UT Family Medicine Chattanooga Faculty
Leadership
Leslie Griffin, MD, MPH: Chair, Department of Family Medicine; Associate Professor;
and Residency Program Director
Leslie.Griffin@erlanger.org
- Hometown: Cookeville, TN
- Medical School: St. George's University
- Residency: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga (Family Medicine)
- Interests: Infant and Maternal Health and Preventative Health Care
Dr. Leslie Griffin entered St. George's University School of Medicine after several years of living internationally including two years in Peace Corps. She graduated in 2007 with dual degrees in Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency at the University of Tennessee Family Medicine Program at Erlanger in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After completing her training, she joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee Family Medicine program where she practices full scope Family Medicine, from deliveries to geriatrics. She also participates in an annual medical mission trip to Haiti. Dr. Griffin was appointed the Family Medicine Clerkship Director (medical students) in January 2018.
Dr. Griffin was appointed Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency on June 1, 2019 and continues to provide leadership in that role. Upon the appointment of Dr. Haynes as Dean for the Chattanooga Campus, Dr. Griffin agreed to serve as Interim Chair for the Department as of Septmeber 1, 2022, while continuing as Program Director for the Residency.
Sara E. Conway, MD, Assistant Professor and Clerkship Director (M3 Students)
sara.conway@erlanger.org
- Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
- Medical School: East Tennessee State University
- Residency: Family Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Chattanooga
- Interests: General Family Medicine
Dr. Conway enjoys providing full spectrum care with special interests in hospital and lifestyle medicine as well as global health and medical student/resident education. In her free time, she enjoys taking advantage of the outdoor activities Chattanooga has to offer including rock climbing, hiking and fly fishing with her husband Nick and beloved pup Mountain Girl.
Dr. Conway was appointed Family Medicine Clerkship Director in 2022.
Steven Fox, MD, Associate Program Director and Associate Professor
Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum
Steven.Fox@erlanger.org
Medical School: Marshall University (Huntington, WV)
Residency: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Chattanooga
(Family Medicine)
Interests: Lifestyle Medicine and Teaching
Dr. Fox was born and raised in Wheeling, WV, and attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, where he obtained his BS in Biology and minored in Chemistry. He returned to his home state of WV to attend medical school at Marshall University School of Medicine where he found his passion for family medicine. He trained with our Family Medicine Residency in Chattanooga where he served as Chief Resident and completed the program in 2013. He is honored for the "privilege of joining the faculty that trained him in the challenge to teach the next generation of physicians." Dr. Fox has a particular interest in musculoskeletal medicine and teaching, but enjoys seeing 'everything that walks through the door." In his spare time, Dr. Fox enjoys spending time with his wife, 2 daughters and son, reading his Bible, and anything outdoors.
April O. Gunn, DO, Assistant Professor, Clinic Director
April.Gunn@erlanger.org
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Residency: Family Medicine Residency, UC Davis, Modesto
Interests: Women's and Children's Health, including Obstetrics, and Global Medicine
Dr. Gunn joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga
in November 2020 as Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. Gunn is from the Phoenix, Arizona area, and loves the desert, but decided to come
to Tennessee to explore a new area with her family. She likes working with a diverse
population, and has a strong interest in international medicine, having worked in
Guatemala prior to residency. She chose the UTCOM Chattanooga because she wanted to
continue to foster an area of study in global health and obstetrics. Outside of medicine,
she likes to spend her days with her family exploring new rivers or hiking new mountains
that are nearby. Going forward, she hopes to continue to do the work that inspires
her and enjoy time with her family.
James W. Haynes, MD, MBA, FAAFP, Professor and Dean, University of Tennessee College
of Medicine - Chattanooga
Immediate Past Chair, Department of Family Medicine
James.Haynes2@erlanger.org
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Medical School: Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Residency: Eglin Family Medicine Residency, Eglin AFB, FL
Interest: Resident/Student Education, Minor Procedures, Women's Health
Dr. Haynes is from Fayetteville, NC and attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Eglin Regional Hospital, Eglin Air Force Base, FL and served 20 years in the Air Force. His most recent assignment prior to completing his military career and joining the University of Tennessee Faculty was as the Program Director of the Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency. His assignments took him to the Azores, Portugal; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Spokane, WA; Fayetteville, NC; Belleville, IL; San Antonio, TX; Washington, DC; Eglin AFB, FL, as well as two tours in the Middle East. Dr. Haynes was named the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians' Family Physician of the Year in 2003 and was privileged to serve as the Family Medicine Consultant to the Surgeon General of the US Air Force from 2005 to 2007. He has taught in Graduate Medical Education for over 13 years and completed the Michigan State University Primary Care Faculty Development Fellowship in 2007 as well as the National Institute for Program Director Development Fellowship in 2010.
Dr. Haynes also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville for his Masters in Business Administration. He is a Past President of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and was named recipient of the 2020 Chattanooga Champions of Healthcare Awards for Physicians and Academics (link to the Times Free Press article 2020).
Dr. Haynes served as Interim Dean for the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga from December 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022. He continued to serve as Chair for the Department of Family Medicine throughout that time. Dr. Haynes accepted the appointment as Dean for the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga effective September 1, 2022 and stepped aside as Chair of the Department on that date. Click on this link to view the News Release about Dean Haynes' appointment on the UTHSC website.
When not at work, Dr. Haynes spends time with his family, serving his community, performing missions work, and training for triathlons.
Other Residency Faculty
J. Mack Worthington, MD, FAAFP, Immediate Past Chair and Professor Emeritus
Mack.Worthington@erlanger.org
- Hometown: Winterville, NC
- Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- Residency: St. Joseph's Medical Center, (now Via Christi Hospital) Wichita, KS
- Interests: Family Medicine ambassadorship
After serving two years with the United States Air Force at the Eglin AFB Regional Hospital Dr. Worthington joined the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Memphis. There he was a strong supporter of medical students and residents, serving as program director, vice chair for academic affairs, and acting chair. He also served as the Chief of Family Practice at Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Worthington moved to Chattanooga in 1995 to start the Department of Family Medicine and the associated Family Medicine Residency Program. In addition to being past president of both the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians and Tennessee Medical Association Dr. Worthington has held national positions with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and the American Medical Association.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Worthington worked on his family farm, taught college level mathematics, and pursued a career in aeronautical engineering. A former pilot himself, he also loves to play the trombone, which he does regularly for his church ensemble. “Family Medicine not only gives you an opportunity to care for your patients but also an opportunity to serve your profession and your community.”
Dr. Worthington was recognized as "Professor Emeritus" in June 2022 for his longitudinal contributions to medical student and residency education throughout his career. He continues to serve as a preceptor and role model for the residents and faculty of our Department and the entire institution.
Alexandria Cooke, MD, Assistant Professor
Alexandria.cooke@erlanger.org
Dr. Alexandria Cooke is a Georgia native but has spent the majority of her adult life in Tennessee. She received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Southern Adventist University in nearby Collegedale. Dr. Cooke spent several years working as an overseas missionary before attending medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
Following her medical education, Dr. Cooke moved to Chattanooga and completed a family medicine residency with University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga (UTCOMC) at Erlanger, followed by a family medicine surgical obstetrics fellowship at Clínica Médicos. Dr. Cooke returned to Erlanger following her medical training to serve as a faculty member of the UTCOMC family medicine residency program as well as a provider with UT Family Practice. Within the specialty of family medicine, Dr. Cooke has special interest in women’s health, obstetrical care, and mental health.
In her spare time, Dr. Cooke enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and cooking. Outside of work, she is an avid traveler and novice gardener.
Elizabeth Close, MD, Associate Professor
Elizabeth.close@erlanger.org
- Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
- Medical School: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
- Residency: Family Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Chattanooga
- Interests: Diabetes, Preventative Care
Dr. Close attended the University of Tennessee for undergraduate and medical school before returning to Chattanooga for residency. She also served as Chief Resident. After graduating, she worked for Erlanger for five years in outpatient practice and precepting at UTFM weekly.
She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Tim, son Charlie and twins Danny and Maggie. Each summer, Dr. Close volunteers as medical staff at Tennessee Camp for Diabetic Children (and welcomes residents coming along).
Michael Shepherd, MD, Assistant Professor
Michael.Shepherd@erlanger.org
- Medical School: Loma Linda University
- Residency: Hinsdale Hospital, Hinsdale III
- Interests: Maternal Health and Preventative Health Care
Dr. Shepherd served the Public Health Department for two years as the only physician in a very small mountain town in Northern California. This little city had seven hospital beds and one ED bed with Dr. Shepherd as the sole physician. He practiced in Hanford, California for almost 20 years, and then moved to Northern California where he supervised a midwife and was one of two physicians to deliver babies. Dr. Shepherd is happy to be with UTCOM because he loves to teach and is able to live close to his children and grandchildren.
Malissa Talbert, MD, Assistant Professor
Malissa.Talbert@erlanger.org
- Hometown: Lawrenceburg, TN
- Medical School: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
- Residency: Internal Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis)
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas)
- Fellowship: Geriatric Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga
Dr. Talbert grew up in south-central Tennessee. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, followed by medical school at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency in Memphis at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She also completed a Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Dr. Talbert joined the Family Medicine faculty in Chattanooga after completing her Geriatric Fellowship here. She currently spends much of her time caring for patients at Alexian Village, a premier continuum of care facility for seniors located just outside of Chattanooga on Signal Mountain.
Bob Zylstra, EdD, LCSW, Professor, Director of Behavioral Science, and Assistant Program
Director, Family Medicine Residency
Retired as of July 1, 2022
- Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
- Graduate Schools: University of Michigan and University of Memphis
- Interests: Geriatric Mental Health and Community Medicine
Dr. Zylstra grew up in Michigan where he earned his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. In addition to his involvement with family medicine, he has worked as a home health care social worker, supervisor of a community hospital's social work department, and business manager for an outpatient medical office. Dr. Zylstra has also served as a faculty member in Family Medicine at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and the University of Tennessee-Healthplex in Memphis, before joining our faculty in Chattanooga and practicing at the UT Family Practice Center.
He earned his doctorate degree in educational psychology from the University of Memphis, and continues his research and teaching interests in the areas of community medicine, mental health, and geriatrics. He is married to Margaret, a public health nurse, and is the father of two adult children.
In September 2022, the Champions of Health Care Awards 2022 were announced, and Dr. Zylstra received the award for a Non-Physician Practitioner. Click on this hyperlink to read the outstanding News article about this recognition. We are very proud of Dr. Zylstra's life work for our program and providers in our community! Click on the hyperlink to the left to view the entire article about this honor.
Clinical Faculty
Kelly Arnold, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Medical Director, Clinica Medicos
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Medical School: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Residency: Family Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College
of Medicine Chattanooga
Special Interest: Obstetrics and Ultrasound
Dr. Arnold enjoys seeing infants, children, adults, and geriatric patients, the full
spectrum of family medicine. She is a bilingual physician, speaking both English and
Spanish and practices medicine with a focus on the Latino community. Dr. Arnold is
married to a Chattanooga native and enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Justin
Arnold, and three children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, exercising
and practicing yoga. In October 2020, Dr. Arnold was named the 2020 Family Physician
of the Year by the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians. Click here to view the
UTK News article regarding this honor.
Dr. Philip A. Sutherland is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, and he completed his Family Medicine Residency training at our program in June, 2014. Dr. Sutherland completed fellowship training in Advanced Obstetrics at Medicos para la Familia in Memphis, Tennessee in 2015. Dr. Sutherland currently precepts our residents, and he practices at Clinica Medicos in Chattanooga, TN.
