Rheumatology Influencers: Dr. Huffstutter Leads with Purpose

As president elect of the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA), J. Eugene Huffstutter, MD, FACP, FACR, MACR, a rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates in Hixson, Tenn., says one of his priorities as the new president of the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) is ensuring physicians can focus on practicing medicine without unnecessary obstacles.

Dr. Huffstutter expresses concern about external influences on the medical practice, stating, “There are so many people trying to dictate what we can and can’t do, often driven by their own agendas,” he says. “But at the core, physicians are dedicated to their patients, striving to ensure they receive the best possible care. Unfortunately, this process has been disrupted by managed care, prior authorizations and other bureaucratic hurdles.”

Dr. Huffstutter says the TMA will be moving a bill aimed at simplifying and streamlining the prior authorization process so doctors can provide the right treatments to patients more efficiently.

“In the past, doctors led the care team and make these decisions themselves, but that’s no longer the case,” Dr. Huffstutter says. “Now, we’re stuck playing a Mother, May I? game just to care for our patients. I want to help put doctors back in charge as the captains of the ship, so to speak.”

Project Access

Dr. Huffstutter

Dr. Huffstutter attended college at the University of Tennessee at Martin and medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He was an internal medicine resident at the University of Oklahoma and received his rheumatology subspecialty training at the Medical University of South Carolina. He joined Arthritis Associates in 1984 immediately after training.

Dr. Huffstutter is currently a member of the American Medical Association, an ACR fellow and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. In 2023, he was honored as an ACR Master, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the ACR.

Taking on leadership roles and advocating for both his colleagues and patients is nothing new for Dr. Huffstutter. In addition to his clinical practice and work with the TMA, he also serves as the current chair of the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, the charitable arm of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.

“Every rheumatologist in our county participates in Project Access, a physician-led partnership that provides healthcare to low-income residents with limited resources,” Dr. Huffstutter says. “We recently celebrated the program’s 20th anniversary, and I had the opportunity to share stories of uninsured patients I’ve followed over the years and how access to specialized care has changed their lives.”