D epartment of M edicine
Con ne c ti ng T e c h n o lo g y , Ed uca t i o n a n d D i s cove ry w ith H um anis m in Me dicine
Vol. 14 Issue 2 Oct 2025
Expansion of the Neurology Division July 1st was extra special this year, as the University of Tennessee Health Science Center – College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSCCOM, Knoxville) welcomed its inaugural class of neurology residents. East Tennessee is home to a large and diverse population, and in recent years our population has grown exponentially. The Knoxville metropolitan area alone has grown by nearly 50,000 people in the last few years. With this growth comes increasing gaps between supply and demand, particularly for patients with neurological conditions. Many patients are waiting over a year for clinic appointments. The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville serves as a critical access point for many of these patients. Our neurology services currently include neuro-hospitalists who staff the stroke center and inpatient consult services, neuromuscular specialists, and epilepsy specialists. The division also boasts a dedicated behavioral neurology clinic, movement disorder clinic, specialized neurodiagnostic testing, a specialty Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) clinic, and a growing neuroimmunology program. The residency program is the newest step in a larger effort to increase access for patients with neurological diseases across East Tennessee. We spoke with Dr. Steven Rider, who worked alongside other program leadership to develop the neurology residency. “[Prior to beginning the program] we focused on attracting neurologists with a broad range of interests and specialties to the area. As the division grew, the necessary neurologists with interest, expertise, and time to cultivate a residency program developed. The formalization of the residency program was the obvious end result of a plan for deliberate growth.” As for what the hospital can expect from having neurology residents, Dr. Rider says, “the neurology program will continue to offer the same range of services as well as timely and expert care with fresh
faces and even faster access. We hope to instill the values of a strong fundamental understanding of neurology and neurological disorders of all types as well as the desire to cultivate subspecialty expertise in our residents. This should translate into maintaining and improving access to excellent neurological care throughout the region.” Drs. Safwan Hyder and Marcos Flores, the program’s first class of residents, have already made a name for themselves. Their first year involves working closely with Internal Medicine residents on housestaff floors. While on wards, they quickly showed themselves to be proficient, compassionate physicians who are excited to serve East Tennesseans. “I am excited to be part of a new program,” Dr. Hyder says. “There is so much opportunity for growth. We are in an area which really has a dearth of neurologists specifically, and we are here to fill that gap... Even in my short time here in Knoxville, I feel like I’m at home.”
Points of View
people to sacrifice something of themselves for a common purpose. Each individual’s strength and their belief in the common purpose is the strength of the team as a whole. As the saying goes, “Individual ego is not the team’s amigo.” A great deal has been written about teamwork and building effective teams. At the core of the team-building exercise is a strong vision, a concept that can be wholeheartedly embraced by each team member. The leader must not only provide this vision but also provide a robust environment to nurture this concept and then support each member through their journey. There will be hurdles along the way, but as long as there is good communication and the team members trust and believe in each other, these difficulties can be surmounted. Small steps that bring some initial momentum help the team members feel that they are making progress and that their goals are achievable. We can achieve this by being respectful of one another. At other times, creative and unconventional solutions are needed.
SUCCESS OF AN ORGANIZATION: THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK
I’m often asked by colleagues and even my superiors how to achieve success in managing a department. Over the years, I have realized that the best way to achieve success is to subjugate my personal ego and feelings to the overall success of the mission. “It’s not about me” has been my motto. Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair There is great satisfaction in having a vision and seeing it flourish and come to fruition. However, no individual can accomplish this alone. It requires a concerted effort by many who share this vision and work together towards a common goal. This is true teamwork. It’s not merely going to retreats and shouting slogans; instead, teamwork requires inspiring
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