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Board of Governors

The HealthChoice Board of Governors is comprised of Mid-South area physicians and administrative leaders from HealthChoice, MetroCare Physicians, and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

The Board of Governors meets once a month to review, discuss, and vote on critical issues and work to improve the healthcare environment for physicians, payors, employers, and patients.

Arthur M. Townsend IV, MD, MBA, FACOG, CPHQArthur M. Townsend IV, MD, MBA, FACOG, LSSC, CPHQ

  • Current Position: 
    • Interim President and CEO  – HealthChoice, LLC
    • Vice-President, Chief Clinical Transformation Officer – Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (2016-Present)
  • Education:
    • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, University of Missouri – Columbia
    • Medical Degree, University of Nebraska – Omaha
    • Residency (Obstetrics and Gynecology), University of Kansas Medical Center – Kansas City
    • Master of Business Administration, University of Tennessee – Knoxville
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality  (2019 – Present)
    • Governance Committee Member, Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists (2019 – Present)

 

Carter Towne, M.D.Carter Towne, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • Gastroenterologist, Memphis Gastroenterology Group P.C.
  • Education:
    • Bachelor’s degree, Memphis State University
    • Medical degree, University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences
    • Internship, Residency, and Fellowship, University of Tennessee
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Member, American College of Gastroenterology
    • Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Tennessee
    • Chairman of the Board, MetroCare Physicians
    • Board of Governors, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

 

Michael Ugwueke, MPH, DHA, FACHEMichael Ugwueke, MPH, DHA, FACHE

  • Current Position:
    • CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
  • Education:
    • Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Shaw University
    • Master of Public Health, Emory University
    • Doctor of Health Administration and Leadership, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Board Member for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis (2009 – Present), Church Health Center (2013 – Present), Soulsville Foundation
    • Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership “Leadership Tennessee 2014 – Class II”
    • Named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare (2012)

 

Catherine Womack, M.D., FACPCatherine Womack, M.D., FACP

  • Current Position:
    • Associate Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)
    • Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions UTHSC
  • Education:
    • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, University of Mississippi
    • Medical degree, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    • Internship and Residency (Internal Medicine), University of Tennessee Health Science Center
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Fellow American College of Physicians (ACP)
    • Governor Tennessee Chapter of the ACP

 

John Buttross, M.D. John Buttross, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • Physician, Cresthaven Internal Medicine
  • Education:
    • Bachelor’s degree, Mississippi State University
    • Medical degree, University of Mississippi Medical School
    • Internal Medicine Residency, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis
    • Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • President of the medical staff, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (1999)
    • Chief of staff, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (2001)
    • Board Member, MetroCare Physicians
    • Member of American College of Physicians, Shelby County Medical Society, Tennessee Medical Association

 

Lee McCallum, M.D.Lee McCallum, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • Physician, MidSouth Family Medicine
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Science, Rhodes College (formerly Southwestern at Memphis)
    • Medical degree, University of Tennessee
    • Certified by American Board of Family Practice
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Resident of the Year (1988)
    • Top Doctors in America (1996-2023)
    • Board Member, Make-A-Wish of the Mid South
    • Physicians Advisory Group, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Primary Care Group

 

Chuck LaneChuck Lane

  • Current Position:
    • SVP / Chief Financial Officer, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
  • Education:
    • Bachelor's degree, University of Memphis
    • Master of Business Administration, University of Memphis
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Director of Business Planning, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (1996-2001)
    • VP / CFO, Methodist University Hospital (2001-2017)
    • SVP / Associate CFO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (2017-2019)

 

Cassandra Howard, M.D.Cassandra Howard, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • Vice-President, Chief Medical Officer III Administration, Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Science, Medical Technology, Honors, Howard University
    • Medical degree, Research Honors, Medical College of Wisconsin
    • Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (Dual-degree program), University of Tennessee 
    • Executive Masters of Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Haslam School of Business
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Methodist Physicians Leadership Academy 2013 – Inaugural Class
    • Member, American College of Healthcare Executives
    • United States Air Force (USAF), Air National Guard (ANG) service for 31 years; Current position: Assistant for Mobilization & Reserve Affairs (Brig Gen/0-7)
    • Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs
    • Defense Health Agency Headquarters, Falls Church, VA

 

Aaron Mitchell, M.D.Aaron Mitchell, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • Owner and Chief Medical Officer, Mitchell Family Medicine, The Ark Children's Clinic, and Harmony Health Clinic
  • Education:
    • Undergraduate: Oral Roberts University, Tulsa , OK
    • Graduate: Master's in Business Administration, University of Arkansas Little Rock (UALR), Little Rock, AR
    • Doctorate: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
    • Residency: UAMS Family Medicine Residency, Jonesboro, AR
  • Community Involvement / Career Accomplishments:
    • Dierkson Hospice, Medical Director
    • Elite Home Health, Medical Director
    • Arkansas State University West Memphis Campus, Health Professions, Medical Director
    • Christian Medical and Dental Association, Member
    • Arkansas Academy of Family Practitioners, Member
    • American Academy of Family Practitioners, Member
    • Medical Missions - "Go into all the world to preach the Good News!" Mark 16:15

 

Wayne Lipson, M.D.Wayne Lipson, M.D.

  • Current Position:
    • System Chief Medical Officer, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
  • Education:
    • Bachelor's degree, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    • Master's degree, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    • Medical degree, State University New York at Stony Brook
    • Internship, Residency and Fellowship, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
    • Master of Business Administration, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

Lucy Bruijn, M.D.

 

Whitney Slade, M.D.

 

Arvind Ankireddypalli, M.D.

 

Nora Maldonado, M.D.

 

Marigay Miller