Tennessee Medical Foundation

11/19/2025

We are feeling the fall today 🍂 at the 31st Annual Conference of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, Inc.. We appreciate this focus on clinicians and the chance to share how we support them when they are battling , , , , and other conditions that can leave them operating in a depleted, distressed, or crisis condition.

These issues can impact not only their wellbeing but patient care and safety as well. Thank you to RHA of TN for including the TMF again this year!

11/17/2025

Practice managers are some of our frequent callers when a healthcare professional is struggling. They are an important gateway to that provider getting the help they need, which is why we are so proud to be partnered with the West Tennessee chapter of the Tennessee MGMA this year.

Thank you to the leadership and members of for supporting our work and mission to assist struggling doctors and other clinicians, and to Save Lives, Save Careers in 2025!

11/15/2025

The TN chapter of the American College of Cardiology kicked off its state meeting this evening in Nashvlle and we are here. Our exhibit table is loaded wjtb resources and information about our program and services for Tennessee physicians. We also enjoyed chatting with residents during the poster session and reception. Thank you to TNACC for allowing us to join!

11/14/2025

Despite wellness initiatives in healthcare, a recent Indeed survey has found and exhaustion are still pervasive among healthcare workers... such that one in four may leave the industry to find relief.

Survey answers also show the roots run deeper than the health and resilience of the individual provider. Learn more in the link:

Healthcare workers considering industry exit cite burnout, staffing and pay issues; 71% want employers to act on feedback to improve conditions.

11/12/2025

Rural hospitals are special places, serving their close-knit communities' healthcare needs at every turn. They are relied on heavily and understand the demands that can place on their providers. We are so thankful to have the support of Hardin Medical Center in Savannah, TN in "Saving Lives, Saving Careers" for TN health professionals again this year.

HMC has provided comprehensive health services to Savannah and Hardin County since 1952; for more information, visit https://www.hardinmedicalcenter.org/

11/07/2025

Partners help get important things done: we have to acknowledge our longtime partnership with the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine - TNSAM, dating back to 2006. Their long-term, generous support has helped us respond to thousands of struggling and other , contributing to our mission to provide a lifeline for clinicians in crisis or distress, and fulfilling its own mission to improve the care and treatment of people with the disease of .

Thank you to for joining us in Saving Lives, Saving Careers for Tennessee's healthcare professionals!

11/07/2025

Our hospital partners are the key to our mission and work with Tennessee and other battling substance use, mental health, behavioral health, cognitive issues, and more. The wellbeing of clinicians is of direct critical importance to the safety and wellbeing of patients, and we are proud to count Saint Francis Healthcare Memphis-Bartlett as a partner again in 2025. Thank you to Saint Francis Healthcare CEO Scott Smith and team for fulfilling its commitment to providing "A Community Built On Care" for both patients and providers!

11/06/2025

Opioids, Addiction, Pain, & Policy - that's the topic of a virtual CME session TMF Medical Director Dr. Michael Baron is giving to medical students at Vanderbilt University this afternoon. If you are interested in scheduling Dr. Baron for a free educational session for your medical staff or healthcare students/trainees, please let us know: info@e-tmf.org

11/06/2025

Family doctor and other primary care visits account for half of all physician visits -- these folks are BUSY and their burnout rates can be higher than other physicians. They need personal support.

We are proud to join with the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians to help take care of these important doctors, and provide education and training on how to stay healthy so they can take better care of their patients. Everyone benefits when a healthcare worker is well supported. Thank you to for partnering with the TMF in 2025!

11/06/2025

Our Fall newsletter is out! Our lead story is one we are proud to share: an outcome study of TMF participation over a 5-1/2 year period showed high rates of successful program completion and a low rate of return-to-use, compared with non-PHP recovery programs.

See the data in the linked article below, and read our full newsletter at https://e-tmf.org/publications/

https://e-tmf.org/tmf-outcome-study-results/

TMF Outcome Study Shows High Rates of Recovery Dr. Michael Baron   By Michael J. Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM Medical Director Data is valuable in medicine because it empowers us to make informed evidence-based decisions that help enhance efficiency and improve outcomes. In the treatment world, outcome d...

11/03/2025

As promised!! Here is a photo of our costumed Medical Director with students - also decked out for Halloween - following a lecture for the Trevecca Physician Assistant Program on Friday. Dr. Michael Baron shared with students about the risks of , professional , , , and other conditions that could lead to impairment and compromised or unsafe patient care, both while in training and later in full practice. The lecture was well received and also great fun, Dr. Baron reports. Thank you to the Trevecca program for the invitation... and the chocolate!

10/31/2025

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Medical Director Dr. Baron Von Dracula (Michael Baron, MD) dressed up for today's lecture to students in the Trevecca Physician Assistant Program who, we are told, will also be in costume. Can't wait to share the photos!

Dr. Baron is speaking today about overall professionalism and boundaries for clinicians -- acquainting students with the Medical Practice Act, the impact of illness and impairment, and the "dos and what-not-to-dos," both in training and in practice.

Providing free health, impairment, and wellbeing education is an important part of our charge to help save the lives and careers of across Tennessee.

This would not be possible without our contributing partners, including donors like you - THANK YOU. To help support our work and mission, please visit e-tmf.org/support today.