CUTLINE – Pictured is Amanda Finley, DO, with Griffin Wood, PA student from Bethel University. Dr. Finley was recently elected Vice President of Western District – TN Osteopathic Medical Association.
PARIS, TN – At the Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association annual business meeting on April 8, Henry County Medical Center’s Amanda J. Finley, DO was elected as Vice President for the Western District. The mission of the Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association is to protect, promote and support the distinct philosophy and practice of Osteopathic medicine for the benefit of the profession and people of Tennessee.
Dr Finley is dual boarded by the American Board of Internal medicine and the American Board of Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine. She is one of five Internal Medicine Physician Hospitalist at HCMC. She is serving as the Chair of Medicine on the HCMC Medical Staff Medical Executive Board. She is passionate about teaching and growing medical education at HCMC.
“When I am asked what I do for a living, I am excited to tell others about adult medicine and I can break that down further to say that I mostly treat Grannies and Grandaddies in the hospital,” said Dr. Finley. “I have the opportunity to train others to be physicians excited about Rural Medicine where they can Practice with excellence and world class skills in a rural community. I am proud to serve Henry County and TOMA.”
Henry County Medical Center is proud of their osteopathic physician representation among their medical staff: Amanda Finley, DO; Charles Rainbolt, DO; Kyle Stephens, DO; Katherine Whitfield, DO; Jeffrey Gills, DO; Ryan Hubbard, DO; and Joseph Kidd, DO. HCMC is affiliated with Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and are proud to host nine third year medical students and eight fourth year medical students for their clinical rotation core site.
Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was developed in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th century medicine. He believed that many of the medications of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health so that he could better understand the process of disease.
In response, Dr. Still founded a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts. He identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. He recognized the body’s ability to heal itself and stressed preventative medicine, eating properly and keeping fit.
Dr. Still pioneered the concept of “wellness” over 100 years ago. In today’s terms, personal health risks-such as smoking, high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other lifestyle factors-are evaluated for each individual. In coordination with appropriate medical treatment, the osteopathic physician acts as a teacher to help patients take more responsibility for their own well-being and change unhealthy patterns.
To become an osteopathic physician, an individual must be a graduate of one of the nation’s osteopathic medical schools. Each school is accredited by the Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathic Association. This accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Post-Secondary Education. Typically, applicants to osteopathic medical colleges have a four-year undergraduate degree, and complete specific science courses. Applicants must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Osteopathic medical schools also require a personal interview to assess the student’s interpersonal communication skills.
The osteopathic curriculum involves four years of academic study. As a reflection of the osteopathic philosophy, the curriculum emphasizes preventive medicine and holistic patient care. Medical students learn to use osteopathic principles and techniques for diagnosis and treatment of disease throughout the curriculum.
After completing osteopathic medical college, D.O.s serve a one-year rotating internship, gaining hands-on experience in internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, family practice, pediatrics and surgery. This experience ensures that osteopathic physicians are first trained as primary care physicians-even if they plan to pursue a specialty. The internship provides every D.O. with the perspective to see and treat every patient as a whole person.
Most D.O.s then choose to complete a residency program in a specialty area such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, radiology, or pathology. A residency typically requires from two to six years of additional training.
All physicians (both D.O.s and M.D.s) must pass a state medical board examination in order to obtain a license and enter practice. Each state board sets its own requirements for the physician to practice in that state.
Dr. Finley is originally from McKenzie, TN, and graduated from McKenzie High School. She studied biochemistry at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and attended medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Dr. Finley completed her residency at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, MS.
In addition to her hospitalist role, Dr. Finley serves as HCMC’s Director of Medical Education and Designated Institutional Officer for our Medical Residency program. She has served as clinical faculty and Associate Professor of Medicine for WCUCOM, NSUCOM, UP-KYCOM, LMUDCOM, and ICOM since 2013 and was chosen as Preceptor of the Year in 2016. She is active in research and has two publications in the BMJ. Dr. Finley also received Preceptor of the Year by the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants (TPA) for her work with Bethel University’s PA program.
Dr. Finley resides in Paris with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and traveling.
For more information about Dr. Finley or to learn more about our providers at HCMC or our medical student program, please visit our website at www.hcmc-tn.org or give us a call at 731-644-8477.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.