The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) is saddened by the recent passing of David Gerkin, MD, former TMA President and editor of the Tennessee Medicine magazine. Dr. Gerkin passed away on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

As a retired U.S. Army Colonel, Dr Gerkin was known for his dedicated service to his country and community. This attitude of service was prevalent in his professional life and engagement with the TMA. Most notably, Dr. Gerkin served as the Editor for the Tennessee Medicine magazine for 18 years, producing more than 170 editions with a circulation of over 8,000 physicians and medical community leaders. He worked tirelessly overseeing a voluntary editorial board of physicians while collaborating with TMA staff and vendors to produce each issue. Dr. Gerkin was responsible for hundreds of articles and scientific abstracts that kept the medical community in Tennessee informed throughout multiple decades.

Dr. Gerkin spent the majority of his medical career with University Eye Surgeons in Knoxville, which he founded. He also held multiple leadership roles with the Knoxville Academy of Medicine (KAM). At the state level, he served extensively with the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) and Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology, including terms as TMA President (1998-99), Board Chair and Vice Chair. Dr. Gerkin was influential in directing the future of the TMA as the Chair of the TMA Futures task force and through service on the Tennessee Medical Foundation board, TMA’s Constitution & Bylaws Committee and the Special Committee on Resolutions at the TMA House of Delegates. His service as President of IMPACT (now known as the TMA PAC) helped to support the election and retention of pro-medicine lawmakers.

His contributions earned him the TMA Outstanding Physician Award (2001). Beyond his professional leadership, Dr. Gerkin was deeply engaged in community service through organizations such as the Physicians Medical Education & Research Foundation, Interfaith Health Clinic, Remote Area Medical, East Tennessee Eye Bank, and the National Eye Care Project for Tennessee.

Dr. Gerkin’s legacy will live on through the impact he left on the lives of physicians in Tennessee and on the patients in his community. The TMA extends our deepest condolences to his wife Sharon, his family and to all those blessed to call him friend.