NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) honored several physicians at the 2025 Annual Meeting and House of Delegates in Franklin, Tenn.

OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN AWARDS

Dr. Donald Lovelace of Kingsport, Tenn., and Dr. John Ingram, III, of Alcoa, Tenn. both received TMA’s Outstanding Physician Award. The House presents this award annually to member physicians who have made their own personal mark on the profession of medicine in Tennessee and on their colleagues. The award is considered a lifetime achievement award.

Dr. Lovelace is a retired OB/GYN and former Chief of Staff at Indian Path Hospital in Kingsport. He has served in numerous governance positions within TMA and locally, including as a regular delegate for the TMA House of Delegates, attendee at Doctors’ Day on the Hill and as a member of TMA’s Public Health committee. (Photographed above: Dr. Donald Lovelace receiving TMA's Outstanding Physician Award from Dr. George R. "Trey" Lee, TMA's Speaker of the House). 

Dr. Ingram is a practicing internist with East Tennessee Medical Group, a practice which he co-founded in 1994. In addition, he has dedicated his life to leadership in organized medicine. Dr. Ingram is perhaps best known for envisioning a leadership training program during his tenure as president. Three years later, the program launched and has since been renamed the John Ingram Institute for Physician Leadership. (Photographed above: Dr. John Ingram, III, receiving TMA's Outstanding Physician Award from Dr. George R. "Trey" Lee, TMA's Speaker of the House). 

DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER PUBLIC HEALTH HERO AWARDS

Dr. Wm. MacMillan Rodney of Memphis, Tenn. and Dr. Natalie Dickson of Nashville, Tenn. both received the Dr. William Schaffner Public Health Hero Award. Both the Tennessee Public Health Association and the TMA present this award every two years to physicians who demonstrate extraordinary efforts in the advancement of public health in Tennessee.

Dr. Rodney is nationally recognized for his educational efforts and published research, boasting over 200 articles, chapters and books. Primarily, he is known for his studies on the transfer of technology improving access and quality in low resource communities. In 1999, he funded and developed a bilingual medical facility that provides family care, reporting over 58,000 office visits each year. (Photographed above: Dr. Wm. MacMillan Rodney receiving the Dr. William Schaffner Public Health Hero Award from Dr. Laura Andreson). 

Dr. Dickson currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, one of the nation’s largest community-based oncology practices. She played a key role in expanding Tennessee Oncology’s supportive services and is now leading the practice’s growth into new regions and specialties. Dr. Dickson is also the visionary behind the McKay Institute for Oncology Transformation, an innovative start-up within Tennessee Oncology designed for oncologists and administrators committed to advancing oncology care. (Photographed above: Dr. Natalie Dickson receiving the Dr. William Schaffner Public Health Hero Award from Dr. Laura Andreson and Kimberly Harrel). 

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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