Memphis Physician to Lead State’s Most Influential Advocacy Organization

Nashville – Andrew Watson, MD, of Memphis has been voted in by his physician peers as President-Elect for the Tennessee Medical Association, the state’s largest and most influential advocacy organization for doctors.

Dr. Watson is a board-certified cardiologist in practice with St. Francis Cardiology Associates in Memphis. He has been a TMA member since 2005, recently having served six years on the TMA Legislative committee. Dr. Watson has held a number of leadership roles, including president, with his local medical society, The Memphis Medical Society, and has served numerous times as a delegate with TMA’s House of Delegates.

Dr. Watson earned his undergraduate degree at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine studying in both Plymouth, Montserrat, and London, England.

He completed his internal medicine residency at Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis, and attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he earned his cardiology fellowship. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC).

Dr. Watson will serve one year as President-Elect, one year as President and one year as Immediate Past President. His primary role is to be the face of and spokesperson for the TMA with its membership, the media, government officials, and citizens of Tennessee.

“Years ago, TMA placed an emphasis on the cultivation of future leaders. Dr. Watson is another graduate of our John Ingram Institute for Physician Leadership,” said TMA Chief Executive Officer Russ Miller, CAE. “Our members assign great value to our association’s leadership roles. That comes from knowing that one of their fellow physicians that shares a common passion and vision for the profession is at the wheel.”

TMA was recently named the most influential advocacy organization in Tennessee for its visibility and reputation on Capitol Hill.

TMA annual leadership elections were conducted online during the month of February and recorded nearly 1,000 votes from TMA member physicians.

The following members were also elected to serve in leadership roles on TMA Board of Trustees and Judicial Council.

Board of Trustees

Region 2: Pamela Murray, MD, Jackson internist

Region 4: Adrian Rodriguez, MD, Nashville dermatologist

Region 5: Leslie Treece, MD, Cookeville pediatrician

Region 7: Daniel Bustamante, MD, Knoxville anesthesiologist

Judicial Council

Region 1: Autry Parker, MD, Memphis pain specialist

Region 3: Keith Lovelady, MD, Tullahoma pulmonologist

Region 5: Jim Batson, MD, Cookeville pediatrician

Region 7: Timothy Wilson, MD, Knoxville plastic surgeon

Formal installations for all new officers will take place during the annual meeting of TMA House of Delegates on Saturday, May 21 in Franklin.