Faculty
Gregg Mitchell, MD
Chair UTHSC Family Medicine Residency Program
ER Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor
Medical School: University of Tennessee
Stats: Married to Amy; two sons and one daughter
Hobbies: Golf, Hunting, Tennis, Ole Miss football
Research/Areas of Interest: Family Medicine Outpatient procedures including no-scapel vasectomy, colposcopy with LEEP, and dermatological surgeries
Tidbits: Outstanding Clinical Lecturer Award, Golden Apple Teacher’s Award for the University of Tennessee, Faculty of the Year Award, SGAEC Excellence in Teaching Award for the University of Tennessee, West Tennessee Healthcare Doctor of the Year Award
Grant Studebaker, MD
Residency Program Director
Associate Professor
Undergraduate: Oklahoma State University
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Tennessee - Jackson
Hobbies: Travel, Movies, Cars
What I did before medical school: EMT. I did my training here and realized it is like no other residency in the country. Jackson is very unique in the breadth of training it provides to it's residents and I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere. I love to teach and wanted to help continue the legacy of where I was trained.
Interest: Critical care, teaching office and hospital procedures to residents.
Brandon Churchill, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: O'Fallon, IL
Undergraduate: Union University-Jackson, TN
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-Springfield, IL
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: I am married to my wonderful wife, Brittney, with whom I have a beautiful little
girl, Palmer. They are both patiently waiting for me to surprise them with a puppy.
Hobbies: I enjoy golfing, spending time with friends and family, playing music, and following
football/St. Louis sports.
What I did before medical school: I started medical school right out of undergrad, where I majored in Cell & Molecular
Biology and minored in Mathematics.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I originally completed my residency at UT Jackson after choosing it for its broad
scope of training, hands-on procedural opportunities, and incredibly fun atmosphere.
Three years later, I chose to remain on as faculty after the program proved to be
the ideal practice for me clinically, as well as an opportunity to put my newfound
passion for teaching to work. As an added bonus, my wife and I love that an opportunity
like this exists for us in her hometown!
David L. Maness, DO, MSS, FAAFP
Professor
Medical School: College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Des Moines University, Iowa
Stats: Married to Rose since 1976; Grandfather
Hobbies: Antique Shopping with Rose, golf (played Augusta National, St. Andrews and Ballybunion)
Research/Areas of Interest: Leadership, gynecologic endocrine, Models of Care
Tidbits: Retired United States Army Colonel; Commanded 115th Field Hospital at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg and Task Force Med Eagle in Tuzla, Bosnia; Dean, US Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Chairman of Family Medicine at UTHSC for eight years. Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors lists. 2017 and 2020 Golden Apple Teaching Award for Family Medicine Attending of the Year by UTHSC College of Medicine student body.
Scott Sadler, MD
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee-Memphis
Residency Program: UTFP-Memphis
Stats: Married, Kids
Hobbies: Movies, Sports, Music
What I did before medical school: College, Cleaned Pools
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Left private practice to become a full-time faculty. I wanted to continue my obstetric skills
Chris Knight, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: University of Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Fellowship: University of Tennessee Emergency Medicine Fellowship
Stats: Married with a beautiful little girl
Hobbies: Cooking, Baking, Video Games, Movies
Areas of Interest: Education
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I was already very familiar with the program and they allowed me to continue to
practice in multiple areas. I can work with the ER Fellows, Hospitalist Fellows and
continue to help train residents.
Melissa “Missy” Mooney, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Millington, TN
Undergraduate: Union University, Jackson, TN
Medical School: ETSU- Quillen College of Medicine
Residency: UTHSC Internal Medicine- Memphis
Stats: Married with two sweet little babies - Brooks and Callie Jo
Hobbies: playing with my kids, riding horses, kayaking or canoeing, duck hunting with my
husband, spending time with family and friends
What I did before med school: I worked as medical assistant in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: I enjoy hospital medicine. What drew me to UT Jackson was the opportunity to practice
inpatient medicine with a healthy work-life balance, while being able to stay current
in an academic setting. It’s great group of faculty and residents!
Devan Smith (Trull), DO
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Princeton, WV
Undergraduate: Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Medical School: WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Residency Program: Marshall University Family Medicine, Huntington, WV
Hobbies: During the summer I enjoy spending most of my downtime relaxing by the pool listening
to audiobooks or podcasts. I also enjoy college football, floating on the river in
the summer and skiing in Utah in the winter. When there’s a little extra time I love
to travel to new places or venture back to WV to visit family and friends.
Stats: I recently got married during the pandemic on May 2nd to my husband Jace Smith.
We met in residency at Marshall in WV and moved to TN in August 2019 after he completed
his Orthopedics fellowship. We have 3 dogs and are settling well into life back in
his hometown of Jackson. We are also looking forward to our postponed wedding reception
in August!
What I did before medical school: After 4 years of college I did one year of graduate school for my Masters in Teaching
and tutored in the science department to confirm that medical school was the route
I wanted to pursue. I then started Med School the following year.
Why I Chose UT-Jackson: Upon moving to Jackson I began my 3rd year practicing as a Hospitalist with the
JMCGH Hospitalists group. However, after discussing an open position in the UTFM department
with Dr. Mitchell I realized that having the opportunity to get back into academics
as a Hospitalist and back to my roots of Family Medicine appeared to be a better fit
for me. Meeting the staff and residents and seeing their “family-like” bond solidified
this decision for me and my family. My husband and I are excited to build a future
here in Jackson and I feel UTFM fits perfectly into our personal and professional
goals.
Caitlyn Roma Trostel, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Jessieville, AR
Undergraduate: University of Central Arkansas - Conway, AR
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Stats: I’m a small town southern girl who isn’t married and doesn’t have kids, other than
my big fur child, Bandit, who is a Siberian Husky! My family means everything to me
and I love spending time with them. Even though I’m the baby of four and my siblings
might say I’m the spoiled one, we are all still thick as thieves. They’re my best
friends, always!
Hobbies: Running, Cycling, Bowhunting, Dove Hunting, Concert-going, Camping, Riding ATVs, Tending
to the farm and cows, Spending time with family and friends
What I did before medical school: I worked as a Patient Care Technician in the Emergency Room at Baptist Health Medical
Center in Little Rock, AR.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose UT Jackson because the program really felt like my home away from home. It
was immediately evident how close everyone was and how strong of a support system
they were for one another. The people didn’t feel like just coworkers, they were a
big happy family. They truly made me feel so comfortable and like I had been friends
with them for years. I also really love the area and am so excited to have the opportunity
to be here. Some of my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents grew up in Jackson,
TN so it is a very special place for me to be and have things come full circle! I
love that Jackson is a smaller town with a large community hospital because that was
something I was specifically looking for in a program. Jackson’s program is extremely
impressive with even more impressive faculty. I knew the training I would receive
here would be invaluable. I felt confident I could graduate from their residency and
be more than capable to practice full scope Family Medicine or be able to take whatever
route I wanted to with my specialty. In my gut, everything just felt right about Jackson
and I couldn’t be more blessed to be here!
Justin Ryan Turner, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Huntingdon, TN (via Newellton, LA)
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis
Residency: University of Tennessee Family Medicine Jackson
Stats: Married to my wonderful wife, Barbara. We have one son, Declan and 2 dogs, Roxie
and Shooter.
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Volunteer Football
(GBO). Video gaming.
What I did before medical school: While at UT, I worked as a student assistant in the Sports Medicine department with
several different sports teams. I immediately entered medical school following undergraduate.
Why did I choose UT-Jackson: I completed residency at UT Jackson and chose to stay on as faculty due to the opportunity
to teach in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Areas of Interest: Medical education, inpatient medicine, point of care ultrasound
Victoria Summer Watson, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Camden, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stats: I was gifted one square foot of Scotland, so my official title is “Lady Watson.”
I have a yellow lab mix named Holmes whom I accompany on long investigations for tennis
balls. I am a first generation college graduate.
Hobbies: Walks with Holmes, scrapbooking, antiquing, outings on the Tennessee River, playing
Mrs. Pacman, cooking, event planning
What I did before medical school: I was a professional Vols fan for 4 years - Go Big Orange!
Why I chose UT-Jackson: My dream is to open a family medicine practice that cares for folks ranging from
birth to childhood, adolescence, adulthood, motherhood, and end-of-life care in my
hometown in rural Northwest Tennessee. The breadth and depth of UT-Jackson’s residency
training and the opportunity to get a head start on working with the greater West
Tennessee community made this choice a no-brainer for me.