Harish Manyam, MD
Harish Manyam, MD, has been installed as the 2024 president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society. He is the 141st president in the organization’s history.
Dr. Manyam serves as chief of cardiology at Erlanger and chair of medicine at University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga. He succeeds Immediate Past President Richard Moody, MD, internal medicine with Chattanooga Family Practice Associates.
During 2024 Dr. Manyam plans to focus on access to care for all patients, including those who struggle to have their health care needs met due to economic or geographical challenges.
“While medicine is indeed a business, unlike any other profession, patients must lie at the heart of our mission,” Dr.
Manyam said. “As physicians continue to rally around our core principles, I know we are stronger together.”
Newly elected officers and members of the 2024 Medical Society board are:
• President-Elect Todd Thurston, MD, Refined Looks;
• Secretary-Treasurer Harsha Vardhana, MD, Tennessee Oncology;
• Minerva Covarrubias, MD, Parkridge Medical Specialty Group;
• Sam Jones, MD, Chattanooga Heart Institute;
• Paula Nicola, MD, Eye Care Chattanooga;
• Chris Young, MD, Anesthesiology Consultants Exchange; and
• Ethan Zimmerman, MD, Beacon Family Practice Red Bank.
They join returning board members Steven Fox, MD, Erlanger Family Medicine; Robert Jean, MD, University Surgical Associates; Bob Magill, MD, Parkridge Health System; Jeffrey Mullins, MD, CHI Memorial Urology Associates; Michael Nichols, MD, Tennessee Interventional and Imaging Associates; Mukta Panda, MD; Eugene Ryan, MD, Parkridge Medical Group; and Kate Shuster, MD, Galen Dermatology.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society is an advocate for physicians and for the continual improvement of community health. Founded in 1883, the 1,200-member Medical Society is affiliated with the Tennessee Medical Association. Patient advocacy and the protection of the patient-physician relationship are primary goals.
The Medical Society partners with the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga on public service projects including the Southeast Tennessee Project Access program; the Future Docs Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine and the Medical Exploration Program; and the LifeBridge Physician Well-Being Initiative.