Administration
Dean and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
Duane T. Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F.
Interim Senior Vice President, Health Affairs
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professor
Internal Medicine
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6277
Email: dsmoot@mmc.edu
Senior Associate Dean
Stephanie C. McClure, M.D., FACP
Senior Associate Dean
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6413
Email: smcclure@mmc.edu
Associate Deans
Roland E. Jones, D.B.A., M.P.A., M.B.A.
Associate Dean
Business & Finance
School of Medicine Dean’s Office
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6122
Email: rjones@mmc.edu
Cassandra Ward, Ed.D.
Associate Dean
Curriculum Evaluation & Effectiveness
School of Medicine Dean’s Office
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6048
Email: cward@mmc.edu
Monique M. Forskin-Bennerman, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Assistant Professor Internal Medicine,
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs,
Clerkship Director
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6277
Email: mbennerman@mmc.edu
Billy R. Ballard, M.D., D.D.S.
Associate Dean
Continuing Medical Education;
Chairman & Professor, Pathology
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6636
Email: brballard@mmc.edu
Larry D. Alexander, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Curriculum and Innovation,
Associate Professor Professional and Medical Education
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6987
Email: ldalexander@mmc.edu
Richmond A. Akatue, M.D., M.S.C.I., F.A.C.P.
Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official, School of Medicine Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Director
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6611
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: internalmedicine@mmc.edu
Susanne Tropez-Sims, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor Emeritus
Associate Dean of Clinical Affiliations
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6925
Email: stsims@mmc.edu
Assistant Deans
Virginia McMath, Ed.D, MBA
Assistant Dean
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6413
Email: vmcmath@mmc.edu
Sharon Turner-Friley, M.S.W.
Assistant Dean for Special Programs
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.5966
Email: sfriley@mmc.edu
Dean’s Office Staff
Tamela Ensrud
Fiscal Officer
Office of the Dean
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6090
Email: tensrud@mmc.edu
Cynthia Yeldell Anderson, M.B.A., M.S.
Communications & Digital Marketing Director
Office of the Dean
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.5665
Email: cyeldell@mmc.edu
Javaris Neal
Program Coordinator
Office of the Dean
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6204
Email: janeal@mmc.edu
Basic Sciences
Samuel E. Adunyah, Ph.D.
Chair, Professor
Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience & Pharmacology
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6446
Email: sadunyah@mmc.edu
Fernando Villalta, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Microbiology, Immunology & Physiology
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6667
Email: fvillalta@mmc.edu
Digna S. Forbes, M.D.
Chair, Professional and Medical Education,
Associate Dean for Medical Education,
Associate Professor, Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6429
Email: dforbes@mmc.edu
Clinical Sciences
Richard Fremont, M.D.
Interim Chair and Associate Professor
Internal Medicine
School: Medicine
POffice Phone: 615.327.6277
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: rfremont@mmc.edu
Billy R. Ballard, M.D., D.D.S.
Associate Dean
Continuing Medical Education;
Chairman & Professor, Pathology
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6636
Email: brballard@mmc.edu
Xylina D. Bean, M.D.
Chair & Professor
Pediatric Medicine
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6332
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: xbean@mmc.edu
Anthony Disher, M.D.
Professor & Chairman
Radiology
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.5625
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: adisher@mmc.edu
Gwinnett M. Ladson, M.D., FACOG
Chair and Professor
OB/GYN
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6753
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: gladson@mmc.edu
Millard D. Collins, M.D.
Chair & Associate Professor
Family & Community Medicine
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6572
Appointments: 615.860.7511
Email: mcollins@mmc.edu
Alphonse Pasipanodya, M.D.
Acting Chair,
Associate Professor Surgery
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.5970
Appointments: 615.327.6348
Email: apasipanodya@mmc.edu
Lloyda Williamson, M.D., D.F.A.P.A.
Chair & Professor
Psychiatry
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6606
Email: lwilliamson@mmc.edu
Duane T. Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F.
Interim Senior Vice President for Health Affairs,
School of Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6277
Email: dsmoot@mmc.edu
Sustin Anderson, MBA
Executive Director
Meharry Medical Group
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6914
Email: andersons@mmc.edu
Walter Parker, MBA, CPA, JD
Fiscal Officer
Meharry Medical Group
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.963.3176
Email: wparker@mmc.edu
Stephanie C. McClure, M.D., FACP
Executive Vice Dean
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6413
Email: smcclure@mmc.edu
Monique M. Forskin-Bennerman, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Assistant Professor Internal Medicine,
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs,
Clerkship Director
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6277
Email: mbennerman@mmc.edu
Sharon Turner-Friley, M.S.W.
Assistant Dean for Special Programs
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.5966
Email: sfriley@mmc.edu
Virginia McMath, Ed.D, MBA
Assistant Dean
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6413
Email: vmcmath@mmc.edu
Jo Ann Pettus-Mayes
Administrative Assistant, Senior
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.327.6959
Email: jmayes@mmc.edu
James Ensley
Director, Computer-based Training
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Phone: 615.321.2984
Email: jensley@mmc.edu
Charles Wilson
Teaching Assistant I
Development Assistant
Student Academic Affairs
School: Medicine
Office Phone: 615.327.6965
Email: cfwilson@mmc.edu
The Office of Student and Academic Affairs (OSAA) advocates on behalf of various student needs. We encourage students to drop by and get familiar with the services offered before an issue becomes chronic, particularly during any transitional periods that may occur during their time at Meharry.
We are here to assist you with:
- Academic counseling
- Letters of recommendation
- Letters of good academic standing
- Dean’s letters
- Registration
- Class schedules
- Clerkship rotations
- Issues related to the USMLE and NBME examinations
- Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) activities (postbaccalaureate, pre-matriculation, and pipeline) and examinations
- Subject-board concerns
- Student correspondence, including financial aid
- ERAS application
- Personal issues
We also set up and monitor computer testing for the School of Medicine; Basic Sciences, Part 1 Dental and Clinical science cases for the junior and senior medical students; and we also process VSAS information.
Please consider our office your ‘safe zone’ during your time at Meharry, a place where you are welcome and will have needs met efficiently.