An immigrant from Egypt, Kirolos has seen first-hand the negative impact that lack of access to medical care can have on an individual and their community. His background has given him an appreciation and respect for diversity, and a desire to serve not only the Rutherford County area, but the world through Doctors Without Borders. By completing more than 300 volunteer hours with Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and teaching Sunday school classes, he has demonstrated a passion for serving others. He aspires to better the lives of people and seeks to break the cycle of heath care discrepancies related to race, age, and gender. 

What inspired the scholarship?
In 2020, the physicians at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter established The MMC Foundation (a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation) to advance its mission to foster continuous improvement in the community’s health. The MMC Foundation partnered with MMC’s Diversity Committee, led by Dr. David Chatman for the past 3 years, to develop a scholarship for local students who are advancing to medical school and who are also members of ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the medical profession.

“Representation matters,” said Dr. Chatman. “There are physical, educational, social, and economic barriers which serve to dissuade diverse students from seeking leadership opportunities and membership within dissimilar communities. Diversity in representation helps to break these barriers down, and helps to normalize and realize the American dream for all Americans. We are very impressed with Kirolos, who seems to know exactly what he wants to do and has a plan to get there. We hope that he will remember us, and remember this community. We believe that given his experience and skills, he can shape the future of medicine and we believe that he will serve his community well.” 

Did you know? 

• 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. 

• One blistering sunburn significantly increases a person’s risk for developing melanoma. 

• Tanning bed use (even once!) increases melanoma risk by 20%. 

Protect the skin you’re in! 

• Mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) SPF30 or greater applied every 2 hours provides adequate protection for children and adults. 

• Long sleeves protect for a long time! Choose sun protective clothing and wide brimmed hats. 

• Keep children in shade to protect them from UV exposure. Play outdoors in the morning or evenings when the sunisn’t as bright. 

Free Skin Cancer Screenings 

May is nationally recognized as Skin Cancer Awareness month. For the past several years, MMC Dermatology has offered free skin cancer screenings for new patients in the month of May. And they are proud to provide that same offer again this year! New patients will be scheduled with Carolyn Goodman Henn, DNP/FNP-C, who recently joined the practice as Dr. Brad Bledsoe’s Nurse Practitioner in 2021. Any additional treatment or procedure recommended will be scheduled accordingly. For more than 25years MMC Dermatology has served our community by providing adults and children the very best in skin care. To schedule an appointment, call 615-867-8220 or visitmmclinc.com/dermatology.

Your health is our mission. 

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter (MMC) announced that applications are now being accepted for the ‘Drs. David and Yolando Chatman Scholarship’. The scholarship will be awarded to a local college junior, senior or graduate student who is advancing to medical school and is also a member of an ethnic minority group that is often underrepresented in medicine.

MMC named the scholarship after two of its physicians, each known for their impact on the culture, diversity and overall success of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic in their 25+ years with the clinic.

Yolando McGriff-Chatman, M.D. joined Murfreesboro Medical Clinic in 1996 as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and later practiced Gynecology only. David Chatman, M.D., a Vascular Surgeon, joined MMC a couple of years later as a member of its Surgery Department. Through the years, they have mentored many students on their paths to medical school. The couple plans to retire from the practice of medicine and MMC in May and move to Ohio to be closer to their daughter as she begins her medical career.

“Both David and Yolando have dedicated their careers to providing their patients and this community with the highest levels of care,” said Joey Peay, MMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “As we considered what to name our scholarship, it made sense to honor those two individuals who have served as important role models in our Clinic and in the overall medical community.  Their compassion and their commitment to helping develop the skills of other physicians, especially minority physicians, should be an example for all of us to follow.  We, as an organization, are thankful for their leadership, and they will be missed at MMC and in the Murfreesboro medical community.”

What inspired the scholarship?

The scholarship was inspired by Rutherford County’s own Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund (created by the late Dr. George Smith and Mary Scales), which was created in 1984 to help address concerns regarding the African American achievement gap in the local community.

“Representation matters,” said Dr. Chatman. “There are physical, educational, social, and economic barriers which serve to dissuade diverse students from seeking leadership opportunities and membership within dissimilar communities. Diversity in representation helps to break these barriers down, and helps to normalize and realize the American dream for all Americans.” 

Criteria for the scholarship can be found online at www.mmclinic.com/scholarship. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2022 to be considered.

Every year, the physicians at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic (MMC) Comprehensive Breast Center care for the medical needs of hundreds of women diagnosed with breast cancer. From detection to restoration, patients are guided on a unique journey toward recovery. But in 2019, MMC decided to extend care beyond its facilities to honor the families of breast cancer patients.

The Crystal Scholarship was created to assist children of MMC’s breast cancer patients in continuing their education beyond high school.

“As a mom myself, I know that the people I would worry about most, should I ever develop a life-threatening condition, are my children,” said Dr. Lisa White, a provider at MMC’s Comprehensive Breast Center. “This scholarship is our way of showing our patients that we care about not only them, but those individuals who are dearest to them.”

The name of the ‘Crystal’ Scholarship was inspired by MMC patient, Crystal Brown. Crystal cared deeply about her 3 boys, Michael, Matthew and Mason and her husband, Jeff. Her oldest son Michael received the inaugural scholarship in May 2019. Since the scholarship’s inception in 2019, almost $20,000 of funding has been provided to high school seniors graduating from schools all over the state. These students have then gone on to pursue careers ranging from nursing to marine biology to international law. In May 2021, the Crystal Scholarship was awarded to 9 high school seniors.

To learn more about the Crystal Scholarship or how to make a contribution, call the MMC Comprehensive Breast Center at 615-867-8040.

The health and safety of our patients is our top priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, MMC has followed the CDC’s recommendations for healthcare facilities regarding masks. Additionally, OSHA has recently released regulations that instruct healthcare facilities to continue requiring masks. Therefore, MMC will continue to require masks, regardless of vaccination status, in all facilities for all patients and visitors ages 2 and above.  Although this may be inconvenient, face masks provide protection for our most vulnerable patients and staff. We appreciate your patience and understanding when visiting our facilities. Your health is our mission.

MMC Neurology provides MS diagnosis and second opinions along with ongoing medical and symptom management. We offer physical therapy, self-care education, neuropsychological evaluation, complimentary therapies and more. MMC has all of your expert MS care in one location including state-of-the-art infusion services and radiology services. We work to provide you with the personalized care that you need to live life to the fullest. If you have any questions or if you would like to make an appointment, call 615-867-8090 or visit our website.

A Special Thank You To:

Our Sponsors: 

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic | The Beehive Salon | Lanes, Trains and Automobiles | Shea & Dugger Wealth Advisors

Our Committee Members:

Marshall Campbell | Carrie Fitzgerald | Denise Flanagan | Dawn Harrison | Dr. Jeremy Harrison | Lauren Knox | Jimmy Patrick | Tracy Tucker | Laura VanNorstran

Our Long-Time Supporters:

Long-time volunteers, shavees, honored kids, and supporters who made this event possible.

The physicians of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter(MMC) are proud to announce a new scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a U.S. medical/osteopathic school student from our local region who is also a member of a minority group that is underrepresented in medicine.

In 2020, the physicians at MMC established a charitable foundation to advance its mission to foster continuous improvement in our community’s health. MMC’s Board of Directors developed a Diversity Committee, led by one of MMC’s Vascular Surgeons, David M. Chatman, M.D. Comprised of a diverse group of physicians, the committee set a goal to enhance the diversity of the Rutherford County medical community through the recruitment and development of physicians from minority groups that are typically underrepresented in medicine.  These groups include African-American/Black, Latino/Hispanic, Native American/American Indian or Alaska natives, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or lower socioeconomic status.  One method to achieve this goal was to work through the newly formed foundation to establish a scholarship for minority students on the path to medical school.

The scholarship was inspired by Rutherford County’s own Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund (created by the late Dr. George Smith and Mary Scales), which was created in 1984 to help address concerns regarding the  African American achievement gap in the local area.

“Representation matters,” said Dr. Chatman. “There are physical, educational, social, and economic barriers which serve to dissuade diverse students from seeking leadership opportunities and membership within dissimilar communities. Diversity in representation helps to break these barriers down, and helps to normalize and realize the American dream for all Americans.”

MMC has recognized the need to keep up with the growth in our community. Rutherford County has been ranked as one of the fastest growing counties in the state and the country. That growth has led to more diversity among our community and patients. MMC’s physicians and leadership have recognized the need to support and foster more diversity among healthcare professionals locally and across our region. Thus the MMC Foundation, Inc. and the scholarship came to fruition at the end of 2020.

“When my wife and I were choosing pediatricians for our children, we thought it would be important to choose a female pediatrician for our daughters so that they could see a woman in such an important role to inspire them to pursue dreams and careers that may not normally be filled by women,” notes Joey Peay, MMC’s Chief Executive Officer. He continued, “As a group, the Clinic’s leadership wanted to assist the members of our community’s minority groups so that their children can see members of the same ethnic group in such prominent positions of leadership in the community. If we can help inspire local minority students to achieve their goal of attending medical school and becoming a physician, the program will have been a success!”

Navigating life in the midst of a pandemic is never where we saw our 2020 headed. As we wrap up this year and count down to a new year, it’s expected that the majority of us will plan resolutions and set goals for a healthier, happier 2021.

While COVID-19 is still a public health crisis, it is not the only health crisis that we face.  It is still vital that you do not neglect preventative visits, follow-up appointments, necessary tests and vaccines that are crucial in keeping yourself, your family, and your community safe and healthy.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic continues to focus on the overall health of our patients by providing a safe environment for in-person care and by expanding our telemedicine capabilities for remote care.

Having a primary care doctor right now is more important than ever. I continue to find underlying conditions on a daily basis which, when detected early, are more manageable or even curable. Rather than waiting until a disease progresses to be difficult to control or even life altering, act preemptively.

It is an opportune time for healthy individuals to start seeing a primary care provider (PCP). Having a PCP comes with many benefits, including quick access to customized, high-quality medical care when you need it most and continued support for your ongoing medical issues. Furthermore, you can build a relationship of trust with your PCP, so you can be treated in the most effective way and are not left to make difficult health decisions on your own.

Being established with a PCP also connects you to various specialties when needed. From women’s care to routine preventive screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, early detection is the key.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic has a team of skilled physicians who would love to join you on your journey to better health. To schedule an appointment, please visit mmclinic.com or call 615-893-4480.