NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) installed new and returning leaders at the organizations 191^st Annual Meeting in Franklin, Tenn. These changes mark the beginning of the 2026-2027 governance cycle for the association.

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

Dr. Fletcher, Medical Director for Weakley County EMS and Medical Examiner for Obion and Weakley County, served on TMA’s Judicial Council and as a delegate for several years. Prior to moving to Martin, he served in the position of Secretary for the Consolidated Medical Assembly of West Tennessee. Apart from TMA, he served on the Board for the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians, in addition to being a past-president and alternate delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Fletcher is uniquely skilled to serve TMA with his knowledge of rural healthcare needs in Tennessee.

Dr. Rector served extensively in a variety of mental health settings throughout Middle Tennessee during her career. She is keenly familiar with many of the issues facing physicians providing mental health care to Tennesseans. Through experience working in Cookeville, Nashville and Lebanon, Dr. Rector has an understanding of physicians’ needs across the state. Dr. Rector’s leadership roles with Community Mental Health and Tennessee Psychiatric Association positioned her to be an effectively leader on TMA’s Board of Trustees. 

Dr. Christiansen, the Medical Director of the Developmental Behavioral Center with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, joins the Board with extensive leadership experience in private practice, as an employed physician and within organized medicine. Notably, she was president of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine from 2008 to 2010 and holds membership with the State Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Christiansen is passionate about caring for the profession of medicine and is excited to work for TMA members.

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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