From our President and CEO
Our Top 10 list is an annual tradition that serves as a recap of our year. There’s always a recurring theme as we review our year. Typically, phrases like community building, membership, and development come to the forefront. This year, it was hard to not acknowledge the people who have made our Society what it is.
In case you have not heard it lately, THANK YOU for your membership, and thank you for what you do to improve the health of this community! I invite you to join us or engage with us even more in this new year, as we celebrate our 150th year in 2026. There is a lot in store, which you will learn about soon, but first let’s acknowledge our accomplishments in 2025 and celebrate the people who made it one of our best years ever.
1.) 2025 Physicians’ Gala
Members and guests gathered to honor Dr. Dale Criner’s service and dedication during his year of presidency, while laying the groundwork for Dr. Jim Beaty’s term. Dr. Criner continued his service by chairing our nominating committee and was also appointed to chair the TMA Legislative Committee. Dr. Beaty now steps in as nominating committee chair and has committed his focus on increasing membership in the Society and TMA.
What’s next? On Saturday, April 25, 2026, we will celebrate our 150th anniversary at our Physicians’ Gala, with Dr. Catherine Womack leading the organization as President. To further cement our history, Gala will unveil the Inaugural Memphis Medical Society Hall of Fame inductees. Ten iconic figures leading the living history of medicine in Memphis were chosen from a slate of dozens nominated by their peers, mentees, students, and colleagues. Voted on by a committee of Society members, they represent the beginning of an annual tradition and a growing, living index of this city’s rich history of healthcare innovation.
2.) Membership
Membership in MMS and TMA remains strong, with opportunity to recruit more physicians who are new to Memphis, employed with a health system, or seeking a greater presence in the community through advocacy, referrals, and volunteerism.
What’s next? We will launch the “150 in 150” campaign, aimed to recruit 150 new physicians to our organization in our 150th year. Our Board of Directors, staff, and newly-reorganized membership committee will be hard at work on this important endeavor. If you’re interested in participating in this crucial work, contact Cara Azhar, our Senior Director, Physician and Practice Engagement.
3.) Advocacy Wins
2025 was another year of impactful advocacy in collaboration with our partners at Tennessee Medical Association. As usual, MMS members led the charge, leveraging existing relationships with legislators and government officials, while forging new friendships and recruiting new allies.
Maternal and Fetal Health – While our efforts successfully expanded the list of conditions that qualify for legal pregnancy termination, they fell short on adding exemptions for lethal fetal anomalies. Other significant wins include the approval of legislation codifying protections for fertility and contraceptive treatments, and the defeat of a measure placing restrictions on IVF clinics and those wishing to become parents.
Prior Authorization – Our advocacy successfully led to the repeal of a 2022 law requiring physicians to notify a patient when additional information is needed to approve a prior authorization request. This victory builds on the momentum of successful advocacy around prior authorization overhaul in 2023 that took effect at the beginning of 2025.
Other notable wins – Other highlights include legislation expanding constitutional rights of due process to zygotes and fetuses being taken off notice; legislation requiring insurance companies to provide coverage of and reimbursement for mental health and substance abuse treatment offered through a PCCM; and a deferral to 2026 of a bill that would have made companies who mail or deliver abortion-inducing drugs to patients liable for wrongful death claims and doubled the caps on non-economic damages. You can view many of the recent legislative wins over the years here.
What’s next? Join us Tuesday, March 3rd for TMA’s Day on the Hill. Our chartered bus leaves Memphis early, reaching Nashville to join an impactful day of face time with legislators eager to learn about the practice of medicine from those leading the work. We’ll also join TMA’s House of Delegates and Annual Meeting in May, and strong Memphis representation sends an important message to our potential allies in the state capital. You can register for Day on the Hill here.
4.) Memphis Physicians in Leadership Roles
Several Memphis physicians took on or were elected to leadership roles. Those include:
Catherine Womack, M.D. – MMS President
Andrew Watson, M.D. – TMA Vice-Speaker of the House
Dale Criner, M.D. – TMA Legislative Committee Chair
Allison Jones, M.D. – 2025 TN Dermatology Society President
Wes Angel, M.D. – 2024-26 TN Radiology Society President
Congratulations to those physicians and any others we missed!
5.) Project Access West Tennessee
This year saw important growth for Project Access West Tennessee. We have entered and expanded new partnerships with Church Health, Christ Community Health Services, and UTHSC, among others. We were also awarded an additional grant to expand our services in rural West Tennessee.
Our patients represent Memphis’s uninsured who do not qualify for private insurance. We need more specialist volunteers who are willing to see one patient per month at no cost to the patient. Click here to have you or your staff contact Lia Hernandez and learn how to volunteer.
6.) MedTemps Expands to Chattanooga
Our colleagues at Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society (CHCMS) informed us of their intent to close their staffing agency. However, they wanted to ensure their members still had access to a trusted staffing agency partner. Insert MedTemps! MedTemps has stepped in as a preferred staffing partner of CHCMS, supporting their members and clients through a business model they were already accustomed to.
7.) Making More Friends Through Strategic Alignment
In addition to the connections we have previously referenced, MMS also expanded services to other medical societies. When organizations need support – be it operational, financial, event management, or all of the above – MMS has risen to the occasion to support organizations like Tennessee Dermatology Society, Tennessee Radiology Society, Tennessee American College of Physicians, and the Irish-American Orthopaedic Society. These relationships reflect our commitment to support other organizations, particularly when our operational and financial capacity allow us to do so. We also completed our third year of the Mid-South Healthcare Leadership Institute, in partnership with Mid-South MGMA and the American College of Healthcare Executives, graduating fourteen aspiring leaders from the fall cohort.
8.) Growth and Preservation of the Society through Charitable Giving
We have earnestly commenced efforts to preserve the long-term viability of MMS through charitable contributions to Memphis Medical Foundation, our 501(c)3 sister organization. As we deepen the Foundation’s commitment to workforce development, physician wellbeing, and caring for the vulnerable, we want physicians to have a meaningful way to sustain this work—today and for generations to come.
9.) MMS Staff
Our staff continues to grow, both in volume and skillset. Several team members received promotions this year to support our growth and theirs. As we approach twenty staff members, our footprint now reaches two clinical locations and two roles based in Jackson, Tennessee. Thank you to our staff for another incredible year!
10.) Did we mention next year?
2026 is poised to be our strongest year yet. We have many events and celebrations planned beyond those shared here. Digital timelines, advertising investments, and promotion of our members’ success are just a few highlights of what’s in store for our 150th year. We look forward to celebrating you…with you!
Cheers to our 150th birthday!
