Covenant Health Welcomes LMU Students and Methodist Family Medicine Residents

Programs Focus on Preparing the Physicians of Tomorrow

Covenant Health celebrated the health system’s annual Medical Education Recognition Event on July 12 in Knoxville. The event welcomed 52 third-year medical students from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. The students will begin their clinical rotations at four Covenant Health hospitals: Covenant Health Cumberland, Covenant Health Fort Sanders Regional, Covenant Health Methodist, and Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen.

The Recognition day also welcomed eight new family medicine residents to the Methodist Family Medicine Residency Program. Covenant Health and Methodist Medical Center launched the program in 2024 to train the next generation of family medicine physicians. The new physicians bring the total number of the program’s current residents to 16.

At the event’s opening session, Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer at Covenant Health, introduced Covenant Health’s Pledge of Excellence: putting patients first, excellence in everything we do, and being the first and best choice for our communities. “Take the pledge to heart—especially remember to always put the patient first,” he said.

Mandy Grubb Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health, encouraged the students and residents to “take in everything and learn all you can. It will help you become the physician you’ve always dreamed of becoming.”

Event Includes “White Coat” and Pinning Ceremonies

The day included education sessions for the students and a luncheon that formally inducted the physicians-in-training into their respective programs. The LMU-DCOM students received white coats, while the medical residents were recognized during a special pinning ceremony.

At the luncheon, Jeremy Biggs, president and chief administrative officer at Covenant Health Methodist, shared the importance of recognizing the sanctity of each patient and meeting each patient “where they are” in their life journey.

Mike Belbeck, Covenant Health’s executive vice president of operations, said the long-standing partnership between LMU and Covenant Health exemplifies the organizations’ shared values. He noted the program’s growth in both student numbers and involvement of Covenant Health’s member organizations. “We have over 50 former DCOM students on staff at Covenant Health, and over 1,000 in our pipeline,” he said.

Cassie Jones, DO, associate dean of clinical affairs at LMU-DCOM, highlighted Covenant Health’s student “support system” of administrators, clinicians, residents, and physicians. She thanked Covenant Health for “opening your doors and your hearts to our students.”

Jon-David Deeson, Covenant Health’s executive vice president of physician enterprise and ambulatory services, referenced the challenges of healthcare and medicine. These include physician burnout, physician recruitment, and social determinants of health, among others. “Medical education programs and community health systems are working hard to make a difference in meeting these challenges,” he said.

Clinical Training for Advanced LMU Medical Students and Family Medicine Residents

LMU-DCOM students will gain valuable hands-on experience in clinical settings during their rotation. Under the direct supervision of physicians, they will interview and examine patients, review clinical information, make hospital rounds, participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, practice appropriate documentation and perform procedures. 

The residency program’s newest medical school graduates will care for patients at Methodist Family Medicine Clinic in Oak Ridge. The clinic offers family medicine and primary care services to surrounding communities. The family medicine residency program is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). It is led by Jim Schindler, MD, MPH, family medicine physician and program director.