The list of the 2024 Health Care Heroes finalists released this week by the Memphis Business Journal underscores the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s extensive clinical impact in the Memphis community.
Of the 26 finalists, 17 are associated in some manner with UT Health Science Center.
“The UT Health Science Center has an abundance of extraordinary faculty members whose individual and collective efforts coalesce to improve the health of Tennesseans through their innovations in clinical care and clinically focused research,” said Cindy Russell, PhD, RN, vice chancellor for Academic, Faculty, Student Affairs for the university. “This exceptional work could not be done without the support and collaboration found in our strategic partnerships.”
Often, UT Health Science Center is recognized for its excellence as an academic institution. Since its founding in 1911, the university has educated and trained approximately 54,000 health care professionals through six colleges – Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
However, UT Health Science Center physicians and health care professionals from all the colleges provide care for patients at partner hospitals in Memphis. These include Regional One Health, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Baptist Memorial Health Care, LT. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. (Memphis) VA Medical Center, and Saint Francis Hospital.
UT Health Science Center physicians also serve on the staff at esteemed clinical practice partners, including Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute, West Cancer Center and Research Institute, University Clinical Health and Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics. In fact, the physician partnership between UT Health Science Center and Campbell Clinic is celebrating its 100th year.
“The UT Health Science Center has an abundance of extraordinary faculty members whose individual and collective efforts coalesce to improve the health of Tennesseans through their innovations in clinical care and clinically focused research.”
Cindy Russell, PhD, RN, vice chancellor for Academic, Faculty, Student Affairs
Statewide, UT Health Science Center physicians are among the staff at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and West Tennessee Healthcare – Jackson Madison County General Hospital in Jackson.
“Together, with our partners, we accomplish great things,” Dr. Russell said. “We are excited that 65% of the finalists for the Memphis Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Awards have a formal affiliation with the UT Health Science Center and look forward to the announcement of the winners. Enthusiastically, we continue executing our vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.”
The annual awards honor organizations, companies, and individuals for their contributions to health care in Memphis and the Mid-South. Awards are presented in the categories of Administrative Excellence, Community Outreach, Health Care Innovations, Health Care Provider-Physician, Health Care Provider Non-Physician. A Lifetime Achievement Award is also given to recognize one individual for years of service in a specific field.
The finalists affiliated with UT Health Science Center and partner institutions are:
Administrative Excellence:
Martin Croce, MD, professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma/Surgical Critical Care at UT Health Science Center, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Regional One Health.
Austin Dalgo, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Palliative Care at UT Health Science Center and Le Bonheur, medical director of the Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis for the Oakhaven community.
Balaji Krishnaiah, MD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, program director, Neurology Residency at UT Health Science Center, medical director, Methodist Comprehensive Stroke Program.
Community Outreach
Andrea Sebastian, DNP, APRN, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, nurse practitioner, CARES Team, Child and Family Support at Le Bonheur.
David Richardson, MD, professor Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Health Science Center, Campbell Clinic.
Health Care Innovations
Kevin Foley, MD, professor, Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at UT Health Science Center, Semmes Murphey, MERI.
Monica Jablonski, PhD, professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy and Neurobiology at UT Health Science Center.
Ramesh Narayanan, PhD, professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Muirhead Endowed Professor of Pathology, director of the Center for Cancer Drug Discovery, and interim assistant dean of Research in the College of Medicine.
Shyam Sathanandam, MD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Health Science Center and interventional cardiologist, medical director Interventional Cardiac Imaging and Interventional Catheterization Laboratory at Le Bonheur.
Health Care Provider, Non-Physician
Michael Dejos, PharmD, assistant professor College of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at UT Health Science Center, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
Emily Jennewine, DNP, APRN, instructor in the College of Nursing, Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Lifedoc Health.
Mark Temme, PT, teacher for College of Health Professions, Department of Physical Therapy, OrthoSouth.
Health Care Provider, Physician
Dale Criner, MD, assistant professor Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at UT Health Science Center, vice president and chief medical officer Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Germantown.
Terri Finkel, MD, PhD, professor and the interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UT Health Science Center and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, adjunct faculty in the Department of Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude.
Michael Neel, MD, assistant professor Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, OrthoSouth and St. Jude.
David Spence, MD, PhD, assistant professor Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomechanical Engineering, Campbell Clinic, Le Bonheur.
Gregory Vidal, MD, associate professor Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, West Cancer Center and Research Institute.
The finalists will be featured in the August 9 weekly edition of the Memphis Business Journal and celebrated at an awards ceremony August 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Kent. The category winners will be chosen by a group of judges.
To view the full list of finalists for the Memphis Business Journal’s 2024 Health Care Heroes visit the Memphis Business Journal website.