NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) installed new and returning leaders at the organization’s 190th Annual Meeting in Franklin, Tenn. These changes mark the beginning of the governance cycle for the association.
John McCarley, MD, a nephrologist with Nephrology Associates in Chattanooga, Tenn., was appointed the 171st President for 2025-2026.
Trey Lee, MD, a neurologist from Nashville, Tenn., was re-elected Speaker of the House, and Kirk Stone, MD, a Family Practitioner from Union City, Tenn., was re-elected Vice Speaker of the House. Both will serve to plan and lead the 2026 convening of TMA’s House of Delegates.
Dr. Leslie Treece, a pediatrician from Cookeville, Tenn., was installed as Chair of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Michelle Allmon, an internist in Collierville, Tenn., was installed as the Vice-Chair.
This marks the first time in TMA history that the Board is completely led by women. Both return to the Board for an additional year of service, with Dr. Treece having been re-elected in the Spring of 2024 and Dr. Allmon having been elected in the Spring of 2025.
Delegates and officers conducted association business and discussed resolutions to direct TMA’s governance and legislative policy.
The 2025 TMA House of Delegates focused on the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), public health, private equity and insurance payers, both government and commercial. Actions of the House included:
- Ensuring Physician Oversight of Artificial Intelligence in Patient Interactions
Delegates affirmed TMA’s support of the development of policies that ensure oversight by physicians in AI-driven patient interactions. TMA will work with appropriate agencies, healthcare institutions and lawmakers to form guidelines for the safe, ethical and transparent use of AI in healthcare.
- Combating the Accessibility of Addictive Substances and Reducing Barriers to Treatment
Delegates called for the ban of specific addictive substances and the need to reduce barriers to life- saving treatments like naloxone. Additionally, the body charged TMA with supporting increased reporting requirements and penalties for child vaping in schools in an effort to reduce widespread use among Tennessee youth. TMA will work through its delegates at AMA to carry out many of these directives.
- Addressing Private Equity in Healthcare
Delegates charged the TMA Board of Trustees with developing and implementing state policies surrounding private investment in healthcare to promote greater transparency, protect physician autonomy and safeguard patient access.
- Supporting Greater Efficiency of Government and Commercial Payers
Delegates stressed the need to streamline government and commercial payment and processes for health-related services, including reducing the time frame to approve CoverKids applications, strengthening state and federal policies related to telehealth, improving patient education on the risks and benefits of Medicare Advantage plans and increasing transparency in prior authorization.