University Clinical Health’s Addiction Medicine Program Named a 2026 Healthcare Hero
University Clinical Health’s Addiction Medicine has been recognized by the Memphis Business Journal as a 2026 Healthcare Hero.
The recognition celebrates a team that believes meaningful addiction care begins long before a patient walks through the clinic doors and continues long after. By meeting patients where they are, addressing barriers to care, and building lasting relationships throughout the community, the Addiction Medicine team is transforming lives across Memphis.
A Team Committed to Compassionate Care
University Clinical Health’s Addiction Medicine program is led by Dr. Ronald Cowan MD, PhD, Chair of the UTHSC Department of Psychiatry; Dr. Muneeza Khan, MD, FAAFP, Chair of the UTHSC Department of Family Medicine; and Brandon Williams, Vice President of Quality Programs and Primary Care.
The clinical care team includes Dr. Peggy O’Cain, MD, FASAM, Tilliam Pittman MSPAS, PA-C, and Keith McCown, LCSW, each doing their part together to ensure every patient feels seen, heard, and supported. Their philosophy is simple: there is no judgment, only care. The goal is not simply to bring someone into treatment, but to walk alongside them through every step of recovery.
Supporting those efforts are Dinesha Jones, Practice Manager of Quality Engagement and Addiction Medicine, and Marcus McDonald, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Together, they help extend the patient experience beyond the clinic by coordinating community events, outreach initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and speaking engagements. Their work allows the Addiction Medicine team to maintain a strong presence throughout Memphis and be an active part of the communities they serve.
In addition to caring for patients, the team is committed to educating future physicians through ongoing training, research, and community engagement, ensuring patients receive the highest quality, most up-to-date care possible.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
The Addiction Medicine program is built on relationships. The team understands that readiness for treatment does not happen overnight and that trust is earned by showing up consistently through every stage of recovery.
To build those relationships, team members partner with local organizations, volunteer after hours, and spend holidays serving meals to unhoused individuals throughout Memphis.
Every other Friday, Marcus McDonald participates in a safe needle exchange program. His consistent presence has built trust within some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. By meeting people where they are, he is building relationships, planting seeds, and opening doors to care that many never believed they would walk through.
Understanding and Addressing Barriers to Care
As relationships grow, the team works to identify and remove barriers that prevent patients from receiving care.
One example began at a community event, where a middle-aged man who had not responded to multiple outreach attempts decided to share his information with the team. That single conversation led to an appointment with Addiction Medicine that changed everything.
During his visit, he was diagnosed with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure—conditions that had gone untreated. He was also connected with behavioral health services. Since that first appointment, he has not missed a single follow-up visit. One conversation made the difference.
Care Tailored to Each Patient
The Addiction Medicine program recognizes that every patient’s journey is different and tailors care to meet individual needs.
This is especially evident in the team’s work with pregnant mothers experiencing opioid use disorder. Through collaboration with UT Family Medicine, the Quality Engagement team, and OB/GYN, patients receive coordinated care that focuses on both mother and baby while addressing the whole person, not just the addiction diagnosis.
One patient came to the emergency department with a history of cardiac illness and opioid use disorder. It took six outreach attempts before Dinesha Jones and the team were able to connect with her. When they did, they discovered she also had a co-occurring mental health condition, was pregnant, and required high-risk obstetric care.
The team coordinated behavioral health services, integrated her into Addiction Medicine, connected her with specialty obstetric care, and supported her through weekly visits during a critical time in her pregnancy. What could have easily been missed became a turning point because someone refused to give up.
A Culture of Care
The team’s commitment goes beyond traditional medical care in a clinical setting. They meet patients where they are without judgment, care for them as whole individuals, and remain present throughout every stage of recovery. Their work reflects a simple but powerful belief: when people are met with compassion, consistency, and dignity, recovery and hope become possible.
The 2026 Healthcare Hero recognition celebrates that commitment and the lasting impact the Addiction Medicine team continues to make for patients and families throughout the Memphis community.
