VOL. 128 | NO. 246 | Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Memphis Newsmakers
Van Vliet Takes on Roles at UT Medical, The MED
By Kate Simone
Dr. Michael M. Van Vliet has joined the department of plastic surgery at UT Medical Group, has been named assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and has been appointed director of burn critical care for the Firefighters Regional Burn Center at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis.
Van Vliet earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College in New York and completed residencies in general surgery and plastic surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He furthered his training with a fellowship in burn surgery and critical care at the University of Southern California/Los Angeles County Hospital.
Hometown: Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Family: Wife, Kelly Van Vliet; son, Charles Martin Van Vliet; dog, Chloe; daughter coming in 3 months!
Favorite quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
Favorite movie: “The Shawshank Redemption”
The sports team you root for: NY Yankees, always and forever
What’s playing on your stereo right now? Mumford & Sons
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Hanging out with my family and enjoying every minute with my son.
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could play the guitar.
Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? My father; he has taught me how to be a man and taught me the three most important things in life: family, honesty and hard work.
What attracted you to UT Medical Group? Dr. (William) Hickerson. I recognized him as a fabulous mentor and someone I could learn from every day. Also, I liked the diversity of the practice.
What are your goals in your new position? At this point in my career, I hope to be exposed to as much as possible and grow as a surgeon in every facet of plastic surgery, burn surgery and critical care.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? My son, hands down.
What do you most enjoy about your work? The satisfaction of saving lives. I often get stopped in the hallway by a burn survivor who will shake my hand and say, “Dr. Van Vliet – the man who saved my life.” There is no better feeling than treating someone through a critical illness and returning them to a normal life.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Always maintain a balance in life. Too much of anything is not good. No matter where your career takes you or what you accomplish, remember always your family comes first and foremost.
Jason P. Hood, chief legal officer at Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc., has also been named the company’s chief administrative officer. In the role, Hood serves on Sedgwick’s executive council, oversees the legal compliance and corporate administrative groups, and has overall responsibilities for legal matters, compliance, corporate administration, facilities and procurement management.
Jason Pope, territory manager for Herbi-Systems, has been named president of the Mississippi Vegetation Management Association. Pope, who manages the industrial vegetation management crews at Herbi-Systems, will serve a one-year term as president.
Nathanael Smith has joined RocketFuel as front end/user interface director. Smith previously worked as a web developer, grant writer and communications consultant for a nonprofit in Minnesota. Elizabeth Gaia and Shira Klazmer have joined RocketFuel as account executives. Gaia previously served in management positions in the advertising and financial industries, and Klazmer worked in marketing communications in the retirement industry.
Joshua Baker has joined Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston PC as an associate. Baker will focus his practice in commercial and general civil litigation, business law, intellectual property and transportation liability defense.
Joe Shelton has joined the Arlington office of Crye-Leike Realtors. Shelton recently became a licensed Realtor and assists buyers and sellers in and around Fayette County.
Jeremy Stafford has joined the audit staff at Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck PLC, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, and Hunter Stock has joined the firm’s tax staff.
John Stukenborg has joined Catholic Charities of West Tennessee’s board of directors. Stukenborg is a Germantown resident and is employed at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Inferno has received 11 Davey Awards in the 2013 competition, including a Gold Award in the magazine ad category for Campbell Clinic’s “Campbell Clinic Best,” and 10 Silver Awards. The international competition honors outstanding creative work from small firms.
The Memphis office of Jackson Lewis LLP has been listed in U.S. News-Best Lawyers’ 2014 “Best Law Firms” as a Tier 1 firm in Memphis for labor law – management, and litigation – labor and employment.