Maryville Anesthesiologists, P.C., was incorporated in 1979 by the four founding physicians who had been practicing Anesthesiology already as associates and partners for over two decades. In the early 1950’s, Dr. Robert H. Haralson, Jr. was the first physician to practice anesthesiology as a separate specialty at Blount Memorial Hospital. Its is very noteworthy to say that Dr. Haralson was a true pioneer in anesthesiology, because he created at Blount Memorial what was thought to be the very first Post-Anesthesia Recovery Room in the southeastern United States, at a time when most surgical patients went directly from the operating room back to their hospital rooms. After the Korean War ended, Dr. Haralson was soon joined by Duke University trained Dr. James William Christofferson, who was the first physician at BMH to have completed a full Anesthesiology Residency Program. As the 1950’s progressed into the 1960’s, the need for more full time practitioners in Anesthesia became apparent and two General Practice physicians found themselves being called upon more and more to administer anesthetics. Dr. Homer L. Isbell and Dr. Oliver K. Agee, after receiving additional specialty training in Anesthesiology, both gave up their office practices and quit delivering babies to devote their full time to the anesthesia needs of a growing Blount Memorial Hospital. In 1979, shortly before Dr. Haralson’s retirement, the four partners in anesthesia incorporated to form Maryville Anesthesiologists, P. C. Mrs. Dorothy Walker worked faithfully for many years as business manager for these anesthesiologists, both before and after the corporation was formed.

Replacing Dr. Haralson was the energetic Korean-American Anesthesiologist, Dr. Mi Ahn. She worked at BMH until moving to Washington, DC in 1986. Also working with MAPC during this period was Dr. Chris Vincent for one year, before he moved on to an anesthesia practice in Knoxville. Dr. Basia Jenkins was with MAPC from 1982 to 1987, before she too moved her practice to Knoxville.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, as the surgical case load increased, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNAs) were employed and supervised by the physicians of Maryville Anesthesiologists. David Ratliff, CRNA, was employed by MAPC in 1984 and was the longest serving nurse anesthetist, working for over 22 years before leaving in 2007. In 1999 Janet C. Hudson, CRNA, was employed by Maryville Anesthesiologists, after having served as an anesthetist in the U.S. Air Force. More recently, several new CRNAs have begun work with MAPC on a full time basis. These include Marty Burnett, Tori Looney, Mary Ann Cope and Christy Straud.

What could be called the beginning of the current era of Maryville Anesthesiologists history was in the mid 1980’s. These years saw the retirement of Drs. Isbell and Agee in 1987, and Dr. Christofferson in 1989, and the coming of the next generation of nesthesiologists who would remain loyal and active in the work of Blount Memorial Hospital on into the 21st Century.

Dr. Gregory M. Holmes joined the group in July of 1983, after completing Anesthesiology Residency training at Vanderbilt University Hospital. He would be the first of three Vanderbilt trained Anesthesiologist to join MAPC. Dr. Cheryl E. Coleman would come to the group from Vandy in 1986, and Dr. Britt Shivers would be the third Vanderbilt trained Anesthesiologist in 1989.

In addition to these three, in 1987, Dr. Cathy E. Petty was a welcome addition to the group. After her Anesthesiology Residency training at The Medical College of Wisconsin, she had worked as an attending anesthesiologist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The last physician to join the group in the 1980’s was Dr. Donald E. Jones, who came in late 1989. Dr. Jones, who had trained at Baylor University Medical Center in Houston, Texas, had also done a Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The 1990’s saw the further growth of both Maryville Anesthesiologists, P.C. and of Blount Memorial Hospital’s need for anesthesia services. Babies were booming in the early 90’s. Blount Memorial Obstetricians delivered 833 babies in 1990, 896 more in 1991 and 909 babies were delivered at BMH in 1992. Saddle Block spinal anesthetics preferred by many of the older OB doctors were now becoming a thing of the past, as the newer, younger obstetricians preferred their patients to be given Lumbar Epidural Analgesia. This increasing popularity of Epidural Blocks for laboring patients and an increasing rate for Cesarean Deliveries made a big difference in the amount of time Maryville Anesthesiologists spent in the Labor and Delivery Suite.

1993, Dr. Jerry M. Gilley would begin working for Maryville Anesthesiologists. Dr. Gilley did his residency training at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

The addition of another physician to the group would not come until the year 2000. Blount Memorial Hospital had in the 1990’s outgrown it’s old operating room suite built in the 70’s and had now moved into a spacious, new, state-of-the-art OR, ready to carry the Hospital on into the next millennium. The anesthesia equipment and monitoring devices made available to Maryville Anesthesiologists, P.C. were all of very high quality. During this time, Sue Cox, C.A.T, would become very important to the work of Maryville Anesthesiologists, and would be very much appreciated by MAPC. Ms. Cox, who is employed by Blount Memorial, is a Certified Anesthesia Technician and was the first in the state of Tennessee to have passed that certification examination.

In 2000 Dr. Martha W. Carter came to MAPC after many years of anesthesia practice in the U.S. Navy. Captain Carter was called back to active duty for several months in 2003, and again back to service in 2006-2007. We all appreciate Dr. Carter’s service to our country and we look forward to having her back later this year.

Also in the year 2000, Dr. Wilma C. Proffitt, began working with MAPC on a part time basis, having previously worked as an anesthesiologist in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Following this period of part-time work, during which she spent much of her time caring for her three small children, Dr. Proffitt began working on a full time basis for MAPC in January 2004.

In 2001, Dr. Carl M. Wagner began employment with Maryville Anesthesiologists. Prior to his anesthesiology residency training at The University of Tennessee GSM, Knoxville, Dr. Wagner had been a Family Practice physician in his native Texas. After anesthesia training, Dr. Wagner worked again in Texas as an anesthesiologist for seven years before returning to training, this time at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he completed a Fellowship in Pain Medicine.

In 2002, Dr. Anthony G. Ragsdale joined MAPC. Dr. Ragsdale is an East Tennessee native and he also did his anesthesiology residency training at The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville.

In 2006, Dr. Ty Ann Heath began practice with Maryville Anesthesiologists. Dr. Heath completed her Anesthesiology residency at The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville July 2006.

In January of 2007, Dr. Gaelan B. Luhn started practice with Maryville Anesthesiologists. Dr. Luhn is a Knoxville native who completed his Anesthesiology Residency at the University of Georgia Medical Center. He also served as an attending anesthesiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Other anesthesiologists who have given service to MAPC include Dr. Curtis Markham (1990-2004), Dr. David Newman (1990-2005) and Dr. Robert W. Osteen (1999-2006).