Tennessee Chapter News
2025 Chapter Excellence Award-Gold Level Winner
(September 2025) We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Gold Level of the 2025 Chapter Excellence Award! The award recognizes truly extraordinary chapters that surpass excellence in chapter management. We are in the company of 68 other outstanding chapters. In order to achieve the Gold Level of the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet 22 Bronze criteria, 12 Silver criteria and 25 Gold level activities. Criteria include such activities as having a legislative action plan or agenda, holding a volunteerism/community service activity, holding multiple stand-alone meetings, having revenue sources outside of dues and meeting registration fees, implementing a strategic plan, implementing a formal recruitment and retention plan and measuring outcomes, conducting various activities for Medical Students, Residents and Early Career Physicians. We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- John Michael Bustos, MD FACP
- Christopher Terndrup, MD FACP
(July 2025) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- VADM Chinelo Animalu, MD FACP
- Nerissa L Licup-Taylor, MD FACP
- Debaroti Tina Mullick Borschel, MD FACP
- Ankit Kushwaha, MBBS FACP
- Matthew Robinson, DO FACP
- Jennifer M Carman, MD FACP
- Muhammad Junaid, MD FACP
- Taopheeq Ayodele Mustapha, MBBS FACP
- Egunmwendia Ogbeide, MD FACP
- Azadeh Raissi, MD FACP
- Jorge A Rodriguez, MD FACP
- Veronica M Swannigan, MD FACP
- Admasu T Tessema, MD FACP
- Carmen Tuchman, MD FACP
- Venkata Vedantam, MBBS FACP
(April 2025) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Chapter Speakers at Internal Medicine Meeting 2025
(January 2025) We’d like to bring attention to our local chapter members who will be presenting as faculty at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana this April. Early-bird registration is available through January. For a full schedule or for more information on the meeting, click here.
Samuel Dagogo-Jack: Prediabetes for Internal Medicine Physicians: Approach to Screening, Diagnosis and Management - April 4, 2025 | 7:00 AM-7:45 AM
Balaji Krishnaiah: ACP Rapid Board Review 2025 - April 1, 2025 | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
John McPherson: Cardiology for the Internal Medicine Physician 2025: “The Key Points” - April 2, 2025 | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Mukta Panda: Supporting IMG Colleagues for Success - April 4, 2025 | 2:45 PM-3:45 PM
Mukta Panda: Moral Distress in Clinical Settings: Navigating Obstacles to Well-being in the Moment - April 4, 2025 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Kim Sandler: Clinical Triad: Lung Cancer in 2025: A New Day Is Dawning - April 4, 2025 | 2:45 PM-3:45 PM
Latonya Washington: Caring for Vulnerable Populations: I.M. Embracing Health Care "On the Fringes" - April 4, 2025 | 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
Congratulations to Dr. William C Cushman on National Award
(October 2024) We are pleased to announce that William C Cushman, MD MACP is the recipient of Mastership.
The first MACP in the College was presented in 1923 to Dr. James M. Anders, who served the College as President for two terms. He was recognized for extraordinary service to the College and for being one of the most outstanding internists and medical teachers of his day.
Please join me in congratulating them and celebrating this accomplishment at Internal Medicine Meeting 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. To view the full list of national awardees, click here.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Arslan Kahloon, MD FACP
- Joshua A Morris, DO FACP
- Snigdha S Priyadarshi, MBBS FACP
(September 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
2024 Chapter Excellence Award-Bronze Level Winner
(August 2024) We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Bronze Level of the 2024 Chapter Excellence Award! The award recognizes chapters that achieve basics in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet 20 Bronze criteria. Criteria include such activities as being involved in advocacy activities (if applicable), communicating with members, having a chapter/regional scientific meeting along with a planning committee, having a sound financial structure in place, recruiting and advancing members and having an awards committee that identifies candidates for local or national awards. We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.
Empower Your Advocacy: Introducing Our Comprehensive Toolkit
(August 2024) We are excited to announce the launch of our Advocacy Toolkit: Using Your Voice as a Physician Advocate, a powerful resource designed to equip medical students and physicians with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective advocates for health care in their communities. This toolkit comprises five self-contained and independent modules, each presented as engaging voice-over PowerPoint presentations. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the field, these modules offer valuable insights and practical guidance.
Module Highlights
Physician as Advocate
- Discover advocacy tips and real-life examples that showcase how physicians can use their voice to drive positive health outcomes in their communities. This module emphasizes the pivotal role of physicians in advocating for public health.
Legislative Advocacy
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process at both state and federal levels. Learn about the opportunities available for physician advocacy within this process and how to navigate the legislative landscape effectively.
Print Media Advocacy
- Explore the various types of print media, their audiences, and their scope in the realm of advocacy. This module provides insights into crafting compelling messages that resonate with readers and drive change through traditional media channels.
Social Media Advocacy
- Delve into the dynamic world of social media and its potential as a powerful advocacy tool. Learn about the key features of different social media platforms and how to leverage them to amplify your advocacy efforts and engage a broader audience.
Audio Media Advocacy
- Understand the motivations and uses of audio media in advocacy. This module focuses on the unique advantages of podcasts, radio, and other audio formats, offering strategies to effectively communicate your advocacy messages through these channels.
Each module begins with a standard introduction and overview, followed by an in-depth exploration of the topic, and concludes with a concise one-page outline to reinforce key points.
Toolkit: Using Your Voice As A Physician Advocate
By integrating these modules into your advocacy efforts, you will be better equipped to influence public health policy and drive meaningful change. Empower yourself and your community with the tools and knowledge provided in our Advocacy Toolkit.
Together, let's make a difference!
State Health Advocacy August Recess Grassroots Mobilization Challenge
(August 2024) Members of Congress are returning home to their districts during the August congressional recess. During this time, ACP is calling on internal medicine physicians to engage their representatives on important issues we need Congress to act on before the end of 2024.
To incentivize participation in this grassroots mobilization, the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (ACP grassroots network) is challenging members to see which states will have the highest engagement. Advocates can score points for their states by choosing to take one or more advocacy actions identified in the campaign.
Access the August Recess Grassroots Mobilization Challenge Now!
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Bhagirathbhai R Dholaria, MBBS FACP
- Brendan Williams, DO FACP
(July 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Happy Anniversary to our Chapter Members!
5 Years
- Kim R Emmett, MD
- Monica L Gefter, MD FACP
- Rodney S Whitby, MD FACP
- Deepinder S Bal, MD
- Arundati Ramesh, MD
- Christina L MacMurdo-France, MD
- Anumeet Priyadarshi, MD MPH FACP
- Jessica B Stensby, MD
- Jared N Kravitz, MD
- Christopher D Jackson, MD FACP
- Belal SalehDominic J Papa, MD
- Mary-Margaret A Fill, MD
- Hina Akbar, MD
- Natalie E Dunlap, DO
- Charles Kidd, MD
- Laura B Youngblood, MD FACP
- Naganath Thota, MD MBBS
- Dayna E Gibbs, MD
- Rachel B Wolf, MD
- Tyler S Reese, MD
- Michele M McAmis, MD
- Carrie L Stallings, MD
- Temitope Akinjogbin, MD FACP
- Nimit Patel, DO
- Austin Wise
- Angela Qian, MD
- Azadeh Raissi, MD
- Alexandru Zaharcu, MD FACP
- Muinat A Taiwo, MBChB FACP
- Patrick E Ball, DO
- Ryan A Costello, DO FACP
- Clark Baker, DO
- Emily Upchurch
- Madhavi Patel, II, DO
- Michael Kopstein, DO FACP
- Timothy R Klein, MD
- Douglas Johnson, MD
- Teresa M Zoffuto, MD FACP
- Imran Mirza, MD
- Sterling I Barrett, MD
- John L Jefferies, MD
- Sunday D Ogunde, MD
10 Years
- Ahmad H Altabbaa, MD FACP
- Elizabeth A Rice, MDT
- eabra A Swafford, MD
- Nathan J Zajac, MD
- Lora Palmer Worsham, MD
- Lori A Thomas, DO
- Terri Danielle Alford, MD FACP
- Ashley R Karpinos, MD FACP
- Deidre M Pierce, MD FACP
- Jennifer Jackson Piel, MD
- Idowu O Uzzi, MBBS FACP
- Rupal Darshan Shah, MBBS MD FACP
- Tesfaye R Guyassa, MD FACP
- Shane E Kelley, MD
- Bukola Afilaka, MD
- Ketul P Vora, MD FACP
- Shayla Merry, MD
- Ravikumar Patel, MD
- John M Lewis, DO
- Kea M Jones, MD
- Detra Tisdale-Moore, MD
- Naushaba Hasan, MD
15 Years
- G Nicholas Verne, MD MACP
- David C Portnoy, MD FACP
- Stephen D Clark, MD FACP
- William A Lizarraga, MD FACP
- Amy M Treakle, MD
- Olumuyiwa A Esuruoso, MD FACP
- Benedict E Aimua, MBBS FACP
- Donald S Euler, Jr, MD
- Matt Jeremiah T Chua, MD FACP
- Larry Curtis Cary, MD FACP
- Mary Margaret Huizinga, MD FACP
- Ibrahim Nakhoul, MD FACP
- Rakeshkumar B Patel, MD FACP
- Paul Wheeler
20 Years
- Ann H Price, MD FACP
- David O Hollis, MD FACP
- Shyamal Sarkar, MD FACP
- Devapiran Jaishankar, MBBS FACP
- Jacob A Aelion, MD
- Allison Stiles, MD FACP
- Nanette E Dendy, MD FACP
- Pitchar Theerathorn, MD FACP
- William A Pettit, MD
- Brian W Hughes, MD
- John E Tapp, II, MD FACP
- Rohit Gupta, MD
- Olumide Anifowoshe, MBBS FACP
- Joyline D James, MD
- Marta J Wayt, DO FACP
- Michelle L Davenport, MD
- Mitch A Pullias, MD
- Jennifer H Brinkmann, MD
- Laurel B Yates, MD MPH
- Ben H Rowan, MD
- Daniel A Mulrooney, MD FACP
(May 2024) Your ACP Chapter thanks you for your continued Membership and all you do every day to serve your patients and support the future of internal medicine. We’re proud that you’ve chosen us as your professional home, and we’re committed to remaining by your side—advocating for and supporting your professional journey.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Oluwaseun A Akinseye, MBBS MD FACP
- Robert N Montgomery, MD FACP
- Victoria N Okafor, MBBS FACP
(April 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Ali A Bokhari, MD FACP
- Kelly H Coches, DO FACP
- Michael D McCann, MD FACP
- Photios Vassilyadi, MD FACP
- Alexandru Zaharcu, MD FACP
- Daniel R Duzan, MD FACP
- Teresa M Zoffuto, MD FACP
(February 2024) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Terri Danielle Alford, MD FACP
- Arjan S Flora, MD FACP
- Amber L Thacker, MD FACP
- Thomas J Watson, MD FACP
(November 2023) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
2023 Chapter Excellence Award – Bronze Winner
We are pleased to announce that our chapter is in receipt of the Bronze Level of the 2023 Chapter Excellence Award! The award recognizes chapters that achieve basics in chapter management. In order to achieve the Chapter Excellence Award, chapters must meet nineteen Bronze criteria. Criteria include such activities as being involved in advocacy activities, communicating with members, having a chapter/regional scientific meeting along with a planning committee, having a sound financial structure in place, recruiting and advancing members and having an awards committee that identifies candidates for local or national awards.
We would like to extend a special thanks to those chapter members who assisted us in all of these endeavors! For their hard work and dedication, we received this award.
Congratulations New Chapter Fellows
- Joan Michelle Allmon, MD FACP
- Nicholas A Flynn, MD FACP
- Venkata C Gourineni, MBBS FACP
- Tiffany T Hall, MD MBA FACP
- Paula C Herrmann, MD FACP
(July 2023) Congratulations to the Chapter's new Fellows. Fellowship in the College is an honor. Being an FACP® is a distinction earned from colleagues who recognize your accomplishments and achievements over and above the practice of medicine. The most important considerations for ACP Fellowship are excellence and contributions made to both medicine and to the broader community in which the internal medicine physician lives and practices.
Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship
(March 2023) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the American College of Physicians. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.
Desiree Burroughs-Ray, MD FACP
Christin M Giordano, MD FACP
Taylor D Jenkins, MD FACP
Michael Kopstein, DO FACP
Virin Ramoutar, MD FACP
Muinat A Taiwo, MBChB FACP
Brian D Cromwell, MD FACP
Wesley Phillips, MD FACP
Jason J Della Vecchia, MD FACP
Kalpana R Pochampally, MBBS FACP
Laura B Youngblood, MD FACP
Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!Chapter Members Elected to ACP Fellowship
(November 2022) We would like to congratulate our chapter members on election to Fellow of the American College of Physicians. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine.
- Mike Davis, MD, FACP
- Christina Fiske, MD, MPH, FACP
- Brock T. Mitchell, MD, FACP
Fellowship is elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee. They may now use the letters “FACP” after their name in recognition of this honor. Please join me in congratulations!
Congratulations Ryan D. Mire, MD, MACP and G. Nicholas Verne, MD, MACP on Masterships
(October 2022) We are excited to share that the Mastership Committee and the Board of Regents have approved Ryan D. Mire, MD, MACP and G. Nicholas Verne, MD, MACP to receive recognition of being awarded Masterships during the 2023 Internal Medicine Meeting in San Diego, California.
ACP Bylaws state that Masters shall be Fellows who have been selected because of “integrity, positions of honor, impact in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” Masters must be highly accomplished persons demonstrating impact in practice, leadership, or in medical research. Evidence of their achievements can come from many types of endeavors, such as renown within their field and/or ACP chapter, research, education, health care initiatives, volunteerism, administrative positions, care of patients, and service to their community.
One of the goals of the American College of Physicians is to “recognize excellence and distinguished contributions to internal medicine.” As a way of achieving this goal, the College offers 21 awards and a number of Masterships each year. Annually, awardees and Masters are honored at the Convocation ceremony held during the Internal Medicine meeting.