MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Dec. 5, 2011) - Middle Tennessee Medical Center (MTMC) held its annual Physician Christmas Reception in the new Seton Medical Office Building on Dec. 1. During the event, MTMC’s Chief of Medical Staff, Dr. Edward Eastham, announced John H. Barton, Jr., MD as the physician of the year, Matthew O. Barrett, MD as the clinical excellence award recipient and James A. Nunnery, MD received the Olin Williams Distinguished Service award.

“MTMC has an outstanding medical staff and it’s an honor to recognize these three leaders who provide such exceptional care, skill and compassion to our patients and families,” said Gordon B. Ferguson, MTMC president and CEO.

Honored physicians were chosen by the MTMC medical staff. Possible areas for consideration when nominating physician of the year include longevity on the medical staff, hospital service, medical staff offices, committees, hospital board membership, medical and community service, and service to the needy.

Dr. John H. Barton, Jr., 2012 Physician of the Year, became a member of the MTMC medical staff in 1997 and practices at Tennessee Oncology. He is board-certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine, and served as the medical staff’s Chief of Medicine from 2004-2005. Dr. Barton has served numerous years on both the hospital’s cancer committee and ethics committee. He received his medical degree from the Wake Forest University Bowman Gray Medical School in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he went on to complete his residency and fellowship training.

“Dr. Barton is recognized by both the medical community and his patients for continuously providing the highest-level of care and compassion. He truly embodies the mission and values of MTMC, and we are proud to recognize him as Physician of the Year,” said Dr. Andy Brown, MTMC vice president of medical affairs.

Dr. Barton and his wife, Betsy, have two sons, Jack and Stephen, and enjoy adventure, travel, sports and gardening.

Dr. Matthew O. Barrett, 2012 Clinical Excellence Award recipient, is a fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement orthopaedic surgeon who received the award in recognition for bringing new techniques and new knowledge to the medical staff and for his leadership in guiding MTMC in becoming a Joint Replacement Center of Excellence. Dr. Barrett joined the MTMC medical staff in 2008 and practices at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance.

He received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee- School of Medicine in Memphis and completed his orthopaedics residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital and Clinics. Dr. Barrett completed The Engh Joint Replacement Fellowship at the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute in Alexandria, Va. He has authored 12 published articles in major orthopedic journals including Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the foremost journal in the field of orthopaedics. He was also invited this year as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Arthroplasty.

Dr. Barrett lives in Murfreesboro with his wife, Sharman, and their two sons, Tyler, 4 and Jonathon, 2. He is accomplished in guitar and piano, an avid runner and enjoys woodworking and carpentry.

Dr. James A. Nunnery is the recipient of the Olin Williams Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to a physician who is dedicated to the betterment of MTMC and the community and who has shown great wisdom and compassion throughout their medical career. “Olin Williams was an enormously talented servant who loved this hospital and our community,” said Nunnery.

Dr. Nunnery first joined the medical staff in 1978 as a surgeon and was recruited by Dr. Olin Williams. He retired in 2003 after 25 years of service. In 2010, he returned to the medical staff after completing fellowship training in palliative medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School in Nashville. Dr. Nunnery established the MTMC Palliative Medicine program which he currently serves as medical director. Palliative medicine includes the physical, spiritual, psychological and social treatment of suffering for patients with life-limiting or life-threatening illness.

Dr. Nunnery and his wife, Alice, have two grown children, Andy and Jennifer, and two grandchildren. They regularly attend First United Methodist Church of Murfreesboro.