Meet Our Team

Published On 07/11/2011

Since 1979, Methodist Hospice services have been provided by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aides and volunteers who understand that when it can't be about curing, it must be about caring.

If they wish, patients may continue to see their own physician while receiving care from Methodist Hospice. Our team will work closely with their physician to develop and implement an individualized plan of care for the patient.

This is a journey that requires support, care and understanding. Methodist Hospice is here to help.

Meet Our Team

Methodist Hospice and Methodist Palliative Care utilize the expertise of all of our highly qualified and specially trained staff to meet the unique needs of our patients and their families.

Meet our Physicians:

W. Clay Jackson, M.D., DipTh Current Positions: Medical Director, Methodist Hospice & Palliative Care Director, University of Tennessee - Methodist Alliance Palliative Medicine Fellowship Faculty Appointment: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Education: Residency, University of Tennessee/Baptist Tipton Family Medicine Medical School, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Graduate, Diploma of Theology, Oxford University Board Certifications: American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Family Medicine
Joseph L. Weems, M.D. Current Position: Co-Medical Director, Methodist Hospice & Palliative Care Education: Residency in Otolaryngology, University of Tennessee (City of Memphis Hospitals) Residency in General Surgery, V.A. Hospital, Memphis, TN Internship, City of Memphis Hospitals Medical School, University of Tennessee Board Certifications: American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Otolaryngology
Joseph Blythe, M.D. Current Positions: Lead Palliative Physician, Methodist South Hospital & Methodist Germantown Hospital Medical Director, ICU, Methodist South Hospital Education: Fellowship in Pulmonary Diseases, VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Board Certifications: American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Critical Care American Board of Pulmonary Disease
James William Martin, M.D. Current Position: Lead Palliative Physician, Methodist North Hospital Education: Internship and Residency in Family Medicine, Trover Foundation, Madisonville, KY Medical School, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University Board Certifications: American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Family Medicine
R. Kelley Myers, M.D., FAAFP Current Position: Lead Palliative Physician, Methodist University Hospital Education: Fellowship in Faculty Development and Education, Harvard Medical School Internship and Residency, Self Memorial Hospital, Greenwood, SC Medical School, Medical College of Georgia Board Certifications: American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Family Medicine
Fereshteh Vida Zare, M.D. Current Position: Staff Physician, Methodist Hospice & Palliative Care Education: Fellowship, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Methodist Alliance Palliative Medicine Residency and Internship in Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Residency and Internship in OB/GYN, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz, Iran Medical School, Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi, India Board Certifications: Iranian Board of Obstetric & Gynecology American Board of Internal Medicine
Melody J. Cunningham, M.D. Current Position: Director, Palliative Care Program, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Education: Fellowship in Transfusion Medicine, Harvard Combined Program, Boston, MA Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Internship, Residency, Chief Residency in Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA Board Certifications: American Board of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology American Board of Pathology American Board of Pediatrics
Kristy Bryan, MD Current Position: Staff Physician, Methodist Hospice & Palliative Care Education: Fellowship, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Methodist Alliance Palliative Medicine Residency and Internship in Internal Medicine, Universtiy of Tennessee Health Science Center Medical School, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN Board Certification American Board of Internal Medicine

Meet our Advance Practice Nurses (APNs):

Drew Turner, MSN, MBA, ACHPN, NP-C Current Position: Advance Practice Nurse for Palliative Care Services at Methodist North Hospital Education: The Johns Hopkins University University of Tennessee Health Science Center Union University Board Certifications: American Nurse Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Board Certification for Hospice and Palliative Nurses American Nurses Credentialing Center, Pain Management Nurse American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP)
Jane Owen, APRN-BC, ACHPN, RN, C Current Position: Advance Practice Nurse for Palliative Care Services at Methodist University Hospital Education: University of Tennessee Health Science Center Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Palliative Care Specialty University of Memphis College of Nursing Board Certifications: American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner American Nurses Credentialing Center, Pain Management Nurse National Board for Certification for Hospice and Palliative Nurses, Advance Practice Nurse
Lisa Mulherin, DNPc, MSN, FNP-BC, RN Current Position: Advance Practice Registered Nurse for Case Management / Palliative Care Services at Methodist University Hospital Adjunct Professor Union University, Germantown Campus Education: Union University – DNPc (2013), MSN (2008) Jacksonville University - (BSN) St. Louis University - Parish Nursing Core Curriculum St. Leo University - (AA) Union University - (ASN) Board Certifications: American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner
Ann Stavropoulos, MSN, APRN, BC Current Position: Advance Practice Nurse for Palliative Care Services at Methodist Germantown Hospital & Methodist South Hospital Education: MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, University of Memphis Loewenberg School of Nursing Board Certifications: American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner

Meet our Pharmacists:

Leonette O. Kemp, BS, PharmD, CPE

Current Position:
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Palliative Care at Methodist University Hospital
Education:
ASHP PGY1 accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency with emphasis in Palliative Care, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, MD
Doctorate of Pharmacy, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Georgia in Athens, GA
Board Certifications: Certified Pain Educator (CPE), American Society of Pain Educators

Meet our Clinical Directors:

Taleka Perry, EMSN, RN

Current Position:
Director, Methodist Hospice Residence
Education:
RN, State Fair Community College
BSN, University of Central Missouri
Executive MSN, University of Memphis

Meet our Administrative Team:

Sally Aldrich, RN, MSN

Current Position:
Administrator, CNO Methodist Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Services
Education:
BSN, University of Michigan
MSN, University of Tennessee

Dee Flood

Current Position:
Manager, Methodist Hospice Community Services

Helen Schlessinger, RN, BSN, CHPN, CHPCA

Current Position:
Administrative Director, Methodist Hospice & Palliative Care
Education:
BSN, Union University
Board Certifications:
Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse