Methodist Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program Celebrates Generous Donors

In 2024, Covenant Health Methodist Medical Center opened a first-of-its-kind Family Medicine Residency Program and Clinic in Oak Ridge. The program is designed help meet growing primary care needs in Anderson County and beyond.
In conjunction with the launch of the program, Methodist Medical Center Foundation and Covenant Health Office of Philanthropy offered generous individuals and organizations in our community the opportunity to partner with the hospital to support this resource.
To date, more than $260,000 has been contributed to support the residency program and clinic. The funds are part of an endowment that will provide support for the residency program in perpetuity. The goal is to grow the endowment to $400,000.
A Heartfelt “Thank You” to Our Donors
A receiption at the residency program facility and clinic in late May honored the generous donors supporting the endowment to date. Covenant Health and Methodist appreciates the commitment to improving healthcare in our region exemplified by these individuals and organizations:
- Jim & Priscilla Campbell (in honor of Barry Bingham, MD, and Misty Cottrell, MSN, FNP-C)
- Dr. James & Marcedes Schindler (in honor of Drs. Melvin, Robert and Keith Schindler, and Katie Prins)
- Ralph Aurin (in memory of Belinda Aurin)
- The Jeremy Biggs Family
- Wilma Brantley (in memory of Dr. Richard Brantley)
- CNS/Y12
- ORAU
- UCOR
- UT-Batelle
- Diane Willis (in memory of her mother, Juanita Fogle, a long-time nurse at Methodist)
Donors and their families received personal thanks from Jeremy Biggs, CAO, Covenant Health Methodist; Chip Bryant, Covenant Health Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer; and Jim VanderSteeg, Covenant Health President and CEO. In addition, James Schindler, MD, director of the Family Residency Program, and current medical residents Yen Quach, MD, and Rusul Alani, MD, shared thanks and comments about the impact of the program on the future of medical practice in the region.
Partnerships for a Thriving Medical Legacy
“Like many in our world, we have people at Covenant Health who see a challenge and create a game plan for solving it. With the retirement of many family physicians and a shortage of new family medicine dactors, leaders at Methodist and Covenant saw an emergent need that would impact the delivery of healthcare services in East Tennessee,” said Bryant. “Generous donors have partnered with us to help address that need, and we are very grateful. We look forward to growing that partnership with additional future contributions from this community and beyond.”
Learn more about the Methodist Family Medicine Residency Program at www.covenanthealth.com/methodist-family-residency-program/.
To learn how you can partner with Methodist Medical Center Foundation and the Covenant Health Office of Philanthropy., visit www.covenanthealth.com/philanthropy-giving/.
Donor Reception Photo Gallery









Covenant Health
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Covenant Health is a not-for-profit, community-owned, healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers.