Who We Are
Co-Presidents: Kelly Maxwell &Treena Smith Secretary: Tabatha Mauldin Treasure: Rebecca Miller Past-President: Maggie Tanner Parliamentarian: Constance Stohler VP Communications: Jami Friedrich VP Health Promotions: Anne Portera VP Legislation: TBD Social and Hospitality Chairs: Mandy Keel & Tiffany Whaley Courtesy Chair: Lindsey Jean Scholarship Chair: Lisa St. Charles Resident Partners Liaison: Cami Bailey Fashion Show Chair: Shirley Krause Med Rock Chairs: Anita Headrick & Kelly Maxwell TMAA Convention Chair: Maggie Tanner |
What We Do
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The History of the Chattanooga Medical Alliance
The current organization for physician spouses has along and illustrious history in Chattanooga.
It was first established in 1949, as the Women's Auxiliary to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County
Medical Society. It was a constituent of the Tennessee Medical Association Alliance and the American
Medical Association Alliance. The organization was incorporated in 1975 as a 501(c)(4) non-profit in
the State of Tennessee.
There have been several changes to the name including Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Auxiliary. In 1994, in accordance with the National and State Alliances, the organization became the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society Alliance. The name was shortened to the Chattanooga Medical Alliance in 2022. The organization established a 501(c)(3) tax exempt fund on 2023 to facilitate donations for health projects.
The mission and purpose of being a support to medical families, providing health education, promoting programs and projects of benefit to the community has remained constant. The friendships and comraderies while pursuing these endeavors have been a strong presence.
Like the facets of a diamond, our Alliance members are skilled, professional, talented and passionate. They shine in the community, serving as leaders in their careers, schools and churches. They serve on many organizational boards and various task forces for specific causes. Many from our Alliance have served in leadership roles for TMAA and AMAA, including several presidents.
Focus on supporting our medical family has been a top priority. There have been welcome activities for new physician and spouses. Special events for children in local parks and the zoo. Support for young spouses whose physician spouse is still in training. We have provided support to those with illness, surgery, or new babies and extended sympathy to those who have experienced loss. We have honored physicians on Doctors' Day with red carnations, homemade pastries in hospital lounges, lunches, and homemade bread deliveries to retirees. We have communicated with newsletters, telephones, and now social media.
Our regular meetings have been held in local restaurants and other establishments. We have met in member's homes with lunch being prepared by the capable hands of Alliance members. We have hiked and taken more leisurely neighborhood strolls with dogs and babies. Programs have been a potpourri, providing new skills and knowledge about current events and medical updates.
The kaleidoscope of skills in the community include: teachers, lawyers, accountants, small business owners, artists, realtors, bankers and numerous health care providers in multiple specialty areas. We are a diverse group dedicated to supporting our spouses, while sharing with our peers the challenges and opportunities which are uniquely found in the medical marriage.
Like the facets of a diamond, our Alliance members are skilled, professional, talented and passionate. They shine in the community, serving as leaders in their careers, schools and churches. They serve on many organizational boards and various task forces for specific causes. Many from our Alliance have served in leadership roles for TMAA and AMAA, including several presidents.
Focus on supporting our medical family has been a top priority. There have been welcome activities for new physician and spouses. Special events for children in local parks and the zoo. Support for young spouses whose physician spouse is still in training. We have provided support to those with illness, surgery, or new babies and extended sympathy to those who have experienced loss. We have honored physicians on Doctors' Day with red carnations, homemade pastries in hospital lounges, lunches, and homemade bread deliveries to retirees. We have communicated with newsletters, telephones, and now social media.
Our regular meetings have been held in local restaurants and other establishments. We have met in member's homes with lunch being prepared by the capable hands of Alliance members. We have hiked and taken more leisurely neighborhood strolls with dogs and babies. Programs have been a potpourri, providing new skills and knowledge about current events and medical updates.
The kaleidoscope of skills in the community include: teachers, lawyers, accountants, small business owners, artists, realtors, bankers and numerous health care providers in multiple specialty areas. We are a diverse group dedicated to supporting our spouses, while sharing with our peers the challenges and opportunities which are uniquely found in the medical marriage.
Special Programs, Promotions and Projects
- In the 1960's, we collected drug samples and surplus medications which were distributed by International Agencies to developing countries.
- Support was provided to rural communities, as well as safe preparation for disasters and emergencies.
- For two decades, The Lending Shelf provided medical equipment for loan or donations to those in need.
- Health House was started in 1982 and continued until 2003. Providing education for pre-K through 5th grade with a unique program for health promotion and healthy lifestyle. Children were brought to the facility housed at Erlanger and later East Gate. Age appropriate and interactive, it enhanced the health education curriculum for public and private schools. Members provided many volunteer hours to make it a very successful endeavor for our Alliance.
- Other school programs:
- "How to Prevent Handicapping Conditions," a state wide program addressing adolescent pregnancy. This program included providing "Baby Think It Over" life-sized infant dolls requiring 24/7 care. These infants included an internal monitoring system used by the health education instructors.
- Prevent Suicide, a pamphlet designed with specific information and phone numbers.
- AIDs education
- Anti-tobacco information
- Blood pressure information and screening
- Scoliosis screening
- "Food Fight: A Battle You Can Win" video on youth obesity
- Opioid presentations in cooperation with police department and the Drug Coalition
- Teen Health Workshops to 1,500 participants with a day long program of speakers and interactive sessions
- Program for Binge Drinking made available to Junior and High Schools
- "Hands Are Not For Hitting" program in pre-schools in the community and Family Fair
- In the 1990's, the AMAA launched SAVE (Stop America's Violence Everywhere). Our Alliance participated by adopting the local Women's Shelter (now The Partnership for Families) which provides support for families experiencing domestic violence. We provided an annual Christmas Party with dinner, toys for children, hats, gloves and entertainment. In addition, we supplied super carrying bags, cosmetics, sanitary supplies, shower baskets, small refrigerators for each room, outdoor play equipment, cleaning and painting, refurnishing the kitchen, and a children's library for the facility.
- Placed in public schools, the video "Cooling a Hot Situation," posters for anti-violence, "Hand are Not for Hitting" placemats. and "I Can Choose" coloring books
- Provided billboards displaying anti-violence for public awareness
- Printed small cards with "Don't Keep Abuse a Secret! Talk About IT!," which included 6 steps for safety and a hotline number. These cards were placed in strategic areas within the community.
Special Programs for the Community
- Scholarship assistance for Nursing programs
- The Deborah Watlington Memorial for Health Care Professionals at Chattanooga State
- The Para Medical Careers at University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
- Scholarship assistance for children of allied healthcare workers in the community
- Supported legislation requiring safety helmets for bicycling on state roads
- Supported infant sear requirements, and through the Health Department, provided free seats for parents who needed financial assistance.
- Established a permanent health display in the Creative Discovery Museum
- Supported Youth Leadership Forum with the Medical Society to encourage careers in medicine
Fundraising
To support the various projects and programs in the community, fundraising events are essential. These events have varied through the years, and it is the spirit of individual Alliance members who volunteered to make them successful
- Poinsettia sales
- Various raffles for door prizes
- Sawbones (physicians) vs. Jawbones (lawyers) softball and basketball competitions
- Progressive dinners in individual homes
- Fashion Show and Luncheon with a silent auction (1985-2008), resumed in 2022 with a marketplace
- Spring Fling, a variety of events
- Sharing Card
- MEDROCK, a fun battle of the physician bands competition
Volunteers in the Community
Many Alliance members have supported these projects through service and financial support:
- Ronald McDonald House and Family Room in Erlanger - providing meals and snacks as well as weekly support as hostess at the house
- Red Food Cancer Control annual fundraiser
- Orange Grove Very Special Arts Festival
- The Girl Scouts (GEMS classes)
- The March of Dimes
- Chambliss Home Shelter
- Science Fair at UTC
- Siskin Foundation
- World Trade Center Fund
- AIM Center
- Kids on the Block
- Project Access
- Health Education grants to
- Lookout Valley Elementary
- Central High School
- Tyner Academy
- Sequoyah Technical Center
- McBrien School
- Lookout Valley High/Middle School
- Dupont Elementary
- Nolan Elementary
- Red Bank Elementary
- Brainerd High School
- Hixson High School
- Thrasher Elementary
- Chattanooga Middle School
- Red Bank High School
- East Lake Academy
- Clifton Hills Elementary
- Center for Creative Arts
- Soddy-Daisy High School
- READ of Chattanooga
- Interfaith Senior Service
- Room in the Inn
- Northside Neighborhood House
- Opportunity Home for Girls
- Moccasin Bend Hospital - volunteers for mental health activities
- Food Bank
- Chattanooga Chapter of Candlelighters
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Lung Association: Smoking and Pregnancy Workshop
- Hamilton County Juvenile Court
- Tennessee Department of Veteran Affairs
- Heart Association
- Volunteer Community School
- Scenic Land School
- Organ Donation Awareness
- Tennessee Medical Foundation - treatment and support program for impaired physicians
- Child Abuse Seminar
- Meals on Wheels
- Miracle Network Telethon
- Child Safety Shoe ID program
- Young Children Water Safety Program
- Festival of Trees and Teddy Bear Tea
- Hospice of Chattanooga
- Chattanooga Zoo
- Girls Inc., Health Careers Academy
- WAIK Tennessee health initiatives
- Voter registration drives for newcomers and hospital personnel
- Book drive for Children's Hospital
- Forgotten Child Fund
- Community Kitchen Thanksgiving Dinner
- Assisted Health Department with COVID-19 vaccinations
Compiled by Milli Yium, 2023
