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Faculty

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Gregg Mitchell, MD
Chair UTHSC Family Medicine Residency Program
ER Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor

Dr. Mitchell's Bio
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Medical School: University of Tennessee
Stats: Married to Amy; two sons and one daughter
Hobbies: Golf, Hunting, Tennis, Ole Miss football
Research/Areas of Interest: Family Medicine Outpatient procedures including no-scapel vasectomy, colposcopy with LEEP, and dermatological surgeries
Tidbits: Outstanding Clinical Lecturer Award, Golden Apple Teacher’s Award for the University of Tennessee, Faculty of the Year Award, SGAEC Excellence in Teaching Award for the University of Tennessee, West Tennessee Healthcare Doctor of the Year Award
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Grant Studebaker, MD
Residency Program Director
Assistant Professor

Dr. Studebaker's Bio
Hometown: Silver City, OK
Undergraduate: Oklahoma State University
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Tennessee - Jackson
Hobbies: Travel, Movies, Cars
What I did before medical school: EMT. I did my training here and realized it is like no other residency in the country. Jackson is very unique in the breadth of training it provides to it's residents and I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere. I love to teach and wanted to help continue the legacy of where I was trained.
Interest: Critical care, teaching office and hospital procedures to residents.
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David L. Maness, DO, MSS, FAAFP
Professor

Dr. Maness's Bio
Hometown: Martin, TN
Medical School: College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Des Moines University, Iowa
Stats: Married to Rose since 1976; Grandfather
Hobbies: Antique Shopping with Rose, golf (played Augusta National, St. Andrews and Ballybunion)
Research/Areas of Interest: Leadership, gynecologic endocrine, Models of Care
Tidbits: Retired United States Army Colonel; Commanded 115th Field Hospital at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg and Task Force Med Eagle in Tuzla, Bosnia; Dean, US Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Chairman of Family Medicine at UTHSC for eight years. Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors lists. 2017 and 2020 Golden Apple Teaching Award for Family Medicine Attending of the Year by UTHSC College of Medicine student body.
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Scott Sadler, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Sadler's Bio
Hometown: La Vergne, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Residency Program: UTFP-Memphis
Stats: Married, Kids
Hobbies: Movies, Sports, Music
What I did before medical school: College, Cleaned Pools
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Left private practice to become a full-time faculty. I wanted to continue my obstetric skills
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Ruth Baker, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Baker's Bio
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Undergraduate: Florida State University
Medical School: University of Florida
Residency Program: Baylor College of Medicine
Stats: Married with 2 elementary school kids
Hobbies: Reading, Bible Study, Organizing Projects
What I did before medical school: Worked at Burger King
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Love to teach; like to help people in all ways
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Elly Riley, DO
Assistant Professor

Dr. Riley's Bio

Hometown: Uniontown, OH/Mt. Juliet, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee at Martin
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Hobbies: Gardening, Reading, White Water Rafting, Yoga and attending concerts
Residency Program: Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio (Family Practice)
Stats: Married, 2 daughters
Research/Interests: childhood obesity, adolescent medicine, pediatrics
What I did before medical school: Instructed labs at UT Martin
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: My dream job!

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Chris Knight, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Knight's Bio

Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: University of Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Fellowship: University of Tennessee Emergency Medicine Fellowship
Stats: Married with a beautiful little girl
Hobbies: Cooking, Baking, Video Games, Movies
Areas of Interest: Education
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I was already very familiar with the program and they allowed me to continue to practice in multiple areas. I can work with the ER Fellows, Hospitalist Fellows and continue to help train residents.

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Melissa “Missy” Mooney, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Mooney's Bio

Hometown: Millington, TN
Undergraduate: Union University, Jackson, TN
Medical School: ETSU- Quillen College of Medicine
Residency: UTHSC Internal Medicine- Memphis
Stats: Married with two sweet little babies - Brooks and Callie Jo
Hobbies: playing with my kids, riding horses, kayaking or canoeing, duck hunting with my husband, spending time with family and friends
What I did before med school: I worked as medical assistant in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I enjoy hospital medicine. What drew me to UT Jackson was the opportunity to practice inpatient medicine with a healthy work-life balance, while being able to stay current in an academic setting. It’s great group of faculty and residents!

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Devan Smith (Trull), DO
Assistant Professor

Dr. Smith's Bio

Hometown: Princeton, WV
Undergraduate: Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Medical School: WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Residency Program: Marshall University Family Medicine, Huntington, WV
Hobbies: During the summer I enjoy spending most of my downtime relaxing by the pool listening to audiobooks or podcasts. I also enjoy college football, floating on the river in the summer and skiing in Utah in the winter. When there’s a little extra time I love to travel to new places or venture back to WV to visit family and friends.
Stats: I recently got married during the pandemic on May 2nd to my husband Jace Smith. We met in residency at Marshall in WV and moved to TN in August 2019 after he completed his Orthopedics fellowship. We have 3 dogs and are settling well into life back in his hometown of Jackson. We are also looking forward to our postponed wedding reception in August!
What I did before medical school: After 4 years of college I did one year of graduate school for my Masters in Teaching and tutored in the science department to confirm that medical school was the route I wanted to pursue. I then started Med School the following year.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Upon moving to Jackson I began my 3rd year practicing as a Hospitalist with the JMCGH Hospitalists group. However, after discussing an open position in the UTFM department with Dr. Mitchell I realized that having the opportunity to get back into academics as a Hospitalist and back to my roots of Family Medicine appeared to be a better fit for me. Meeting the staff and residents and seeing their “family-like” bond solidified this decision for me and my family. My husband and I are excited to build a future here in Jackson and I feel UTFM fits perfectly into our personal and professional goals.

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Justin Ryan Turner, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Turner's Bio

Hometown: Huntingdon, TN (via Newellton, LA)
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: Married to my wonderful wife, Barbara. We have one son, Declan and 2 dogs, Roxie and Shooter.
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Volunteer Football (GBO). Video gaming.
What I did before medical school: While at UT, I worked as a student assistant in the Sports Medicine department with several different sports teams. I immediately entered medical school following undergraduate.
Why did I choose UT-Jackson: I completed residency at UT Jackson and chose to stay on as faculty due to the opportunity to teach in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Areas of Interest: Medical education, inpatient medicine, point of care ultrasound

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Brandon Churchill, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Churchill's Bio

Hometown: O'Fallon, IL
Undergraduate: Union University-Jackson, TN
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-Springfield, IL
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: I am married to my wonderful wife, Brittney, with whom I have a beautiful little girl, Palmer. They are both patiently waiting for me to surprise them with a puppy.
Hobbies: I enjoy golfing, spending time with friends and family, playing music, and following football/St. Louis sports.
What I did before medical school: I started medical school right out of undergrad, where I majored in Cell & Molecular Biology and minored in Mathematics.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I originally completed my residency at UT Jackson after choosing it for its broad scope of training, hands-on procedural opportunities, and incredibly fun atmosphere. Three years later, I chose to remain on as faculty after the program proved to be the ideal practice for me clinically, as well as an opportunity to put my newfound passion for teaching to work. As an added bonus, my wife and I love that an opportunity like this exists for us in her hometown!

Jul 13, 2022