Terinell Beaver, M.D. is a board-certified internist and has been practicing with The Medical Group in Germantown since March 2008. Before joining The Medical Group, she practiced with Bartlett Internal Medicine. Dr. Beaver received her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and her Medical Degree from The University of Tennessee Medical School. 

Dr. Beaver completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital. She also completed a fellowship in Geriatrics at The University of Tennessee.  She currently serves as courtesy staff at Baptist Memorial Hospitals and Methodist Hospitals. 

During her internal medicine career, she has served as Director of the Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor at The University of Tennessee, and Director of the Intermediate Care Unit in the Department of Geriatrics at the Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Beaver is now accepting new patients at The Medical Group in Germantown. The Medical Group is open Monday through Saturday and also offers a walk-in clinic. For more information, call 901-726-0200.

Role model? My role model is Dr. David Holloway of Stern Clinic. I trained at Baptist Hospital and did my outpatient clinic rotation with him for two years. He had a great relationship with his patients, many of whom were long-term patients. He was integrated in all aspects of their health, not just their cardiovascular health. He knew their family members and even in some cases, their neighbors. He always made time for his patients and still enjoys practicing today.

What motivates you? Striving to provide the best possible care for my patients motivates me.

If you were not a doctor?  I’d go fishing on the beach!

How do you maintain a work/life balance? Being in a group practice enable me to carve out definite times that I am not at the office. When I come back, I’m recharged; but I’ve learned that life happens whether or not you’re at work or not.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? Gene therapy. The possibility of helping patients before the onset of symptoms is unbelievable.

What is your favorite quote? Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

How do you actively support the community? I practice medicine full-time. My family is active in supporting our church and our daughter’s school.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years?More focused on preventive care and the maintenance of optimal health.

My patients……inspire me to be a better physician.

Good health advice? Establish a relationship with a primary care provider. Do everything you can to keep yourself healthy.

Lee McCallum, M.D., was born in Jackson, Tennessee and raised in Henderson, Tennessee. He received his B.S. degree from Rhodes College in Memphis. After performing bladder cancer research for two years in Memphis with a nationally known urologist, he completed his medical training at the University of Tennessee, Memphis.

Dr. McCallum attended the Family Medicine Residency program in Jackson, Tennessee and is board certified by The American Board of Family Practice. He has practiced with The Family Physicians Group, P.C. since July of 1988. He enjoys golf and spending time with his family.

Role model? My father, Oscar McCallum, who practiced family medicine for over forty two years.

What motivates you? A sense of accomplishment, hard work, making a difference in my patients’ lives.

If you were not a doctor? I truly do not know. I have known from an early age that medicine would be        my career choice.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? The many landmark trials research has given us and the tremendous impact on healthcare – healthier patients, longer life spans.

How do you maintain a work/life balance? Being a member of The Family Physicians’ Group with       multiple providers allows me the ability to enjoy more time at home with my family, because we share evening and weekend call.  Technology, such as beepers and cell phones, also plays an important role, allowing me to attend more family functions.

What is your greatest accomplishment? My two children, Michael and Mark

What is your favorite quote? Illegitimi Non Carborundum, a Latin phrase, which loosely translated means “Don’t let life’s stressful times get you down”.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? Back where it started – “nuts and bolts” medicine, coordination of care, taking care of patients on a daily basis, not necessarily ordering numerous tests.

My patients… know I care.

How do you actively support the community? My associates and I treat hundreds of Church Health Center patients yearly and we help teach medical students at our office. Personally, I also donate to various local charitable organizations.

Good health advice? Obesity is a major problem in our society today.  It is a risk factor for many diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.  The key to weight loss is not diet.  It is eating sensibly and exercise.  I advise my patients to try some form of cardio exercise 30 to 60 minutes, five to seven days a week.

Role model? An African proverb says, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” – I have modeled my life after many in my village! While growing up, I had an opportunity to work for many successful people. They each excelled at some aspect in their lives. One in particular was an orthopaedic surgeon who actually was the son of my employer. I followed his journey through medical school and residency. While being a terrific surgeon, he never lost sight of his family’s needs. Others who inspired me were everyday people who diligently sought to excel in their work. Each stood out in their particular field as a result of their determination.

What motivates you? Owing to the fact my father died at a young age, academic opportunities were heavily dependent on my resourcefulness. Faced with my mother’s challenges raising five children, I realized the need to be self-reliant. This motivated me to strive for success through hard work. I am blessed with sufficient health and energy to continue that today!

If you were not a doctor? I would have a career that involved affecting people’s health and life choices – maybe in the form of education or developing a company aimed at life coaching.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? The advent of more sophisticated instruments has allowed surgeons to accomplish reconstructive surgery through smaller incisions.  This has resulted in less surgical trauma to the normal structures that stand between the outside world and the structure affected by the condition.

What is your favorite quote? Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. - David Frost

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? In ten years, more choices will be available for arthritis conditions that currently affect millions of Americans. These will include products we inject or implant that will restore the damaged cartilage to a more consistent living cellular outcome.

My patients… Inspire me to maintain my humanity and knowledge to resolve health challenges they bring to me.

Good health advice? If you don’t use it, you will lose it! Our bodies LOVE variety and moderation in all things we do!

A founding member of the CNS Healthcare Memphis team, Valerie Arnold, M.D., is a principal investigator there and has earned a reputation as an excellent researcher with outstanding clinical skills. 

Dr. Arnold has 16 years experience in psychiatry, earning her medical degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and completing her residency and fellowship at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. She is board certified in general adult psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Arnold is also the acting chief of the University of Tennessee department of child and adolescent psychiatry. She is on the board of trustees of the Tennessee Medical Society and is a past president of the Shelby County Medical Society. 

Dr. Arnold also serves as medical director of the adolescent sexual offender program at Parkwood Behavioral Health, and she is extensively published in the areas of schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, pediatric depression and anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Role model? My husband, who is a neurologist. What I admire in him is his continued interest in learning, the thoughtful and kind way he treats his patients and the careful way that he gathers all the data before he makes decisions.

What motivates you? I believe that everyone can get better, so I am always trying to improve.

What is your greatest accomplishment? My children, no question. Each of them are so wonderful and special in different ways. I look back at having two of them during medical school and one during my fellowship and think that is impressive too.

What would you be if you weren’t a doctor? A gardener… in a lot of ways it’s like Psychiatry. You provide the best support; treat what you can - but it is really up to them to make it. Success in both areas gives me tremendous pleasure.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? It has been working with drugs that are only known by numbers and have worked on animals. It is exciting to see that develop into to helping people with significant mental illness.

What is your favorite quote? Strange is truther than fiction.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? I wish I knew, as president of the medical society, I have met so many doctors that just want to take care of patients, but it seems to becoming more and more difficult. I wish our health systems (including insurance companies) supported more preventative and early intervention instead of waiting for patients to have a diagnosis before they are covered. 

My patients… can get better!

Good health advice? I have two: Try to smile every day, and pick your battles.

Descended from four generations of Mississippi physicians, Robert Franklin Adams is the son of noted plastic surgeon, Dr. Milton Adams. Frank received a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and his Medical Degree from the University of Tennessee Medical School.

During the Vietnam War, Frank served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy medical corps at Camp Pendleton, California, where he became medical director for all naval medical personnel sent to Vietnam.

Returning to Memphis to complete a fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Tennessee, Frank has practiced with The Arthritis Group, PC since 1970.  During his career he has taught scores of internal medicine and orthopaedic residents in the Methodist Hospital and University of Tennessee teaching programs. He currently serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee.

Role model? My dad. I loved his style, his work ethic, his compassion.  He was a plastic surgeon to notables and celebrities, but had little tolerance for conceit or vanity, and did tons of charity surgery.  He loved real people, and respected real talent at all levels – from bricklayers to the most expert neurosurgeons.

What motivates you? I’m not quite sure, and sometimes whatever it is I wish it would stop! Ultimately, it’s the blessing of relieving pain and misery.

What is your greatest accomplishment? Finding a profession that perfectly fits my character and personality. I learned I was much at better at mind games than I was at surgical finesse.

How do you maintain a work/life balance? I love to mix it up with friends on the golf course, and I love clever humor at all levels.  Plus, my mountain retreat in Arkansas.

What is your favorite quote? The pain of discipline is much less than the pain of failure (unknown author).
Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? I foresee further refinements in the immuno-biologic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma, and maybe eventually, immunizations to prevent these diseases!

My patients… are my unmitigated charge, but many are also my friends – some my favorite friends.

How do you actively support the community? I continue to practice dedicated rheumatology, and I help with the Arthritis Foundation.  Retirement doesn’t interest me, though I would like more time to do some writing; some professional, some personal.

Good Health Advice? I believe it’s more important that we avoid the bad than just accentuate the good. Avoiding nicotine, excessive drinking, obesity, and addictive drugs, etc. are all critical to good health. A runner who smokes is still a smoker. But to use running to eliminate smoking, excessive weight, or, even stress, is fabulous.

Forrest Ward, M.D. - Nominated for his tenacity and willingness  to go the extra mile by really listening to his patients, Dr. Ward is an internist with Rubin Ward Heart Center. He received his doctorate from the University of Tennessee, and his residency in internal medicine was with Methodist Hospital in Memphis.

Role model? Kenneth Cooper, M.D. the founder of aerobics, best-selling author and recognized leader of the international physical fitness movement. He is credited with motivating more people to exercise in pursuit of good health than any other person.

Motivation? My family and the desire to provide the best medical care possible for my patients.

How do you maintain a work/life balance? I have to limit the number of people whom I see on a daily basis and control my work schedule.

What is your greatest accomplishment? The birth of my 3 healthy daughters.

Favorite song… “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson Five

What would you do if you weren’t a doctor? I love to cook.  I find it relaxing and I would love to be a chef.

My patients… know that I will spend whatever time necessary to evaluate their problems and will thoroughly explain what I am doing and why.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? The advent of imaging technology such as CT’s MRI’s, and ultrasonography.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? I see a shortage of primary care physicians and less access to healthcare for all that is why I feel that patients should be proactive in their healthcare and schedule regular screenings.

Good Health Advice? Your health is your greatest asset. Take time for periodic health evaluations and time to care for yourself.

Michael D. Neel, M.D.

In this issue we meet Dr. Michael Neel from orthomemphis, nominated for his compassion, willingness to collaborate with colleagues and dedication to his calling – helping others.

Receiving his medical degree at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Dr. Neel followed his training with a fellowship in orthopaedic oncology at the University of Florida. He specializes in musculoskeletal oncology and total joint replacement of the hip and knee, as well as dedicating himself to pediatric orthopaedic oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Dr. Neel is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, and the International Society of Limb Salvage Surgeons.

orthomemphis provides comprehensive orthopaedic care at 6286 Briarcrest Avenue in Memphis, including orthomemphis Spine Center & Physical Therapy.  The mission of orthomemphis physicians and staff is the provision of state-of-the-art, personalized orthopaedic care. orthomemphis currently has fifteen physicians and a rehabilitation staff of 12 therapists. orthomemphis is a division of MSK Group, P.C.

Role model… My father- his dedication to his family, faith and career were an inspiration. His memory is a constant reminder to always try my best in everything that I do.

Motivation… My patients, particularly my pediatric ones. The courage with which they fight their diseases is a great motivator.

How do you maintain a work/life balance? My wife, Liz and children, Elizabeth Ann and Robert, are the first to let me know if my work/life balance is out of order.
Favorite quote or song lyric… Never take counsel of your fears.

What would you do if you weren’t a doctor? I truly don’t know. I have wanted to be a doctor pretty much all my life.

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? Surgeons, particularly orthopaedic surgeons, performing traditional surgeries through smaller incisions. By causing less trauma to the tissues, these surgeries have improved recovery times and ensure patients get back on their feet sooner. Several of my partners and I are performing these at orthomemphis, and we have been pleased with the results.

I think, over the next ten years, we will see an explosion of procedures that are done in a tissue-sparing fashion that lessens the time for recovery but improves overall function.
How do you actively support the community? I am an active member of my parish, St. Peter Church downtown, and I am on the board of the Madonna Learning Center, a special needs school.

Good Health Advice… The same advice my mother gave me– do all things in moderation, except laugh.

A native Memphian, Dr. Linda Smiley graduated Summa Cum Laude from Christian Brothers University and attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences. She completed her Internship and Residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis and her fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She also received the Clinical Oncology Fellowship Award from the American Cancer Society, 1989-1990. Dr. Smiley is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology and holds medical licenses in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. She was nominated for The Doctor Is In by one of the patients whose life she has touched since joining The West Clinic in 1995.

Role model? Brother Dominic Dunn, a Biology professor at Christian Brothers University who encouraged me to pursue my dream of being a doctor.  He helped me to know that I could do anything I set my mind to.

Motivation? My patients, my family and my friends encourage me to go the extra mile. How do you maintain a work/life balance? You have to be sure you make time for family and pleasure.  This balance gives you the energy to stay focused and excited about work.

What is your greatest accomplishment?Adopting my daughter, Elizabeth, at age 12 from Russia.  She added a new dimension to my life.  I cannot imagine my life now without her.

Favorite quote or song lyric… Give someone a hand and you will both climb higher. What would you do if you weren’t a doctor? Since I was young, I knew I wanted to go into something in the medical field. If I had to choose an alternative, it probably would have been a CPA since I enjoyed math and manipulating numbers.

“My patients… keep me motivated to look for new answers to old problems.”

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? They are two-fold.  The first is the increase in drugs to fight cancer as well as the supportive drugs such as anti-nausea drugs to decrease the side effects.  The other advance has been in minimally invasive surgery.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? Over the next ten years I hope we find more genetic keys in the fight to cure cancer.

Good Health Advice? Make time to do the recommended screening tests – be it mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopy or PSA.  It could save your life.

Nominate Your Doctor! Good Health Magazine wants to recognize your doctor, the one who’s made a difference in your life and health. Make a nomination at commercialappeal.com/findadoc and you may find that your doctor is in - the next edition of Good Health Magazine.