John R. Dunn, DVM, PhD, EMBA-SL

Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Health

Dr. John Dunn, a proud native of Nashville, Tennessee, has devoted his life to protecting the health and well-being of his community. From an early passion for science, he pursued a BS in Zoology at Louisiana State University, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. After three years in mixed animal practice, Dr. Dunn returned to academia, earning a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences (Epidemiology and Community Health) in 2003. During this time, he collaborated with USDA-ARS to study the pre-harvest epidemiology of Shiga-toxigenic E. coli in ruminants, a reflection of his enduring commitment to bridging animal and human health. In 2022, he expanded his leadership skills with an Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam School of Business.

Dr. Dunn’s career in public service began in the U.S. Public Health Service when he joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2003 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer. In this role, he responded to national and international outbreaks, supported disease surveillance efforts, and advised on critical public health investigations. These experiences reinforced his dedication to protecting communities through science, compassion, and collaboration.

In 2005, Dr. Dunn returned home to Tennessee, where over the past 21 years he has served in a variety of leadership roles at the Tennessee Department of Health. From Director of Foodborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Diseases to Deputy State Epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian, and later as State Epidemiologist, he has guided efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure, prevent disease, and prepare the state for public health emergencies. On July 11, 2025, he was appointed Interim Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, providing executive leadership for one of the state’s largest public service agencies and ensuring the health and safety of Tennesseans.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Dunn has remained a steadfast advocate for collaboration, mentorship, and community engagement. He is actively involved in the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV), and in 2024, he was honored with election to the American Epidemiological Society. His enduring professional passions include infectious disease epidemiology, zoonotic diseases, and pre-harvest food safety. Through decades of dedicated service, Dr. Dunn exemplifies the belief that public health is not just a profession, it is a calling, one grounded in science, leadership, and a deep care for the people it serves.

Dr. Jamila Smith-Young

Nurse Practitioner
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing

Dr. Jamila Smith-Young is a Memphis healthcare professional, educator, and community advocate. She serves as a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in endocrinology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, where she mentors future healthcare providers. Her clinical work focuses on conditions such as diabetes and other endocrine disorders affecting children.

A native Memphian with more than 15 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Young has contributed to clinical research and public health initiatives, including projects addressing pediatric diabetes and social determinants of health. She holds degrees in microbiology, nursing, and public health, and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Beyond her medical career, Dr. Young is the founder of Forward 901, a nonprofit focused on improving quality of life in Memphis by supporting youth programs and initiatives that serve underserved communities. She is also recognized for civic engagement and community leadership across the city.

Dr. Young is married to Paul Young, the 65th mayor of Memphis, and together they have two children.

Bobby White

Chief Government Affairs Officer
Greater Memphis Chamber

Bobby White is the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chief Government Affairs Officer. In this position, Bobby helps to shape the policy, strategy, advocacy, and engagement of the Chamber in achieving priorities that support economic development and job growth with government and quasi-government officials at the federal, state, regional, and local level.

A graduate of Morehouse College, Bobby’s introduction into politics and community affairs began with his being handpicked by then Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson to help lead strategy sessions between student leaders and local college presidents in the wake of student demonstrations that occurred following the April 1992 Rodney King verdict.

Before joining the Chamber in 2019, Bobby had amassed a wealth of experience in government relations, community affairs, and policy. His previous leadership roles have included his role as Chief of Staff for the Memphis Mayor, Senior Advisor for the Shelby County (TN) Mayor, Chief of External Affairs within the Tennessee Department of Education, and District Director for a Member of the U. S. Congress. Bobby is additionally the founder and president of Concretize Strategies LLC, a firm focused in the area of government and community relations, strategic messaging, and project development.

In late 2020, Bobby and his then 6-year-old son Sam were featured nationally for an online video that showed Sam rapping about careers – with his Dad beatboxing in the background – he could grow up to be from A to Z. This video went viral and landed the father/son duo on national television in multiple ways inclusive of three appearances on The Ellen Show. The rap which Sam helped to write resulted in a children’s book from Penguin Random House which was selected as a part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for 2023.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive responses received, Bobby founded PROJECT You Can Be ABCs in late 2023 to build innovative strategies around helping youth to answer the often-asked question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In all, the viral video that launched this effort has been viewed over 50 million times across social media.

Dr. Peter Buckley

Chancellor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Dr. Peter Buckley serves as 11th Chancellor of University of Tennessee Health Science Center, overseeing 6 colleges, 4 campuses, and some 780 clinical-educational training sites across Tennessee - dedicated to the vision of Healthy Tennesseans Thriving Communities.

Peter has over 34 years of leadership experience in US academic healthcare, serving two prior universities as School of Medicine Dean (including also twice as interim academic health system CEO) in Georgia and in Virginia, and previously as Department of Psychiatry chair and before that as medical director for a 3 - hospital public mental healthcare system in Ohio.

Since moving to Tennessee 4 years, Peter now also serves on several community and health organizations. Since 2023, Peter has been acknowledged by Memphis Business Journal’s “Power 100” listing of most influential leaders and in 2025 Peter was named to Irish America’s Business 100 leaders.

While Irish born, Peter and his wife Leonie are very proud to also be American citizens, with 2 adult sons, a great dane, and are delighted to live in Memphis alongside the beautiful Mississippi river.

Sarah Colley

Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Sarah Colley is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. Colley leads human resources functions including payroll; compensation and benefits; wellness; talent acquisition and recruitment; organizational nimbleness and associate relations.

Colley returns to the Bluff City after four years in Pensacola, Florida, where she was vice president and chief human resources officer for Baptist Health Care. Before that, she served as senior vice president of Human Resources for Regional One Health in Memphis. Prior to Regional One, Sarah led human resources for CHI St. Vincent and Southwest Regional Medical Center, both in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has extensive experience developing leadership initiatives, employee health, wellness and training programs, education advancement and volunteer opportunities and benefit planning.

Colley holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. She earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Webster University. Sarah is a graduate of Leadership Pensacola and Leadership Memphis, was recognized as Top 40 Under 40 by Memphis Business Journal and named HR executive of the year by the Memphis chapter of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. She is past president and board member of the Arkansas Hospital Association Human Resource Association.

Mary Ellen Sumrall, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Vice President/System Chief Nurse Executive
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation

Mary Ellen Sumrall is the Vice President and System Chief Nurse Executive for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. She leads nursing strategy for the 26-hospital system across Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. She is just the fifth Chief Nursing Executive in the 100+ history of Baptist Hospital. With more than three decades of nursing experience, she has advanced from frontline nursing leadership in the emergency department to senior executive, driving improvements in patient safety, quality patient outcomes, nursing retention and engagement. Mary Ellen is passionate about building strong nursing leadership teams and aligning them with purpose of achieving nursing and organizational excellence to meet the future needs of health care.

Leticia Towns

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Regional One Health

Leticia Towns is a seasoned senior executive in the healthcare industry with over three decades of experience in operations, finance, regulatory and public policy. She has successfully navigated complex and challenging environments, leading change management and operational restructuring efforts across rural, community not-for-profit, and urban academic settings. Highly regarded as visionary leader in forging innovative and strategic alliances and partnerships, Leticia excels in engaging a diverse range of stakeholders to impact market access, regulatory and public policy. Respected as a credible voice in decision making, governance and board relations and strategy, coupled with her keen business perspective, Leticia brings a unique and valued point-of-view as an advisor and board member.

Leticia currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Regional One Health in Memphis, TN, and oversees ambulatory services, oncology, post-acute services, and external relations. She co-leads a transformative initiative to reshape her organization into an academic medical center, playing a pivotal role in securing an initial $350 million investment for campus redevelopment. In addition, she leads government relations at both state and federal levels and is spearheading efforts to strengthen supplier diversity within the organization. Prior to her current organization, Leticia served as an executive at Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA where she led and implemented the system’s Managed Medicaid response, including the negotiations of two preferred partner arrangements and $1M for operational improvements. Her career also includes executive roles at St Francis Hospital, GA; St Eugene Medical Center, S.C.; and the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Department of Health.

Leticia serves on the board of the Tennessee State Hospital Association and Chairs the Council on Health Equity and Inclusion. She is also a graduate of Leadership Tennessee. In addition, Leticia chairs the New Memphis Institute Board, serves as Secretary of the Mid-south Minority Business Continuum, and is a board member of the United Way of the Mid-South. Committed to education and community involvement, Leticia is a member of the state's HBCU Success Advisory Board and is actively involved with The Links, Incorporated – Memphis (TN) Chapter, where she has held leadership roles including Vice President and President. She is also a diamond-life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her past board memberships include the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, Southern College of Optometry, Memphis Theological Seminary, American Lung Association, the Workforce Investment Network and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. She was recently honored by The Tri-State Defender for engaging in community service that empowers families, young people, and others to overcome barriers to better health and opportunity.

Leticia received her bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University and a Masters, Health Service Administration from the University of Alabama. She is a Fellow in the American College of Health Executives and recipient of the Tennessee Hospital Association Senior Executive Meritorious and Diversity Champion awards. Leticia is actively involved in her community and enjoys traveling, and having visited more than ten countries, she also enjoys discovering

John Nixon

Graduate Student in the Department of Nursing
Southwest Tennessee Community College

John Nixon is a recent graduate of Southwest Tennessee Community College having earned his Associate of Applied Science in Nursing in December 2025. Born and raised in North Memphis, he comes from a family grounded in strong values and disciplined principles for navigating life. That foundation shaped both his work ethic and his perspective on personal responsibility and perseverance. He attributes the encouragement of his parents who inspired him to always work hard, be self-reliant, and never give up on his goals and aspirations in life.

Throughout his early career exploration, Nixon consistently gravitated toward roles connected to healthcare and human service. This pattern helped him recognize his purpose and the unique gifts he brings to his work. He views his hands as instruments of service, and nursing became the natural path for applying that gift meaningfully. Although the journey has included its share of challenges, the values instilled by his parents kept him focused, resilient, and committed.

Balancing academic studies with multiple responsibilities required significant sacrifice, yet Nixon’s determination carried him forward. His accomplishments stand as an example that dedication and perseverance make achievement possible.

He looks forward to beginning employment as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.