03/13/2020
UPA is proud to recognize Robert F. Elder, MD within our 25-year anniversary.
Dr. Elder is specialized in gynecologic urology and his practice location
is at UT Urogynecology. He is certified in female pelvic medicine and
reconstructive surgery with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Apart from his busy practice, Dr. Elder is widely recognized for his extended
leadership roles where he represents both patients and physicians in service
with major health organizations at The University of Tennessee Medical
Center, University Health System, Inc., The Graduate School of Medicine
and alongside University Physicians’ Association, Inc. (UPA).
Upon completion of his education, internship and residency, he began his
career at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in 1988. While building
his professional career, Dr. Elder quickly advanced into the hospital’s
committees and activities. In the early 90s, before UPA was established,
he was actively involved in the development of UPA. When UPA became established
in 1995, Dr. Elder was elected to represent the specialty of OB/GYN on
the UPA Board of Directors and additionally named Chair of the UPA Membership
Committee in 1997. Two years following, Dr. Elder was elected in 1999
as Secretary to UPA. He held those leadership roles until 2005 and was,
then, elected by shareholders as UPA President. He has faithfully served
as UPA President since then.
Dr. Elder continues to serve in multiple local and regional capacities
for both UPA and the hospital. His dedication extends beyond a written
description. However, we include two submissions from UPA’s own
Leadership Team:
- “Dr. Elder is a driving force, committed to UPA’s mission and
values. Over the past twenty-five years, his leadership, along with the
rest of our Board, has driven UPA to succeed.” -Betzaida Shands,
MBA, CHC, CHCO; Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Chief Compliance Officer
-
“When Dr. Elder became our President, he continued the commitment
to growth and business diversity started by those who came before him.
Under his tenure as president, UPA became more widely known as the organization
of which providers wanted to be a part. UPA is unique in that it allows
its members to maintain autonomy while becoming associated with a larger
and stronger organization. Providers wanted UPA’s strategy for managed
care contracting, they wanted to practice medicine and not worry about
employees, billing and all the other distractions that now interfere in
a medical practice. Providers wanted the backbone of UPA behind them and
that backbone was made stronger by Dr. Elder and his leadership.”
-Teresa Matherly, Vice President Information Systems & Chief Information Officer