Over 200 physicians, association leaders, guests and presenters gathered in Franklin, Tenn. May 1-3 for the Tennessee Medical Association’s (TMA’s) 191^st Annual Meeting and House of Delegates. Attendees took part in education sessions, policy discussions, social events and the association's governing body convened in the House of Delegates. Delegates discussed resolutions to direct TMA’s governance and legislative policy. Additionally, TMA presented its annual Outstanding Physician Awards during the return of the President’s Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.

The 2026 TMA House of Delegates focused on the areas of immunization advisement, private equity in healthcare, protecting confidentiality between physicians and patients in the healthcare setting and addressing medical student/residency issues. Key actions of the House included: 

Creation of a State Immunization Advisory Committee

Delegates charged the association to create a standing immunization advisory subcommittee to TMA’s current Public Health Committee. The committee is intended to serve as a resource to the Tennessee General Assembly and the executive branch of state government.

Provision of Resources and Advocacy Surrounding Private Equity Transparency in Healthcare

Delegates emphasized the need for educational resources for physicians who are contemplating entering into private equity relationships. The education would include topics of leadership, governance, clinical autonomy and more. Delegates also directed the association to advocate for legislation that promotes transparency and oversight of private equity healthcare transactions.

Preservation of the Physician-Patient Relationship 

Delegates affirmed the importance of protecting confidentiality in the physician-patient relationship in order to preserve an environment focused on the delivery of medical and humanitarian care. The House charged the association to support the protection of personal information in the healthcare setting from non-clinical governmental reporting that could create barriers to care. TMA stands by the importance of protecting confidential data from outsider use.

Improvement of the Medical Student and Residency Program Landscape in Tennessee

The House resolved to study the implications of new restrictions on medical students in the upcoming academic year in addition to working with state agencies on modifying loan repayment programs targeted at specialties in the state experiencing shortages. Delegates positioned the association to recognize the equivalency of licensing examinations for osteopathic physicians (DO) to those taking by allopathic physicians (MD) and supported actions to increase Tennessee’s Graduate Medical Education funding to create additional residency and fellowship positions in Tennessee.

J. E. “Gene” Huffstutter, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates PLLC in Hixson, Tenn., became the 172^nd President for 2026-2027, and John McCarley, MD, a nephrologist with Nephrology Associates in Chattanooga, Tenn., transitioned to Immediate Past-President.

Kirk Stone, MD, a family physician with Baptist Medical Group – The Doctors’ Clinic in Union City, Tenn., was elected as Speaker of the House of Delegates, following several years as Vice-Speaker. Former TMA President, Andrew Watson, MD, a Cardiologist with Saint Francis Cardiology Associates in Memphis, Tenn., was elected as Vice- Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Michelle Allmon, MD, an internist in Collierville, Tenn., took the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees, following a year serving as Vice-Chair. Nicole Schlechter, MD, PhD, an obstetrician in Nashville, Tenn., was elected to the position of Vice-Chair for the upcoming year. Recently elected members of the Board of Trustees and Judicial Council were also installed, including new Board members Walter Fletcher, MD (Martin), Cynthia Rector, MD (Cookeville) and Debbie Christiansen, MD (Knoxville). Jacqueline Majors, MD, Morgan Kato, MD and Parneeta Mohapatra were also inducted as representatives of the Young Physicians Section, the Resident/Fellows Section and the Medical Student Section, respectively. To learn more about TMA's new leaders, click here. 

Two physicians were recognized and presented with awards during TMA’s Annual Meeting. Dr. Ann Price of Nashville and Dr. Joseph Cofer of Chattanooga receive TMA’s Outstanding Physician Award. This award, considered as TMA’s lifetime achievement award, is presented annually by the House to member physicians who have made their own personal mark on the profession of medicine in Tennessee and on their colleagues.

The 2026 meeting offered new programming for members to engage with each other and organized medicine. The inaugural Issues Forum provided an educational component to the weekend where attendees learned about AI in medicine and the future of the payment of healthcare. Featured presenters included Jessica DaMassa, a health innovation reporter and host of WTF Health – What’s the Future, Health, Larry Bilbrey, the Senior Director of Data Insights and Innovation and Tennessee Oncology and Senior Director of Digital Innovation and OneOncology, and Dr. John Graves, professor of health policy and medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and professor of management at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.

Members engaged in expanded time for discussion surrounding the policies of resolutions brought before the House of Delegates during the Resolution Review sessions. These break-off discussions were physician-led and produced valuable dialogue among members about pressing issues facing physicians in Tennessee.

TMA’s Annual Meeting provides Tennessee physicians the opportunity to guide the association’s priorities and advance the interests of the medical profession through policy creation, networking and education.  All regions of Tennessee were represented in the House of Delegates. The next TMA Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 16-18, 2027 at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn.