James Allen Greene

James Allen Greene, M.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.C.P., a visionary leader in geriatric psychiatry, passed away peacefully at the age of 86, surrounded by his devoted family. A native of Sneedville, Tennessee, Dr. Greene's life's work centered on transforming mental health care for the elderly, leaving an indelible mark on the field.

Dr. Greene graduated from the University of Tennessee, earning a Bachelor of Science before commencing his medical education early. He completed his medical degree at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, followed by an internship at the University of Tennessee Memorial Research Center and Hospital, and a psychiatry residency at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh. His distinguished career began with service as a Captain in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Deeply committed to advancing geriatric psychiatry, Dr. Greene completed a Faculty Development Program at the James A. Haley VA Hospital and the University of South Florida, achieving Board Certifications in Neuropsychiatry and Family Practice. His pioneering efforts were instrumental in establishing the East Tennessee Baptist Hospital Gerontology Center in 1981, where he served as its inaugural Medical Director. Notably, he collaborated with renowned author Alex Haley to create an award acknowledging excellence in geriatrics.

Dr. Greene's contributions to geriatric psychiatry were extensive. He worked at the SunCoast Gerontology Center at the University of South Florida and was crucial in developing geriatric services at Park West Hospital Senior Health Center in Knoxville. His innovative spirit led to the creation of Weston Place, Knoxville's first assisted living facility and later expanded the concept to provide supervised assisted living for Alzheimer patients.

In his entrepreneurial pursuits, Dr. Greene founded Geriatric Medical Care, Inc. in 1991, which became a leader in managing geriatric care across seven states until its acquisition in 1997. He then became the Senior Medical Consultant of Horizon Health Corporation in 1997. He later established Psychiatric Medical Care in 2003, and served as Chief Medical Officer.

In academia, Dr. Greene served as Interim Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2005, later advancing to a permanent position and becoming a distinguished professor. He significantly enhanced psychiatric education, introducing fellowships in geriatric and child psychiatry.

In 2012, Dr. Greene was elected to the American Psychiatric Association's Board of Trustees and contributed to the development of the DSM-5. Recognized for his contributions, he was honored as a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA and as a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists.

His numerous accolades include the American Geriatric Society Academic Medicine Award and the inaugural AGS Clinician of the Year award. An accomplished author, he wrote three books and over 40 articles, substantially enhancing understanding of age-related mental health issues.

Dr. Greene passionately supported education by partnering with the University of Tennessee to establish an annual lecture series in geriatric psychiatry and endowing two psychiatry awards to nurture future medical leaders. Outside his professional achievements, he cherished UT sports, films, dogs, and music, and valued the reflective time spent on road trips.

Dr. Greene is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Rebecca O'Connor Greene, and family. His profound impact on geriatric psychiatry and his compassionate care for patients will be fondly remembered. A private memorial service will be scheduled, with friends invited to visit Rose Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, at their convenience. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Greene's memory can be made to the Humane Society Tennessee Valley, 6717 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, or online at humansocietytennessee.org/ways-to-give. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com