John W. Hale, Jr., MD, a family physician in Union City, has been installed as 2015-2016 president of the Tennessee Medical Associatioin (TMA)  the state’s largest professional organization for physicians. Hale’s term officially began in April.

As President,  Hale will serve on the TMA Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the direction and implementation of Association activities between sessions of the House of Delegates, the Association’s governing body. He will also serve as the public spokesman and official representative for TMA’s more than 8,000 members.

Hale is the 161st President of the TMA and succeeds Douglas J. Springer, MD, a gastroenterologist in Kingsport.

Hale is originally from Halls, Tennessee. He graduated from the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University and has practiced family medicine at the Doctor’s Clinic in Union City for 24 years. He is board certified in family medicine and has been an active TMA member, serving on the TMA House of Delegates for 23 consecutive years. He has also been a TMA Judicial Councilor and served on the Board of Trustees and as Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House, a past Young Physicians Chair, and as a delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates.