The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville



The University of Tennessee Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine is the largest department in the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM); the Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). The Department is comprised of 19 Divisions and 189 full time, part time, and volunteer faculty. The primary focus of the department is the training of medical residents and third- and fourth-year medical students who are primarily enrolled at the UTHSC. We offer a Categorical Internal Medicine Residency Program and a Transitional Year Program. We offer fellowship training in Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology, and Pulmonary Medicine/Critical Care Medicine which are fully accredited by the ACGME. The latest ACGME approved fellowship is in Hematology/Oncology. Additionally, we are committed to clinical and basis science research with a robust Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program as well as a Molecular Imaging Laboratory.

Training Facilities

Clinical training is provided mainly at the nationally ranked University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) and affiliated clinics located in Knoxville. Our trainees and faculty are committed to providing exceptional patient care in a collegial environment, and several divisions are nationally recognized for their excellence. We have the twin advantages of being an academic training program without being a large one, where each trainee is well known and recognized for their achievements. We offer several unique programs that encourage our trainees to be critical thinkers; and that prepare them for the ever-changing needs of healthcare, both in the current milieu and for the future. In addition to our experienced faculty, we have outstanding support from ancillary staff in both the hospital and ambulatory clinic settings. We have a robust basic science research program, are rapidly expanding our clinical research, and have ongoing collaborations with other research institutions in and around Knoxville.

Our Mission

The mission of the Department of Medicine is to help physicians in training acquire the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to become competent, compassionate physicians who possess a lifetime love of medicine, learning, and teaching; to provide an organization for the delivery of excellent medical care from both the generalists and specialists in the field of Internal Medicine; and to provide an invigorating environment for basic and clinical research. Our enthusiastic and experienced clinical and research faculty are dedicated to the fulfillment of this mission

Highlights


New Interim Dean of UTGSM and Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of UTMCK
Robert M. Craft, MD

3 Year Winning Streak
100% ABIM Board Pass Rate for IM Residents (FY 2019 - 2022)

Faculty Promotions
Mahmoud Shorman, MD - Professor
Joseph Peeden, MD - Associate Professor
Amit Vora, MD - Associate Professor
Francisco Soto, MD -new position-Research Associate Program Director

New Hematology/Oncology Fellowship 
Started July 1, 2022
Dr. Timothy Panella-Fellowship Director
Leigh Ann Mynatt-Program Coordinator

Promoting Resident Wellness
4 East Crossover Inauguration and snack station
GSM Resident Lounge and Chief's Lounge Makeover
Bi-monthly lunches for conference attendance and morale
Increase in meal allowance
Ice machine in the conference kitchen
New mail boxes
Step 3 exam fees reimbursement
$500/- educational allowance for PGY2s and PGY3s
Uworld for PGY3s
Increase in salary from July 2022

Awards 
Billie Cain-Excellence in Outstanding Commitment and Dedication in Job Performance
Kristy Gregg-Excellence in Outstanding Commitment and Dedication in Outstanding Courtesy and Customer Service
Steve Foster-Excellence in Outstanding Commitment and Dedication in Leadership
Tina Richey-Excellence in Outstanding Commitment and Dedication in Community Service
Grants
Biopharmaceutical company Attralus with technology licensed from the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF)
Developing new first-in-human study of an amyloid therapeutic at UTMC

Dr. Raj Baljepally received the "Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Science Research Award"

Emily Martin and Joseph Jackson each awarded Presidents Award for travel to International Society of Amyloidosis Annual Meeting 2022
Daniel Faradji recipient of the Assembly on Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2022 abstract scholarship at the ATS International Conference in San Franscisco, CA for the abstract titled "Determining the Most Discriminatory Perceived Activity and Weakness Score (PAWS) fir Predicting Muscle Strength, Endurance, and Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients"

The Rawson Award for excellent teaching and clinical skills was given to Dr. Emily Daniels, DO, and Dr. Ben Fogelson, DO, at the 2022 Department of Medicine Residents’ Awards Dinner. This award is given in memory for Freeman Rawson, MD, who joined the Department of Medicine in 1956 as one of our first teaching faculty and was known for his compassion and expertise. Dr. Rawson passed away in 2003.

The UT Internal Medicine Center presented the Clinic Star of the Year Award to Chad Hughett, DO at the 2022 Department of Medicine Residents’ Awards Dinner. Congratulations to Dr. Hughett on his well-deserved award!

The medical students who rotated through the Internal Medicine department voted to select the residents with the best teaching abilities: Drs. Sam Mowery, Sam Purkey, Sam Treat, Chad Hughett, & Tyler Coombes. Special thank you to Dr. Tyler Coombes as well for his role as the Medical Student Liasion. These residents were acknowledged at the 2022 Department of Medicine Residents’ Awards Dinner

On June 14th, 2022, the Department of Medicine held the 8th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Contest. A faculty committee reviewed the research papers submitted by Department of Medicine residents and fellows then selected the top three to present at the Research Awards. The audience voted to select the placement of the winners. Dr. Elliot Goodwin won first place with “A Perioperative Algorithm for Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices for Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The PACEDMRI Protocol,” Dr. James Livesay won second place with “Heme Effects in Lowering Patient Discomfort in Radial Artery Verapamil Injection (HELP-RA),” and Dr. Ben Fogelson won third place with “Rural vs. Urban Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation”.

Congratulations to Dr. Salem Karadsheh (PGY-1 in Internal Medicine) one of the recipients of the Good Catch awards for March 2022. Dr. Karadsheh discovered a medication order error. Monthly winners receive a Good Catch lapel pin, certificate, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. The Good Catch program encourages the identification of potential system errors or problems before they reach the patient and cause harm. The program recognizes team members for identifying and reporting these issues, leading to safer practices.

Service Awards
Dr. Wahid Hanna (45 years)
James Foster (40 Years)
Dr. Daniel Ely (35 years)
Daniel Wooliver (35 years)
Dr. Russell Smith (30 Years)
Dr. Kimberly Morris (30 Years)
Dr. Christy Park (15 years)
Alan Stuckey (15 Years)
Dr. Mark Pierce (10 Years)
Dr. Janet Lubas (5 years)
Dr. Jeffry Bieber (5 Years)
Franciso Soto (5 Years)

The "In Touch" Newsletter

In Touch is produced by the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine's Department of Medicine. The mission of the newsletter is to build pride in the Department of Medicine by communicating the accessible, collaborative and human aspects of the department while highlighting pertinent achievements and activities.

In Touch is published each quarter and features faculty and resident news, upcoming events, and awards and accomplishments. As an institute of learning and discovery, the newsletter highlights how the Department of Medicine contributes to a global body of medical knowledge through various scholarly activities.

Read the latest edition of the In Touch newsletter.


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