Faculty

Hometown: O'Fallon, IL
Undergraduate: Union University-Jackson, TN
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-Springfield, IL
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: I am married to my wonderful wife, Brittney, with whom I have a beautiful little girl, Palmer. They are both patiently waiting for me to surprise them with a puppy.
Hobbies: I enjoy golfing, spending time with friends and family, playing music, and following football/St. Louis sports.
What I did before medical school: I started medical school right out of undergrad, where I majored in Cell & Molecular Biology and minored in Mathematics.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I originally completed my residency at UT Jackson after choosing it for its broad scope of training, hands-on procedural opportunities, and incredibly fun atmosphere. Three years later, I chose to remain on as faculty after the program proved to be the ideal practice for me clinically, as well as an opportunity to put my newfound passion for teaching to work. As an added bonus, my wife and I love that an opportunity like this exists for us in her hometown!

Hometown: Martin, TN
Medical School: College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Des Moines University, Iowa
Stats: Married to Rose since 1976; Grandfather
Hobbies: Antique Shopping with Rose, golf (played Augusta National, St. Andrews and Ballybunion)
Research/Areas of Interest: Leadership, gynecologic endocrine, Models of Care
Tidbits: Retired United States Army Colonel; Commanded 115th Field Hospital at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg and Task Force Med Eagle in Tuzla, Bosnia; Dean, US Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Chairman of Family Medicine at UTHSC for eight years. Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors lists. 2017 and 2020 Golden Apple Teaching Award for Family Medicine Attending of the Year by UTHSC College of Medicine student body.

Hometown: La Vergne, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Residency Program: UTFP-Memphis
Stats: Married, Kids
Hobbies: Movies, Sports, Music
What I did before medical school: College, Cleaned Pools
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Left private practice to become a full-time faculty. I wanted to continue my obstetric skills

Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: University of Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Fellowship: University of Tennessee Emergency Medicine Fellowship
Stats: Married with a beautiful little girl
Hobbies: Cooking, Baking, Video Games, Movies
Areas of Interest: Education
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I was already very familiar with the program and they allowed me to continue to practice in multiple areas. I can work with the ER Fellows, Hospitalist Fellows and continue to help train residents.

Hometown: Millington, TN
Undergraduate: Union University, Jackson, TN
Medical School: ETSU- Quillen College of Medicine
Residency: UTHSC Internal Medicine- Memphis
Stats: Married with two sweet little babies - Brooks and Callie Jo
Hobbies: playing with my kids, riding horses, kayaking or canoeing, duck hunting with my husband, spending time with family and friends
What I did before med school: I worked as medical assistant in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I enjoy hospital medicine. What drew me to UT Jackson was the opportunity to practice inpatient medicine with a healthy work-life balance, while being able to stay current in an academic setting. It’s great group of faculty and residents!

Hometown: Princeton, WV
Undergraduate: Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Medical School: WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Residency Program: Marshall University Family Medicine, Huntington, WV
Hobbies: During the summer I enjoy spending most of my downtime relaxing by the pool listening to audiobooks or podcasts. I also enjoy college football, floating on the river in the summer and skiing in Utah in the winter. When there’s a little extra time I love to travel to new places or venture back to WV to visit family and friends.
Stats: I recently got married during the pandemic on May 2nd to my husband Jace Smith. We met in residency at Marshall in WV and moved to TN in August 2019 after he completed his Orthopedics fellowship. We have 3 dogs and are settling well into life back in his hometown of Jackson. We are also looking forward to our postponed wedding reception in August!
What I did before medical school: After 4 years of college I did one year of graduate school for my Masters in Teaching and tutored in the science department to confirm that medical school was the route I wanted to pursue. I then started Med School the following year.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Upon moving to Jackson I began my 3rd year practicing as a Hospitalist with the JMCGH Hospitalists group. However, after discussing an open position in the UTFM department with Dr. Mitchell I realized that having the opportunity to get back into academics as a Hospitalist and back to my roots of Family Medicine appeared to be a better fit for me. Meeting the staff and residents and seeing their “family-like” bond solidified this decision for me and my family. My husband and I are excited to build a future here in Jackson and I feel UTFM fits perfectly into our personal and professional goals.

Hometown: Jessieville, AR
Undergraduate: University of Central Arkansas - Conway, AR
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Stats: I’m a small town southern girl who isn’t married and doesn’t have kids, other than my big fur child, Bandit, who is a Siberian Husky! My family means everything to me and I love spending time with them. Even though I’m the baby of four and my siblings might say I’m the spoiled one, we are all still thick as thieves. They’re my best friends, always!
Hobbies: Running, Cycling, Bowhunting, Dove Hunting, Concert-going, Camping, Riding ATVs, Tending to the farm and cows, Spending time with family and friends
What I did before medical school: I worked as a Patient Care Technician in the Emergency Room at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, AR.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose UT Jackson because the program really felt like my home away from home. It was immediately evident how close everyone was and how strong of a support system they were for one another. The people didn’t feel like just coworkers, they were a big happy family. They truly made me feel so comfortable and like I had been friends with them for years. I also really love the area and am so excited to have the opportunity to be here. Some of my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents grew up in Jackson, TN so it is a very special place for me to be and have things come full circle! I love that Jackson is a smaller town with a large community hospital because that was something I was specifically looking for in a program. Jackson’s program is extremely impressive with even more impressive faculty. I knew the training I would receive here would be invaluable. I felt confident I could graduate from their residency and be more than capable to practice full scope Family Medicine or be able to take whatever route I wanted to with my specialty. In my gut, everything just felt right about Jackson and I couldn’t be more blessed to be here!

Hometown: Huntingdon, TN (via Newellton, LA)
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: Married to my wonderful wife, Barbara. We have one son, Declan and 2 dogs, Roxie and Shooter.
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Volunteer Football (GBO). Video gaming.
What I did before medical school: While at UT, I worked as a student assistant in the Sports Medicine department with several different sports teams. I immediately entered medical school following undergraduate.
Why did I choose UT-Jackson: I completed residency at UT Jackson and chose to stay on as faculty due to the opportunity to teach in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Areas of Interest: Medical education, inpatient medicine, point of care ultrasound

Hometown: Camden, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stats: I was gifted one square foot of Scotland, so my official title is “Lady Watson.” I have a yellow lab mix named Holmes whom I accompany on long investigations for tennis balls. I am a first generation college graduate.
Hobbies: Walks with Holmes, scrapbooking, antiquing, outings on the Tennessee River, playing Mrs. Pacman, cooking, event planning
What I did before medical school: I was a professional Vols fan for 4 years - Go Big Orange!
Why I chose UT-Jackson: My dream is to open a family medicine practice that cares for folks ranging from birth to childhood, adolescence, adulthood, motherhood, and end-of-life care in my hometown in rural Northwest Tennessee. The breadth and depth of UT-Jackson’s residency training and the opportunity to get a head start on working with the greater West Tennessee community made this choice a no-brainer for me.