Dr. Andrew Watson, a board-certified cardiologist with St. Francis Cardiology Associates in Memphis, was formally installed as the 169th president of the Tennessee Medical Association, the statewide professional association for more than 9,500 member physicians.
Watson was sworn in at the organization’s annual meeting in Franklin where nearly 200 physician leaders from across the state gathered to affirm the nonprofit’s governance, annual slate of business and upcoming legislative positions.
Watson assumed the presidency from Dr. Edward Capparelli, a board-certified family physician from Jacksboro who prioritized physician wellness following the challenges faced by the profession since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Watson will serve as TMA president until May 2024, providing valuable public and professional outreach on medical issues.
“I will work to keep TMA focused on improving patient care, protecting and enhancing the environment in which physicians practice the best science-based medicine, and will strive to strengthen and unify the organization,” said Watson. “Success in these areas will benefit patients and doctors both now and in the future.”
Watson, a TMA member since 2005, recently served six years on the TMA legislative committee. He held a number of leadership roles, including president, with his local medical society, The Memphis Medical Society, and served numerous times as a delegate with TMA’s House of Delegates.
“Tennessee’s varied needs and issues require focused, informed responses and action,” said Watson. “A one-size-fits-all approach does not necessarily fit this state or serve its diverse population. It is imperative that leadership recognizes the unique challenges and contributions of our regions, addressing those challenges and supporting area contributions in the most purposeful ways possible.
“I appreciate the value of maximizing the local medical society’s knowledge and experiences in tandem with the TMA’s statewide perspective to ensure that effective responses and decisions are made appropriately. TMA’s succession strength is also a priority matter. Recognizing younger leadership and fostering its potential is paramount to the long-term health and wellbeing of this organization.
“Open and candid communication as physicians with federal and state lawmakers carries measurable value. Our knowledge and concerns about the practice of medicine and the degradation of patient care, frequently labeled as ‘cost savings’ by related industry entities, necessitates these conversations. No lawmaker fully understands what we do and what we see on a daily basis, unless that lawmaker is also a physician.”
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 LeBonheur 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).