Pictured from left to right are: J. Mack Worthington, MD; Suzan House, MD; Phillip Burn, MD; Brett Sanders, MD; Todd Bonvallet, MD; Vaishali Doshi, MD; John Gwin, MD; Kelley Jolley, MD; Douglas Liening, MD; Susan Raschal, DO; Brant Holt, MD; and Ronald Brooksbank, MD.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, Medical Alliance, and Project Access, in conjunction with BlueCross BlueShield Community Trust, are recognizing local physicians by saluting ten honorees for Doctors’ Day Appreciation. The honorees were selected from nominations submitted by local residents. The ten honorees are:
· Todd Bonvallet, MD; Spine Surgery Associates
· Vaishali Doshi, MD; Associates in Hematology & Oncology
· John Gwin, MD; Gwin Surgery
· Brant Holt, MD; Nephrology Associates
· Suzan House, MD; Arthritis Associates
· Kelley Jolley, MD; Jergens Parker & Jolley
· Douglas Liening, MD; Associates in ENT
· Susan Raschal, DO; Covenant Allergy & Asthma
· Emily Reeves-Douglas, MD; Dodson Avenue Community Health Clinic
· Brett Sanders, MD; Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics
Also recognized were three physicians for their extraordinary commitment to the field of medicine. They are:
· Ronald Brooksbank, MD, who recently retired from practice after 50 years of serving patients
· Phillip Burns, MD, of University Surgical Associates, for his lifelong commitment to medical education
· J. Mack Worthington, MD, of UT Family Practice, who will be honored in April with the Outstanding Physician Award by the Tennessee Medical Association
National Doctors’ Day provides a time for people to show appreciation to the doctors who care for them or their loved ones. The first Doctors’ Day observance was March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia, on the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetic in surgery. The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day on March 30, 1958. In 1990, Congress established March 30 each year as the National Doctors’ Day.
Through Project Access, more than 800 physicians provide free medical care and services to Hamilton County residents who do not have health insurance and whose income is less than 150% of the poverty level (about $29,685 for a family of three).