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and his pediatric surgery fellowship at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York – Columbia University Medical Center.
Building the Future: Regional One Health Reveals Project Team
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Regional One Health president and CEO Reginald Coopwood, MD, have announced a defining step forward for the health of the Greater Memphis community. They announced the project team that will design and build a new Regional One Health facility that will transform community health, drive economic vitality, and foster learning and innovation.
Covalus Allworld, a Covalus and Allworld Project Management joint venture, was selected in October, 2024 as the program management firm for Regional One Health’s new campus.
The journey forward toward designing a new, modern facility starts with a significant investment from Shelby County, of $500 million. The funding from the county will be combined with philanthropy and other funding sources to complete this transformational project.
The new facility will accommodate: a Bed Tower, Trauma and Burn, Women and Infants, Expanded emergency department, Post-Acute Services, Oncology and Modernized Ancillary Service Suites.
In addition to healing, this project will bring economic growth.
• $693.6 million to $892.3 million in economic growth from 2023 – 2027
• 3,600 construction jobs and 2,300 secondary jobs
• $37 million in state tax revenue
CMPM Welcomes
Maher Ghawji, Jr.
conditions including cancer, adrenal pituitary, parathyroid disorders and osteoporosis.
Ghawji performs in-office thyroid ultrasound and biopsies for patient convenience and comprehensive care management. In addition to his outpatient practice, he provides inpatient endocrine care at Methodist Germantown and Baptist East/ Collierville hospitals.
He completed his Internal Medicine residency program at Baton Rouge General Medical Center, where he was selected serve as Chief Resident. He then completed his Endocrinology Fellowship at UTHSC Memphis, where he served again as Chief Fellow his last year. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.
CMPM welcomes John Buttross, Jr.
Cresthaven Internal Medicine a Division of Consolidated Medical Practices of Memphis welcomes John B. Buttross, Jr., MD.
Buttross is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Memphis native. A graduate of Christian Brothers High School and Christian Brothers University, he earned his biology degree summa cum laude and received the Alumni Award for Highest Academic Average and the Biology Faculty Academic Award. He went on to graduate with high honors from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine, where he received the Bland Cannon Academic Award.
Buttross completed his internal medicine residency at UTHSC here in Memphis, with training at Regional One, the VA Medical Center, and Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was named Ambulatory Intern of the Year and received the Bruce W. Steinhauer Altruism Award. He is an assistant professor of medical education and teaches medical students and residents at UTHSC. Buttross is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Baptist Welcomes Three New Oncologists
Endocrinology Associates of Memphis, a division of Consolidated Medical Practices of Memphis welcomes Maher Ghawji Jr, MD, is a board-certified endocrinologist who is proud to return to his hometown of Memphis to provide expert, compassionate care for a wide range of hormonal and metabolic disorders. He practices general endocrinology with a focus on diabetes, functional and structural thyroid
Baptist Cancer Center recently welcomed Dr. Edward S. Muir, Dr. Elizabeth John and Dr. Xinyu Von Buttlar to its medical staff.
These physicians will provide expanded access to Baptist Cancer Center’s hematologists and medical oncologists throughout the Memphis metropolitan area.
Muir has more than three decades of specialized experience in
hematology and oncology. He completed his medical degree at the University of Mississippi and his internal medicine residency at Baptist Memorial HospitalMedical Center and his hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Muir will practice at Baptist Cancer Center’s Memphis and Collierville locations.
John completed her hematology and oncology fellowships and her internal medicine residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from T.D. Medical College in India and is board certified in both internal medicine and hematology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. John will practice at Baptist Cancer Center’s Memphis and Southaven locations.
Von Buttlar completed her hematology and medical oncology fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and completed her internal medicine residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Von Buttlar will practice at Baptist Cancer Center’s Memphis and Bartlett locations.
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Maher Ghawji
John Buttross, Jr.
Edward S. Muir
Elizabeth John
Xinyu Von Buttlar
GrandRounds
Methodist University Hospital Opens
Neuroscience Institute Expansion
Methodist University Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 9 for the newly expanded Neuroscience Institute in the hospital’s Shorb Tower.
The $2.8 million renovation includes a $1.1 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health, specifically earmarked for investments in facilities for continued response to health crises. The expansion includes 47 rooms for neurology and neurosurgery patients, including six which can be capable of long-term monitoring of epilepsy patients.
The Neuroscience Institute is nationally recognized in stroke care by the American Heart Association, and in Neurology and Neurosurgery from U.S. News and World Report. The Institute also provides evaluation, diagnoses and treatments in seizures, brain tumors, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, and a variety of other neurologic conditions.
The expanded unit features 15 medical/surgical beds, 12 stepdown beds, 16 intensive care unit beds, six rooms for epilepsy monitoring and an another four beds which can be used to address any additional needs for patients. The unit incorporates space for testing and work spaces for providers and clinical teams, consultation rooms for families, space for teaching and training residents and fellows, and an on-call space for providers to ensure immediate access to patients and families.
OrthoSouth Completes
First AI-Driven, 3D-Printed Personalized Spine Fusion in the Mid-South
OrthoSouth is proud to announce that fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. John J. Eager has successfully completed the Mid-South’s first spinal fusion using Carlsmed’s aprevo® Personalized Spine Implant — an AI-informed, 3D-printed device built to each patient’s exact anatomy. The landmark procedure took place at Saint Francis Hospital – Memphis in August.
The aprevo® platform integrates advanced imaging, AI-driven 3D surgical planning, and precision titanium additive manufacturing to produce custom implants that restore targeted spinal alignment, optimize fit,
and reduce mechanical complications compared to traditional “off-theshelf” devices.
Data from over 500 patients across multiple centers shows aprevo® delivers:
• Targeted Alignment: 82% of personalized implants achieved alignment within 5° of surgical goals.
• Enhanced Graft Contact: 94% average implant-to-endplate contact at one year.
• Subsidence Mitigation: 96% of personalized implants with zero subsidence at one year.
• Lower Revision Rates: <2% rate of revision for mechanical complications in adult spinal deformity cases.
Personalized Process in Five Steps
1. CT Imaging to create a detailed 3D spine model.
2. AI-Based Surgical Planning for alignment restoration and optimal fit.
3. Surgeon Review & Approval of the personalized implant design.
4. 3D Printing in Titanium to exact specifications.
5. Hospital Delivery for use in the planned fusion procedure.
OrthoSouth Welcomes Sports Medicine & Joint Preservation Specialist
Colton D. Norton, MD
OrthoSouth is proud to welcome Colton D. Norton, MD, to its growing team of fellowship-trained specialists. Dr. Norton is an orthopedic surgeon with advanced expertise in sports medicine and joint preservation, offering patients innovative, patientcentered care to keep them moving at every stage of life.
the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training.
Ashley Harkrider, PhD, Named Dean of College of Health Professions
After 16 years of stellar leadership as the chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Ashley Harkrider, PhD, has been named the new dean of the university’s College of Health Professions.
Harkrider has served since March 2025 as the interim dean of the College of Health Professions, which includes the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, based in Knoxville, and the Departments of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Diagnostic and Health Sciences, based in Memphis.
She has led the department’s outstanding growth in enrollment, clinical care, research, and community outreach since 2009.
Harkrider presided over the renovation of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology’s
home, which is in the UT Conference Center in Knoxville, and celebrated its grand opening in October 2024. The $20 million, four-year renovation increased the department’s footprint to approximately 65,000 square feet and brought its academic, research, and clinical operations under one roof for the first time in 40 years.
Under her leadership, the department has grown to include 300 students and 55 faculty and staff members and has experienced curricular growth in all degree programs (BS, MS, AuD, and PhD).
The department operates the Knoxville area’s only academic hearing and speech clinics. It offers degree programs for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education in audiology and speech pathology. The department’s Doctor of Audiology program reached the top 25 of audiology programs in the country, ranking No. 23 in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools list.
Harkrider earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, a master’s degree in audiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a PhD in communication sciences and disorders from the
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Norton completed his fellowship at Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he was inducted into the prestigious AOA Honor Society, and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Tennessee –Chattanooga, receiving multiple awards for leadership, teaching, and humanitarian service.
As a former NCAA Division I tennis athlete, Dr. Norton brings a firsthand understanding of athletic performance and recovery to his patients. His clinical interests include ACL reconstruction, joint preservation, and strategies for optimal postoperative recovery, supported by research published in Arthroscopy Techniques, Arthroplasty Today, and
Colton D. Norton
Ashley Harkrider
GrandRounds
University of Texas at Austin.
She is a graduate of the UT Executive Leadership Institute Class of 2023, the recipient of the UT Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Professorship, and was named a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas at Austin.
UT Health Science Center Team Awarded $3.1 Million to Study Why Some Brains Age Faster Than Others
Why do some people experience memory loss in midlife while others stay sharp well into their 80s and 90s?
A research team at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has received a $3.1 million award from the National Institute on Aging to investigate this critical question.
The project is a joint effort of co-investigators from the College of Medicine: Megan Mulligan, PhD, an expert in genetics and complex traits; Hao Chen, PhD, who specializes in next-generation DNA sequencing; and Aman Bajwa, PhD, who brings expertise in mitochondrial biology and in-vitro brain cell models.
The team plans to uncover how genes and life experiences such as
stress and environment combine to shape brain health over the lifespan. With this knowledge, the team hopes to create a roadmap that paves the way for earlier detection and interventions that could delay or prevent dementia.
At the heart of their work is a unique rodent model with a remarkable backstory. Developed through decades of careful breeding by their collaborator and consultant on the award, Eva Redei, PhD, Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University, the model consists of two nearly identical rat strains that differ at only about 4,000 spots in their genomes, compared to the millions of differences typically seen between humans. Despite these small differences, the two strains show striking contrasts in behavior. One is more prone to stress, depression, and substance use, and it also experiences premature memory decline in midlife. The other strain is more resilient.
Oxidative stress, a kind of cellular “wear and tear” that builds up naturally with age, is a prime suspect in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dr. Bajwa, associate professor in the Department of Surgery, will provide expertise in mitochondrial function to help the team study how brain cells
like neurons and astrocytes respond to this stress in controlled lab settings. Meanwhile, Dr. Chen, professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, will use advanced sequencing to measure changes in DNA methylation, a type of “epigenetic switch” that can turn genes on or off and may explain long-lasting differences between the strains.
Campbell Clinic Physicians Named to Statista and Newsweek’s 2025 List Of America’s Leading Doctors
Five Campbell Clinic physicians were recently named to Statista and Newsweek’s list of America’s Leading Doctors 2025. The list recognizes 2,845 outstanding specialists across 15 critical fields including categories such as foot/ankle, hand, hip, knee, shoulder, glaucoma, retina, spine surgery, sports medicine, pain management and more.
Campbell Clinic Physicians were included in the list in the following categories:
Shoulder surgery: Dr. Tyler Brolin
Hand surgery: Dr. James Calandruccio and Dr. William Weller
Hip surgery: Dr. James Guyton
Spine surgery: Dr. Keith Williams
Fertility Associates of Memphis Welcomes First REI Fellow
Fertility Associates of Memphis (FAM) is proud to welcome Dr. Sierra Bishop as the inaugural fellow in its newly accredited Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship, a program launched in partnership with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and Ivy Fertility.
Bishop, an accomplished OB/GYN, earned her medical degree and completed her residency at UTHSC, where she served as Chief Resident. Now beginning her three-year fellowship, Dr. Bishop will continue her advanced training in fertility care at FAM, with a focus on helping patients achieve their dreams of parenthood.
The REI fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and provides intensive clinical and research training.
