Letter from the Program Director

Welcome to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, a program that is proud to have produced some of the largest numbers of Med-Peds graduates in the country. The residency program began in 1982. Since our program’s inception, we have strongly supported the philosophy that residents in combined training are most successful when fully integrated into each department. Combined Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) residents are given the same supervision, responsibilities, and opportunities as their colleagues in the categorical medicine and pediatric residency training programs. With these opportunities, we have found that Med-Peds residents have thrived, successfully becoming the composite of what is best in both disciplines.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Med-Peds programs allows training opportunities at six different hospitals, including the award-winning LeBonheur Children’s Hospital as well as the world-renowned St. Jude’s Hospital. Our Med-Peds residency program offers diverse training in both adult and pediatric medicine with substantial experiences in primary care and subspecialty medicine. Our specialized programs are geared to help facilitate education as well as provide the resources and tools to work through simple as well as advanced medical conditions. When residents graduate from UTHSC, they are well equipped to practice medicine in any setting, be it academic, private practice, hospital practice, primary care, subspecialty care, urban, or rural care. The hallmark of the program is having the flexibility and resources to individualize your training path to align with you career goals.

The city of Memphis is vibrant, and its culture runs deep. There are so many enriching experiences that the city offers in the areas of music, art, sports, cuisine, and much more. We are the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and home of the blues. We are the home of Elvis, B.B. King, Beale Street, the Grizzlies, the Tigers, many museums, farmers’ markets with locally grown organic produce, world-famous barbecue, and the South Main Arts District. Exciting things are happening here, and it’s wonderful to be a part of them. Training is a busy time, but part of becoming and great physician is continuing to develop as a person. There is no better way to do so than by having fulfilling experiences outside of the hospital and becoming part of a community. Memphis has no shortage of those opportunities. It is a great place to enjoy life and a great place to call home. We invite you to become part of our community and the exciting this that are happening at UTHSC!

Sincerely,

Natascha Thompson, MD
Program Director, Combined Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program