Meharry doctor to lead National Medical Association

Friday, July 27, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 30

Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College, will be installed as president of the National Medical Association (NMA) on July 31 during the NMA 2012 annual convention and scientific assembly in New Orleans.

NMA represents more than 50,000 African-American physicians and is the largest and oldest national organization representing these physicians and the patients they serve.

Dr. Bailey begins his term as the 113th NMA president with an eye toward implementing a policy agenda that includes support of the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.

Additionally, his administration will focus on eliminating health disparities and raising awareness of the unmet need for mental health care for African Americans.

Dr. Bailey is double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has extensive expertise in forensic cases involving, but not limited to, establishing competency to stand trial, competency to be executed, child custody, clinical malpractice, fitness for duty, sexually violent predators, insanity and medical malpractice.

A graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Bailey earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Texas at Houston and completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University, School of Medicine.

Junior Chamber names new leadership

The Nashville Junior Chamber has elected new officers and board of directors members for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. This group serves as the leadership for the organization, which offers Nashville-area young professionals opportunities to develop and thrive in areas of philanthropy, professional development, civic involvement and networking.

The Nashville Junior Chamber Board for the 2012-2013 fiscal year is as follows:

  • Amanda Wyler, president: Owner of Artistic Amanda Designs, a graphic design company she started in 2007.
  • Frank J. Miles, president-elect: Owner of Miles Real Estate of Keller Williams Realty
  • Rachel Donahue, ex-officio
  • Chris Lee, treasurer
  • Rachel Powers, legal counsel
  • Joy Smith, secretary
  • Topher Fleming, vice president of membership
  • Jenny Vazquez, membership chair
  • Reca Barwin, vice president of networking
  • Mallorie Fisher, networking chair
  • Lindsey Gallaher, vice president of philanthropy
  • Allison Laffer, philanthropy chair
  • Murray Allan, professional development chair
  • Phil Shmerling, civic chair
  • Laura Somerville, vice president of marketing
  • Alicia Frandensen, marketing chair
  • John Bybee, vice president of development
  • Andrew Hulsey, development chair

McNeely Pigott & Fox makes staff promotions

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations has promoted Sam Kennedy and Kate Vorys to associate account executives. They previously were staff associates.

Kennedy joined MP&F in 2011 and has since worked with several clients including the John Templeton Foundation, PhRMA, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program, Fan Freedom Project, Nashville Public Library, YWCA, Nashville RBI and the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association. His work includes media relations, event planning, grassroots campaigns and government relations.

Since her arrival at MP&F in 2011, Vorys has helped coordinate media relations, grassroots campaigns, event planning and materials development for a variety of clients, including BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Feld Entertainment, Nashville Electric Service, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program, Kirkland’s, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and FirstBank.

Grasela assumes post at Saint Thomas Health

Saint Thomas Health has named veteran physician practice executive manager Mark Grasela, FACHE, as executive director for physician recruitment and development for the hospital system. Grasela will oversee medical staff development and recruitment efforts for each of Saint Thomas Health’s five hospitals and various development initiatives.

Prior to his role at Saint Thomas Health, Grasela was president and chief executive officer of Heritage Medical Associates, a multi-specialty medical practice with multiple locations in the Nashville area. During his 13-year tenure with Heritage, Grasela grew the practice from 25 to more than 100 physicians and added multiple new specialties and office locations. He also had a lead role in the merger of two Independent Practice Associations (IPAs) and the development of an accountable care organization (ACO.).

Jackson Hewitt names Nashvillian VP, CMO

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc., the nation’s second largest tax preparation firm, has named D. Michael Williams to the position of senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In this position, Mr. Williams will have overall responsibility for the development and implementation of Jackson Hewitt’s strategic marketing plan.

Williams has held various senior marketing positions over the course of his career, including CMO at Steak ‘n Shake, SVP of Marketing at Direct General Corporation and VP of Marketing at The Krystal Company. He also held marketing management positions at Wendy’s International and LensCrafters. Prior to these marketing roles, Mr. Williams was a senior consultant with Andersen Consulting, a unit of Arthur Andersen & Co. LLP. He began his career with PEI Associates, Inc., as a project manager.

Young Leaders Council announces ‘58’ grads

Young Leaders Council, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that has, in 27 years, trained 2,000 men and women to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit agencies, announces the graduates of Class 58.

After completing more than 30 hours of leadership training, these individuals will serve one-year internships on local nonprofit boards:

  • Shane Bailey (Keller Center for Corporate Learning of DeVry University)
  • Abby Berren (MTV Networks)
  • Anna Boon (The North Highland Company)
  • Deana Campbell (HCA Healthcare)
  • Gina Clanton (The Bank of Nashville)
  • Sabrina Clark (Vanderbilt Community Mental Health Center)
  • Lauren Comet (Gresham Smith & Partners)
  • Melinda Dale (Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Public Relations)
  • Reese Davis (Service Source International)
  • Jaime DeRensis (Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC)
  • Brendan Farran (Avenue Bank)
  • Jeff Fincher (Lipscomb University)
  • Angell Gleason (Caterpillar Financial)
  • Gealita Greenhill (The Nutro Company)
  • Cory Haney (Service Source International)
  • Matthew Harrison (First Tennessee Bank)
  • Joshua Inman (Cummins Filtration)
  • Jerome Jourquin (Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
  • Mandy Kennedy (Take Care Health Systems)
  • Matt Knight (First Tennessee Brokerage)
  • Joe Lacher (The Crichton Group)
  • Katherine Knight Layhew (Dollar General Corporation)
  • Jena Layne (JPMorgan Chase)
  • Rich Lockwood (Crosslin & Associates, PC)
  • Corinne Martin (Stites & Harbison, PLLC)
  • Joseph McKinney (Dickinson Wright, PLLC)
  • Brad Minor (Jackson)
  • Caroline Mullen (The Nature Conservancy)
  • Annie Musacchio (Deloitte & Touche, LLP)
  • Blake Newton (Cassidy Turley)
  • Dietz Osborne (Miriam’s Promise)
  • Tatjana Paterno (Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC)
  • Lynet Payne [Health To You, LLC (HCA)]
  • Leanna Pelham (KnpLabs US, LLC)
  • Adrienne Pettersson (CGS Administrators, LLC)
  • Chad Pinkston (Frist Center for the Visual Arts)
  • Heather Pujol (MARS Petcare)
  • Carter Robinson (SunTrust Bank)
  • Brandon Webb (Scott Benefit Services)
  • Kristi Wilcox (Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP)
  • Baxter Wilder (KMPG, LLP).

Information: ylcnashville.org.

Strategic consultant joins The Ingram Group

The Ingram Group has added Sam Reed as a strategic consultant. Reed, a former staff attorney to U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper, will service clients on both the state and federal level, offering strategic counsel on business, legislative, regulatory, and other issues.

During his tenure in Washington, DC, Reed helped shape the Congressman’s music industry policy in the midst of the industry’s historic downturn. Reed also played a key role for the Congressman in the aftermath of the devastating Nashville flood, leading both the business recovery and logistical response efforts.

Prior to working for U.S. Congressman Cooper, Sam spent three years as an associate in the intellectual property department at Nashville law firm, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis. At Waller, Reed handled trademark and copyright concerns for a diverse set of clients including HCA, Nissan, and Gaylord Entertainment.

Crosslin promotes audit team member

Crosslin & Associates has promoted Robert Eddy, CPA, to advanced audit team member. Eddy has been with Crosslin & Associates since September 2010 when he began his accounting career as an Audit Team Member.

His previous employment includes guarantee rural housing specialist/underwriter for the United States Department of Agriculture and several years as a senior loan officer/trainer for a mortgage company in Brentwood.

Eddy holds a master’s degree in accounting and a business administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

Bradford Group makes three personnel moves

Local marketing and public relations firm the Bradford Group has two account executives, Mackenzie Grosser and Danielle Eldredge, and promoted Erin Gagnon to senior account executive.

Prior to joining the Bradford Group, Grosser worked as an editor at Brand Journalists, a local marketing and PR company serving the franchise industry. Grosser is also a contributing writer for several local and national entertainment magazines. She earned an undergraduate degree in English from Belmont University.

Eldredge has a background in multimedia journalism and marketing. Most recently, she worked as an anchor and reporter at top-rated CBS affiliate WCTV in Tallahassee, Fla. She also interned at “The Morning Show” for WJXT in Jacksonville, Fla.

Roughly two years after joining the Bradford Group, Gagnon has been promoted to senior account executive. With a background in the publishing industry, she came to the firm from Gannett Co., Inc., where she worked for two years as a state sales specialist at the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky. and as a circulation specialist at the Wausau (Wisc.) Daily Herald.

Talley joins Ducklo EyeCare

Sarah Talley, O.D., has joined the staff of Ducklo EyeCare, P.C.

Talley is a full-scope optometric physician, providing comprehensive eye exam including: glasses and contact lens prescriptions; ocular disease evaluation, treatment, and management; cataract and laser corrective surgery referrals; and both pre-operative and post-operative care.