Leading With Humility: Allison Jones, Memphis Dermatologist Takes Helm of Tennessee Dermatology Society
Dr. Allison Jones, practicing dermatologist and Dermatology Residency Program Director at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has already invested a tremendous amount of time serving the medical and dermatological profession. Her service and leadership have led to her peers voting her as 2025 President of Tennessee Dermatology Society (TDS). She has already found herself busy leading and governing TDS, while leading the planning of its upcoming annual meeting. The 2025 annual meeting will be bringing over 100 Tennessee dermatologists to downtown Memphis.
Allison, a native of Houston, Mississippi, got her start in medicine when she went to Mississippi State University for her undergraduate degree and University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) for medical school. After completing her 4 years of medical school, Dr. Jones started her dermatology residency at UTHSC, finishing in 2017 and moving to active practice in August of that year.
When we asked Allison why she wanted to be a part of organized medicine, she said: “The role of a physician is one of responsibility, trust, and privilege. Your medical knowledge is incredibly important but also equally important is your ability to listen, empathize and understand their concerns. Compassion and humility are values critical to a becoming a good physician. Your patients should always come first. It is important to listen closely to your patient’s concerns and always seek to provide them with thoughtful, compassionate care. Have a growth mindset and embrace lifelong learning. Seek out advice from mentors and colleagues when you are uncertain. Lastly, take care of yourself. The demands placed on physicians can be overwhelming at times, and we should always take time to invest in our own wellbeing. Only then, can we provide the best care to our patients: when we are at our best.”
Dr. Jones’s commitment to the medical profession extends to broader affiliations. At the local level, she is an active member of the Memphis Dermatology Society and the Memphis Medical Society. Allison is also a member of the Tennessee Medical Association, the United States Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium, the International Immunosuppression & Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative, and the Association of Professors of Dermatology. Dr. Jones is actively seeking to expand her contributions to the Memphis community. She is enthusiastic about spearheading the Tennessee Dermatology Society’s annual meeting in the city of Memphis, an event that promises to bring together leading dermatologists from across the state.
Memphis Medical Society CEO Clint Cummins has been working closely with Allison in her role as TDS President, as they have entered into a management services agreement with MMS for their administrative and event planning needs. He had this to say about her: “Allison has a very unique disposition as a leader. Her humility and servant nature comes out almost instantly when you meet her. She maintains a graceful demeanor, while still being a diligent taskmaster. I have been fortunate to meet many of her family members, friends, and colleagues in the last few months, and they all seem to share a similar opinion of her. She also has a keen ability to know how to ask the right questions when she doesn’t have all of the answers. She is going to be great for TDS!”
Outside of Allison’s busy professional and volunteer life, she is a devoted family woman. She has been married to her husband Parker Jones for 16 years. They are proud parents to a 10-year-old son, Landon, and a 2-year-old daughter, Lizzie. When not practicing medicine, Dr. Jones enjoys playing tennis. The Jones family is deeply involved in their church community and are avid supporters of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Her colleague, TJ Patel, MD, FAAD works closely with Allison, and has seen her commitment first-hand. “Allison is simply outstanding in everything that she does. She is an excellent physician, dedicated educator, and passionate leader (she is also not a bad tennis player either)! She is a role model to everyone around her and a great ambassador for our department and university. I feel lucky to have her as part of our team and know she will be awesome in her role as President of TDS!”
Allison finds great satisfaction in providing care to the Memphis community. She considers it a privilege and humbling experience when patients entrust their skin concerns to her. Partnering with patients to diagnose and treat often life-altering conditions is a source of great joy. Her primary motivation in her current role is centered on her patients and ensuring they receive the highest quality care. Furthermore, Dr. Jones is passionate about training and mentoring future dermatologists who share her commitment to providing excellent patient care. She hopes to inspire these future physicians to consider practicing dermatology in the Memphis community or surrounding areas.
As a faculty member at UTHSC, Dr. Jones works daily with medical students and had some inspiring words of wisdom to share with aspiring and young physicians:
“The role of a physician is one of responsibility, trust, and privilege. Your medical knowledge is incredibly important but also equally important is your ability to listen, empathize and understand their concerns. Compassion and humility are values critical to a becoming a good physician. Your patients should always come first. It is important to listen closely to your patient’s concerns and always seek to provide them with thoughtful, compassionate care. Have a growth mindset and embrace lifelong learning. Seek out advice from mentors and colleagues when you are uncertain. Lastly, take care of yourself. The demands placed on physicians can be overwhelming at times, and we should always take time to invest in our own wellbeing. Only then, can we provide the best care to our patients: when we are at our best.”
Best of luck to Allison and her Memphis dermatology colleagues as they host the TDS Meeting on November 7-9, 2025 at Hyatt Centric on Beale! For more information, visit tennesseedermatologysociety.org
