FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957

 

 

Raza Dilawari, MD, Named Associate Chief Medical Officer,

UT Medical Group and Vice Chairman for Methodist University Hospital in the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)

 

Memphis, Tenn. (August 18, 2008) – Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and Steven Burkett, chief executive officer, UT Medical Group (UTMG), announced the appointment of Raza Dilawari, MD, FACS, as associate chief medical officer for UTMG.  In addition, Timothy Fabian, MD, Harwell Wilson Alumni professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery, has appointed Dr. Dilawari to the Division of Surgical Oncology and as vice chairman for Methodist University Hospital (MUH) in the Department of Surgery.  The appointments will be effective on October 1.

Dr. Dilawari currently serves as professor of Surgery and associate director of the surgical training program at MUH.  A regionally renowned general and oncologic surgeon, Dr. Dilawari has built a robust referral practice founded on patient and referring-physician service.  He has also fostered a remarkable working relationship between the College of Medicine and the Methodist University Hospital.

Dr. Dilawari is certified by the American Board of Surgery and performed his oncologic surgery training at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., and Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, N.Y. 

“In his new role, I look to Dr. Dilawari, acting with his colleague Dr. James “Lacey” Smith, UTMG chief medical officer, to lead a major evaluation, restructuring, and implementation of physician policies and procedures at UTMG,” stated Burkett.  “Our goal is to create an optimal patient-friendly and referring-physician-friendly UTMG. We believe Dr. Dilawari's private practice experience and understanding of patient and referring-physician expectations make him an ideal person for these important duties," he added. 

 “Dr. Dilawari is a key component to enhancing the academic stature of MUH due to his strong scholastic and private practice background,” stated Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, chief executive officer, MUH.  “Combining that with his insight into enhancing overall physician relations, Dr. Dilawari will complement and reinforce the mission at MUH to continue to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care to benefit the communities we serve,” he noted. 

Dr. Dilawari has been a key mentor and figure in the training and supervision of medical students and surgical residents on the College of Medicine campus in Memphis since 1976.  He will remain as associate surgical program director for MUH.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy campuses in Knoxville, and a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

Methodist University Hospital is a 693-bed facility located in the Memphis Medical Center and serves as a major teaching site for students at UT Health Science Center.  MUH is part of Methodist Healthcare, an integrated healthcare delivery system based in Memphis, Tenn.  Founded in 1918 by The United Methodist Church to help meet the growing needs for quality healthcare in the Mid-South, Methodist Healthcare is a seven-hospital system that includes a home health agency, surgery and diagnostic centers, and outpatient clinics serving Memphis, Shelby County and the surrounding area.

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