Tennessee Medical Foundation

03/04/2026

Looking for resources on physician and health professional wellbeing? Check out our online resource library with links to vetted resources on addiction and recovery, mental health, and wellbeing, as well as organizations involved nationally and at the state level with professional health and wellbeing.

You'll find it at https://e-tmf.org under the "Forms & Resources" tab but here's a direct link you can bookmark:



https://e-tmf.org/forms-and-resources

The TMF operates solely on contributions from individuals, hospitals and grants.You can help support the TMF through donations, annual gifts and special events.

03/02/2026

A great new resource is available in the realm of health for safety-sensitive workers, including physicians and other health professionals. American Society of Addiction Medicine - ASAM and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) worked with the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) to create this best-practice guide to helping SSWs battling alcohol use disorder (AUD).

"Supporting Safety-sensitive Workers with Alcohol Use Disorder" provides an overview of best practices for identifying, treating, and supporting safety‑sensitive workers with AUD. Drawing on established evidence, professional health program (PHP) protocols, and the unique clinical considerations involved in caring for individuals whose work impacts public safety, the document outlines key components of assessment, treatment, long‑term monitoring, and recovery support. It emphasizes the importance of occupation‑focused care, coordination with PHPs, and the critical role of peer‑specific recovery communities in promoting sustained remission and safe return to work.

We are proud to say that Drs. Paul Earley and Chris Bundy, both very important leaders in the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, INC (FSPHP), contributed to this resource.

Download a copy in the link below, and find more helpful clinician health information at https://fsphp.org/resources

02/27/2026

The Music City Veterinary Conference is underway in Murfreesboro today and we are excited to be here again! We are located in the Wellness Room along with TVMA and NAMI Tennessee.

Thank you to the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association for allowing us to exhibit and share how we help vets, vet techs, and vet students with personal mental health and substance use issues.

02/20/2026

TMF had the privilege of delivering the Capstone lecture to 4th year medical students at Meharry Medical College today. Our Medical Director Dr. Michael Baron covered the importance of physician health and wellbeing, the expectations and responsibilities of their profession, the risks of illness and impairment, including addiction, mental and behavioral health conditions, and where and how to seek help in time of distress or crisis.

We deeply appreciate Meharry for giving us the chance to speak to these soon-to-be graduates just before they step into medical practice -- to let them know that they have a resource and an ally when they are personally struggling.

02/19/2026

Chief Medical Officers are frequent contacts for the TMF - we collaborate with hospital and medical practice CMOs to care for the personal health of TN physicians and other health professionals.

Today, we were invited by the Tennessee Hospital Association to share about our services and process with members of its CMO Society.

Thank you to the THA for the chance to speak to these leaders across the state, and foster a closer connection to those who safeguard both patients and clinicians.

02/16/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Baptist Memorial Health Care! We are incredibly grateful for their partnership in our mission to care for Tennessee health professionals in distress or crisis.

As one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems, Baptist Memorial doesn’t just provide world-class medical care—they invest deeply in the well-being of our community. With 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee and parts of Mississippi and Arkansas and over 7,000 affiliated physicians, their reach is vast, yet their impact remains personal.

In 2024 alone, Baptist contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care, proving their dedication as the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Their support of the TMF sends the message that they care for their providers as well as their patients.

Thank you, Baptist Memorial, for standing with us to support those who spend their lives caring for others.

Learn more: https://baptistonline.org; https://e-tmf.org

02/11/2026

It's and we are thrilled to focus our today on one of our dedicated partners.

Ross Rainwater - HealthMarkets Insurance is the founder of R2MA and has a passion for supporting and guiding customers through complex Medicare and health insurance decisions. He is also passionate about the TMF mission and is a committed pledge donor to ensure that we are able to indeed save the lives and careers of Tennessee in distress or crisis.

A huge Thank You to Ross Rainwater and R2MA! Learn more at https://www.r2ma.com/

02/03/2026

On February 3, 2020, we launched the Tennessee Professional Screening Questionnaire (TN-PSQ) as a safe and secure resource for Tennessee with the help of the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention.

Six years later, it has provided a simple anonymous self-screen and further help if desired to nearly 1,000 users! Here are a few comments by anonymous users:

"It was good to be able to vent some of the frustrations of life in the survey and get the feedback that I am not alone... Thank you so much.”

"When I was really struggling 10-15 years ago, I did not feel like I could seek help openly and had to be secretive about getting counseling and antidepressants. Thank you for contributing to this positive change!”

"For what it's worth, please know that you're doing great work here. You just made this student's life easier."

"I have previously done counseling and am not opposed to trying again … Thank you again for this awesome service!”

The TN-PSQ is available to served by the TMF and TN professionals, including students and trainees. Please take the screening, and share it with your medical professional colleagues: https://tn.providerwellness.org

02/02/2026

We are proud to announce new Board leadership for our Foundation: Board President Dr. Eric Berg of Clarksville; Vice President Dr. W. Reeves Johnson, Jr., of Knoxville; Southeast TN Representative Dr. Phyllis Miller of Chattanooga; and Middle TN Representative Dr. Amanda von Horn of Nashville. Outgoing Board President Dr. Clay Runnels of Johnson City moves into the ex-officio position of Immediate Past President; Mr. Lee McLellan of Nashville continues as Board treasurer.

Thank you to each of these distinguished volunteers for their commitment to health and patient safety!

Read the full news release at https://e-tmf.org/newtmfleadership/

01/30/2026

and we are thrilled to share that Premier Medical Group in Clarksville is supporting the TMF in 2026! This multi-specialty practice has received industry awards for ethics, patient care, and sustainability, and now we want to recognize Premier for its focus on health and wellbeing. Their investment in our mission allows us to respond to each and every Tennessee or in personal distress or crisis.

01/22/2026

We are extremely proud to announce that TMF Medical Director Dr. Michael Baron is on the speaker list for the 2026 Annual Education Conference of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, INC (FSPHP) in April. As FSPHP outgoing President, he will be presenting at both the FSPHP conference and the joint session with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).

Check out the full speaker list and topics in the link below, and join us if you can in Baltimore, MD, April 28-May 2 for the 2026 Conference!

01/20/2026

One of the ways the TMF supports referred to our Professionals Health Program (PHP) is through advocacy with entities impacting a participant's health, license, practice, and career. Today and tomorrow, Medical Director Dr. Michael Baron is attending TN Board of Medical Examiners' meetings to stand with and answer board questions regarding PHP participants or new applicants.

Throughout the year, the TMF is present for semi-monthly BME meetings and quarterly meetings for the Board of Osteopathic Examination, the Board of Physician Assistants, the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and at other state health licensure boards as needed.