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Covenant Health Welcomes the Next Generation of Physicians

  • 6 minute read.
  • Last Updated: 7/20/2026

Covenant Health recently hosted a special recognition ceremony honoring incoming medical students and residents.  

We celebrated 55 third-year medical students from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) beginning their clinical rotations with Covenant Health. We also welcomed eight family medicine residents into our Methodist Family Residency program. 

The annual medical education recognition ceremony marked the orientation and induction of both groups of physicians-in-training. LMU-DCOM students received white coats during orientation sessions, while family medicine residents were honored during a special pinning ceremony.

Eight Methodist Family Medicine Residents – Paul Alex, DO, Tamia Chapman, MD, Seta Ellis, DO, Nnenna Mbara, MD, Rashida Payne, MD, Jacob Sanabria, DO, Varun Sanghwan, MD, Garrison Smith, DO. Leaders pictured are Mandy Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health; and Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health.

LMU-DCOM Medical Students 

Under the direct supervision of Covenant Health physicians, the LMU-DCOM students will gain valuable hands-on experience in clinical settings. Rotation experiences include: 

  • Interviewing and examining patients
  • Reviewing clinical information
  • Conducting hospital rounds
  • Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings
  • Practicing appropriate documentation
  • Performing procedures 

Medical students will be stationed at these Covenant Health core rotation sites in East Tennessee: 

Methodist Family Medicine Residents 

Additionally, eight medical graduates joined the Covenant Health team as family medicine residents. They will practice at the Methodist Family Medicine Clinic in Oak Ridge. Residents will provide family medicine and primary care services while completing their training. 

The residency program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and led by James Schindler, MD, MPH. As program director and a fellow family medicine physician, his goal is to prepare highly skilled family medicine physicians.  

Special Event Remarks 

The event included remarks from Covenant Health and LMU-DCOM leaders. Speakers encouraged students to embrace the responsibility and privilege of patient care while putting patients first in everything they do. 

Remarks from Dr. McGoldrick 

Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health, led an orientation session for LMU-DCOM students. His remarks focused on clinical, operational and workplace excellence. He also highlighted Covenant Health’s commitment to developing future physicians and the vital role medical education plays in healthcare. 

Dr. McGoldrick emphasized that both the LMU-DCOM partnership and residency program are essential investments in addressing community healthcare needs. With a predicted future shortage of physicians, these investments matter now more than ever. He also spoke about the importance of maintaining a service-oriented mindset and congratulated participants on reaching an important milestone. 

Remarks from Dr. Halford 

Mandy Grubb Halford, MD, serves as senior vice president, chief medical officer and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health. At the event, she spoke about Covenant Health’s Pledge of Excellence. She explained, “At Covenant Health we pledge to put the patient first. We pledge excellence in everything we do. And we pledge to be the first and best choice in healthcare. And now, you are all part of that environment and can help carry that responsibility in your year ahead.” 

Investing in the Future of Healthcare 

Covenant Health has partnered with LMU-DCOM to offer clinical rotations and hands-on experience for medical students since 2016. Since the partnership was established, more than 460 students have completed core rotations at Covenant Health facilities. The newly arrived LMU-DCOM students will graduate in 2028. 

The Methodist Family Medicine Residency welcomes a new cohort of eight residents each year. New family medicine residents will graduate in 2029 after three years of post-graduate training.  

For more information and news, visit CovenantHealth.com.

Thirteen people in white coats stand side by side in front of a screen that reads Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen LMU-DCOM Medical Students in a well-lit room with light-colored walls and a wood floor.
Medical students from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine will undergo their clinical rotations at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen beginning in July 2026. Students are Rachel Bare, Samuel Barrett, Isaac Bucknell, Olivia Curello, Joshua Emanuel, Lindsey Goad, Mehak Gulrajani, Mackenzie Lenz (Brown), Jacob Paul, Tiana Ross, Ross Valdez. Leaders pictured are Mandy Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health; and Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health.
Nine people in white coats stand in front of a screen that reads Cumberland Medical Center LMU-DCOM Medical Students. They are lined up in a conference room, smiling at the camera.
Medical students from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine will undergo their clinical rotations at Cumberland Medical Center beginning in July 2026. Students are Omar Ali, Amjad Ashkar, Jonathan Hartman, Tiffany Iheanacho, Vasilea Karageorge, Mohammad Khan, Maame Mensah, Emma Queen (Jones), Landon Ray, Madeline Sandman, Austin Sapp, Logan Scott. Leaders pictured are Mandy Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health; and Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health.
A group of medical students and faculty in white coats stand in a line indoors, smiling at the camera. A screen behind them reads Fort Sanders Regional LMU-DCOM Medical Students.
Medical students from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine will undergo their clinical rotations at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center beginning in July 2026. Students are Hannah Abram (Ralston), Rithi Bramanathan, Olivia Carney, Tyler Gast, Kiera Giacomini, Jordan Jones, Luke Koehler, John Manley, Abdullah Salim, Eli Sharp, Rebecca Stark, Seth Turney, Roy Wolfgramm. Leaders pictured are Mandy Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health; and Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health.
A group of medical students and faculty in white coats stand in a line for a photo in front of a screen that reads Methodist Medical Center LMU-DCOM Medical Students.
Medical students from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine will undergo their clinical rotations at Methodist Medical Center beginning in July 2026. Students are Christian Carlton, Zal Chinoy, William (Gray) Dickens, Haylee Enfinger, Xavier Esslinger, Baylee Goldston, Kaylee Gray, James Hungerford, Deanne Lebo, Abeer Mahmud, Karlyn Matheson, Mia Newberg, Hayley Nye-Schulze, Sarah Schweitzer, Jagger Smith, Tarryn Strong, Katelyn Vanzant, Marina Vlasyuk, Glynn Wolf. Leaders pictured are Mandy Halford, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer for Covenant Health; and Justin McGoldrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and graduate medical education officer for Covenant Health.

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