NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee Medical Association’s (TMA) Board of Trustees experienced a historical change in leadership during the organization’s spring Board meeting. For the first time, the newly-elected Board Chair and Vice-Chair are both women.

On May 18, Dr. Leslie Treece, a pediatrician in Cookeville, Tenn., assumed the role of Board Chair. Dr. Michelle Allmon, an internist in Collierville, Tenn., moved up to the role of Board Vice-Chair. Both physicians will continue to serve on TMA’s Board, with Treece having been re-elected in the spring of 2024 and Dr. Allmon having been elected in the spring of 2025. Dr. Treece and Dr. Allmon have proven to be exceptional leaders both at the local and state level.

Dr. Treece, a 2018 graduate of the Ingram Institute’s Leadership Lab, has been active in organized medicine for over 20 years. Prior to being elected as a member of TMA’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Treece served as Vice-President and then President of the Upper Cumberland Medical Society. Previously, she served two years as the Vice-Chair of the TMA Board. She currently works as a pediatrician with Cookeville Pediatric Associates.

“It’s an incredible honor to serve as Chair of the TMA Board of Trustees during this historic moment — with women leading as both Chair and Vice Chair for the first time,” said Dr. Treece. “I’m inspired every day by the remarkable group of individuals on this board and the work we have ahead. We face a year of unique challenges, but with those challenges come opportunities — to lead boldly, to advocate fiercely, and to serve the physicians of Tennessee with renewed purpose. My commitment is to listen, to engage, and to ensure that every voice in our association has a seat at the table as we shape the future of medicine in our state.”

Dr. Allmon, a Memphis-based internist, has been an active member of TMA for over five years. She has served as a delegate for the American College of Physicians and was appointed to the TMA Board as the Region 1 representative in summer of 2025, ahead of her official election this year.

“I am honored to serve as Vice Chair of the Tennessee Medical Association’s first women-led Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Allmon. “Reflecting on my journey, I recall my first physician contract which had no provision for maternity leave. Look how far we’ve come, with women in leadership advocating for policies that support all physicians. The diversity of our Board provides strength, bringing varied perspectives that enrich our decision-making and amplify our impact. This opportunity reflects the vision of our Board and the diversity of the TMA, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to help improve healthcare for Tennesseans.”

TMA celebrates this moment in the association’s history and is encouraged by the experience and leadership both Dr. Treece and Dr. Allmon bring to the table.

“The annual transition of our board is always interesting and exciting, but this year is a bit different,” said Russ Miller, TMA’s CEO. “The election of Drs. Treece and Allmon to lead our Board is proof of progress that TMA has made to broaden its leadership pathways. Both are Ingram Institute graduates and have served locally and with their specialties. But most notable is that they are both are women physician leaders, and this marks a TMA first for having both board lead seats filled by women. The TMA has been purposeful in its process to cultivate more female leaders, and this is a testament to that effort as well as to Dr. Treece and Allmon’s commitment to TMA’s mission, of course.”

The Tennessee Medical Association is a nonprofit professional organization for Tennessee physicians. TMA represents more than 10,000 Tennessee physicians and physicians-in-training. The organization advocates for public policies, laws and rules that promote healthcare safety and quality for all Tennesseans and improve the nonclinical aspects of practicing medicine. Learn more at tnmed.org.

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