2016 Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner
Aside from daydreams of being a world-class professional athlete, Bill Woods, MD thought he might grow up to be a farmer, like his grandfathers or maybe, an engineer of some sort.
It was the influence of one of his father’s closest friends, a family practitioner in Henderson, Tennessee, that caused Dr. Woods to consider a career in medicine. Dr. Woods’ father “helped” him determine his career path when he applied to college.
“I knew I was going to apply to medical school when my daddy wrote “pre-med” in the blank by major on my application to undergraduate school,” Dr. Woods said.
Dr. Woods received his bachelor’s degree in pre-med studies from Memphis State University in 1976. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1980, and he completed his residency in family practice at the University of Tennessee in 1983.
Dr. Woods’ most meaningful detour led him to a career in pediatric medicine. While serving as a clinical instructor in the Department of Family Practice at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, Woods decided to pursue a second residency in pediatric medicine. After completing this residency in 1987, Dr. Woods returned to Jackson, Tennessee to practice pediatric medicine at The Jackson Clinic.
Dr. Woods holds membership in the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the West Tennessee Consolidated Medical Assembly. He has served as an instructor in the University of Tennessee Family Practice residency program since 1987. In fact, Dr. Woods has been named Outstanding Clinical Instructor for the University of Tennessee Family Practice residency program numerous times since joining the faculty.
In addition to his work with students from UTHSC, Dr. Woods also mentors Nurse Practitioner students from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee and Physician Assistant students from Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee.
It’s not a surprise that home and family are what keeps this outstanding alumnus grounded. Dr. Woods’ wife, Elaine Green, MD, also a member of his 1980 UTHSC College of Medicine class, and his sons are his proudest achievement.
Says Dr. Woods, “Home is not just a place, although the place is important, but it’s family, tradition and culture, as well.”