While Paul Patel, MD, a well-loved doctor of Internal Medicine in Murfreesboro, recently retired from his practice, he continues to keep his hands in the medical world in the local area. He plans to continue his part-time administrative role at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and Surgi-center (MMC) a while longer, and he still works with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) athletics.
“I’ve always loved sports,” reflected Dr. Patel. “I played sports growing up. And have always enjoyed watching sports. This is an extension of that.”
Coming to Murfreesboro in 1995 to join MMC, he was asked to work with MTSU student athletes during Boot’s Donnelly’s last year as Athletic Director in 1998. The athletic department wanted someone from Internal Medicine to complement their excellent orthopedic physicians engaged with the program. Over time, a health and wellness advisory committee was formed with representatives from many healthcare disciplines.
Initially Dr. Patel saw athletes on campus, in the training room and at his office. As he worked with these young people, he realized there was a need to improve parts of the program. One of those things requiring improvement was concussion awareness. He saw a need for both education about concussions and the need to establish a protocol for dealing with a student who has sustained one. He established the initial concussion protocol for MTSU in the early 2000s (which is also used by local high schools and University of the South). That was shortly before the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) started implementing their own policies and guidelines. Over time, and with new research, he has continued to improve upon that original protocol.
“I am really proud of the wellness committee we have put together with MTSU athletics,” said Dr. Patel. “Especially with some of their athletic trainers who were pivotal in establishing that committee. It goes beyond concussion and healthcare; it is about the mental wellness and the physical wellness of athletes. Improving sleep, improving diet, all those things that compliment these highly functioning athletes. We still have that committee ongoing, which has developed and continues to develop helpful processes for these young athletes.”
In recent years, the focus of the health committee has expanded to mental wellness for athletes. And not just athletes, but all college students. Previously there was not an avenue for them to seek care, so the committee brought on mental health professionals to help screen athletes, and more importantly, help them manage these athletes. They put together protocols and policies and added Dr. Tim White from Nashville to the team. He is a licensed sport psychologist and certified mental performance consultant.
“We have dietitians and nutritionists now that meet with our athletes and review the benefits of certain supplements and proper diet,” he added. “Getting lots of protein and carbohydrates, proper hydration and those sorts of things are important to their performance. It is a lot more comprehensive than it was fifteen to twenty years ago, now focusing on the holistic picture of these young athletes.”
Born in Baroda, India as Uptal Patel, his family immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. He initially lived in Nashville, then in West Tennessee, ending up in Murfreesboro where he and his wife, Tina, have raised their kids, Eshan and Mira.
Receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Tennessee Martin, he completed medical school and his residency at University of Tennessee Memphis. During his residency he became interested in helping patients manage chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and hypertension. He brought this interest with him to MMC. Twenty years ago, he established a Diabetes Care Clinic there, when they were located on North Highland. It is still in effect today.
“There is a shortage of endocrinologists across the country,” explained Dr. Patel. “And sometimes to get folks in to see one can take months and months and months. In general we refer patients to our endocrinologists when we have patients who are on a complicated insulin regiment in order to keep their diabetes managed, but many we manage ourselves, either me personally or the Diabetes Care Clinic. We have some wonderful nurse practitioners who have worked with me helping patients in that clinic. Through the Clinic we can take some of the burden off endocrinology practice and referrals by keeping those folks under our care.”
A trusted physician, mentor and leader, Dr. Patel has made a lasting impact on countless patients, colleagues and the community. From serving as a longtime team physician for MTSU to giving back through local organizations, his commitment has always gone far beyond the exam room.
Dr. Patel is grateful to the Murfreesboro community for embracing him and his family when they first arrived. They had no connection to anyone in Middle Tennessee, but the people here were, and still are, very welcoming. Dr. Robert Corlew and Dr. Andy Brown introduced he and Tina to the community and to the charities they became involved with. And that is something he wants to see continue with new young physicians joining the MMC team, which is part of his administrative role at the clinic.
“What I am most proud of in the community is what Tina has accomplished,” he noted. “She is a wonderful philanthropist, and she sets the path for me. She is on the boards for Nourish Food Bank and Hospice. We have always been involved with the Discovery Center. Our kids pretty much spent weekends and summers there growing up. We continue to support them. I am a tag along person. The credit goes to my wife.”
Both were raised to give back, with a lot of their community endeavors center around working with young people and education. They are also working with the new Community Foundation set up in Rutherford County after splitting off from the one in Nashville.
“It is a wonderful foundation,” said Dr. Patel. “Anyone can donate time and money to the foundation that raises funds and then gives it to local charities. I think it is incredibly important. Tina was on the board, and our family foundation supports them as well.”
With a semi-empty nest and semi-retirement Dr. Patel has had the opportunity to enjoy two hobbies that he loves, travel and working in the oasis-like backyard garden that both he and Tina have made into a multi-season treasure.
“Tina and I were just in India visiting my family and took my mother to celebrate her 88th birthday there,” he shared. “Last year we went to Egypt. We went to Cairo, then down the Nile River into the Valley of the Kings with my nephew and my mother who was 87 at the time. We have enjoyed the Scottish countryside. Next, we are going to hike up to Machu Picchu. I’m hoping we’ll do well with that. We love the outdoors, but that is quite a trek.”
They also have loved traveling with their children. They went on an African safari and to Zanzibar Island. It is an amazingly beautiful country. Dr. Patel described it as “The Lion King.” A vast and open country. A rainstorm may look like it is close and be miles and miles away.
“There is one occasion on that trip when we did a 6:00 a.m. trek into the Serengeti with our guide,” recounted Dr. Patel. “Eshan stuck his head out of the sunroof and there was a massive acacia tree in the distance with a family of elephants under it, the sun rising behind them. He said, ‘Dad, this is one of the best experiences I have ever had.’ That meant a lot to me and to Tina to have our children enjoy these things.”
He has also been spending more time in his garden.
“Life is so busy and hectic,” Dr. Patel noted. “To be able to come out in the evenings or on the weekends and be able to spend time outside getting your hands dirty, planting, digging and then seeing the results of that months or years later, for me there is some peacefulness, serenity and mindfulness that I gain out of working in the yard.”
Looking back at the life he and his family have been able to build and enjoy here, he is thankful for living in such a special place.
“It is amazing how open and welcoming this community has been to me and my family,” he added. “I realize in this day and age when things are quite difficult, and polarizing, we have a lot to be grateful for here in Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee. We are glad to be involved, meeting people, hearing their perspectives even if you do not agree with them. I think that is a learning process for all of us. It is something we try to impress upon our children. Because I think it is important for them to have a broad perspective, to meet all kinds of people and to understand their values. It is important for growth.”