J. Mack Worthington, MD, with Outstanding Physician Award
Chattanooga physician J. Mack Worthington, MD and nonprofit regional blood center Blood Assurance were among the recipients of the 2015 Tennessee Medical Association annual awards presented last weekend during TMA’s annual convention in Nashville.
Dr. Worthington was honored with an Outstanding Physician Award, given annually by the TMA House of Delegates to member physicians who through their illustrious medical career make an impression among their colleagues, peers and on the profession of medicine. Dr. Worthington has practiced family medicine for more than 30 years, serving as an attending physician at hospitals in Chattanooga, Memphis and Jackson. He is actively involved in the teaching program at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, where he chairs the Department of Family Medicine and serves as program director for the college’s Geriatric Medicine and Clerkship director. During his tenure, he has also served in roles such as vice chair of academic affairs, director of the undergraduate division and director of the family practice residency program at St. Francis Hospital.
Dr. Worthington has been president of the Memphis-Shelby County Academy of Family Physicians, president of the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians, president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton Medical Society and president of the Tennessee Medical Association. He has served on the IMPACT Board of Directors, office surgery task force committee, continuing education committee, and the membership committee.
Officials said, "His devotion to his patients has inspired his colleagues. His pursuit of medical knowledge has made him a role model to countless residents and medical students. His leadership within the medical community has shaped many medical leaders in Tennessee."
Blood Assurance was named a Community Service Award winner, given annually to persons or organizations who contribute significantly to the advancement of public health in their respective communities.
Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving 51 counties and more than 70 healthcare facilities throughout Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. The center was founded in 1972 as a joint effort of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga area Hospital Council and the Chattanooga Jaycees to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to patients.
Currently, Blood Assurance has 14 locations and 13 active bloodmobiles to collect life-saving blood products from volunteers in the community. The products collected are used to help people of every age, including premature babies, oncology patients, trauma victims, surgery patients among others. Blood Assurance is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks, America’s Blood Centers, the Tennessee Association of Blood Banks, the Tennessee Hospital Association, Tennessee Department of Health, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council and the Be the Match Registry. President and CEO Rick Youngblood accepted the award.
Each recipient was nominated by the Chattanooga-Hamilton Medical Society. For more information, visit tnmed.org.
Rick Youngblood, president and CEO of Blood Assurance, with the Community Service Award