Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health

Section of Medicine-Pediatrics

Physicians caring for children and adults

All of our faculty are certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Pediatrics. Clinically, each of our faculty members practice general academic primary care medicine-pediatrics at VUMC. Currently we have two med-peds clinic locations: North One Hundred Oaks Primary Care and Bellevue Primary Care. We care for children, adults and families. We enjoy getting to know our patients and working together to maintain general wellness or assist in times of acute or chronic illness.

Patient-Centered Medical Home

Our clinics at One Hundred Oaks and Bellevue are each designated a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). This team-based model of care is designed to continuously improve quality, efficiency, safety and patient satisfaction. PCMH certified clinics have met specific criteria set by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and have demonstrated that they are providing high-quality, patient-centered care.

Medical education

Our faculty are devoted to medical education. Our clinician educators are the primary faculty for the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program. Many of our faculty also have core teaching roles at the School of Medicine. Many of our faculty collaborate across the institution through additional appointments at the Nashville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, in Sports Medicine, Psychiatry, and Palliative Care. 

Additionally, our Med-Peds faculty are integral in faculty development initiatives, such as the ACGME-VUMC Faculty Development Course.

Health services research

Our faculty are engaged in scientific investigation and health services research. Three of our faculty are physician scientists with careers dedicated to research.

• Dr. Bill Heerman's research focuses improving maternal-child health outcomes related to obesity in communities through the development and implementation of behavioral interventions to support healthy childhood growth.
• Dr. Russell Rothman directs The Institute for Medicine and Public Health at Vanderbilt, which exists to connect research and teaching with policy and practical solutions. 
• Dr. Christianne Roumie's research is focused on improving population health including evidence-based care for medication prescribing. 

Tom Elasy, MD

Professor of Medicine
Director, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health
Interim Section Chief, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics

Ashley Karpinos, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine
Program Director, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program

Bill Heerman, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Division of Academic General Pediatrics