The Medical Foundation of Chattanooga gifted $135,000 to the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga Family Medicine Department to support resident training. This gift will allow two current residents to complete the program while the system addresses a larger funding issue caused by a change in federal rules regarding funding of residencies.
 
“With this gift, our hope is to maintain our competitive edge in recruiting highly qualified
medical students who will continue the tradition of service to our community and surrounding
areas,” said Dr. James Haynes, professor and chair, Department of Family Medicine, UTCOM-C.
 
The UTCOM-C Family Medicine residency has kept the majority of its graduates within the state of Tennessee and most within the Chattanooga region, improving access to high quality primary care in the area, officials said.

“It is estimated that over 127,000 deaths per year could be averted through increasing the number
of primary care physicians in our nation. Chattanooga is likely no different, just on a smaller
scale,” said Dr. Haynes.
 
Medical Foundation President Dr. Colleen Schmitt said, “Our organization is an advocate for the
continual improvement of community health and for physicians. Helping support a need within the
Family Medicine residency accomplishes both of those things. By supporting medical residents, the
physicians of the future, we support our community as well.”
 
R. Bruce Shack, MD, professor and dean of the Chattanooga campus, said, “The University of
Tennessee Chattanooga is incredibly thankful and indebted to the Hamilton County Medical Society and its Foundation for their support of our Family Medicine training program here on our campus.  This represents an investment in the future of primary care in Chattanooga and in the entire Southeastern region.”
 
William Jackson, MD, president and CEO of the Erlanger Health System, said, “Thank you to the
Medical Foundation of Chattanooga for your generous gift supporting the continuation of resident
training in family medicine. At Erlanger, we understand the need and are dedicated to educating the next generation of medical providers that will have a positive impact on their communities.”